Leafs-Hurricanes Swap and Flyers make swap of their own

So I guess I have to start somewhere and I guess that somewhere will be with the recent transaction between the Toronto Maple Leafs and The Carolina Hurricanes. The trade was a minor move for both clubs, but could have a big impact for the future. As you most probably know by now the trade was as follows:

To Maple Leafs:
C - Phillipe Paradis

To Hurricanes:
LW - Jiri Tlusty

Looking at it from the Leafs point of view, Jiri Tlusty (drafted 13^th overall in 2006-by JFJ) was not coming along as they had hoped. He showed that he could play in the AHL scoring 103 points in 105 games with the Toronto Marlies. However, he never really showed that he could translate those skills into the NHL game. Aside from scoring 2 goals in his NHL debut Tlusty only managed 18 points in his next 73 games at the NHL level. Can Tlusty develop into a solid NHL player? No doubt, the kid is 21 years old, he can handle himself with the rough side of the game and he can score. I think he will develop into a perennial 20 goal scorer for the Hurricanes. So what about Paradis (drafted 27^th overall in 2009-was ranked 40 or below by most scouts)? Well.. he’s big?? I personally do not see where Brian Burke is going with this trade. Sure Paradis has the potential to be a decent power-forward in the NHL and the boy has a canon of a shot. However, he is not even scoring a point-per game in the QMJHL, scoring just 92 points in 127 games for Shawinigan, and how does that old saying go again? “Do you want to know how much a Q prospect will score in the NHL, just take his Q points total and divide by 3”. Now, that being said he is just 18 years old and has plenty of time to turn into a great NHL player, but there is a reason most hockey analysts were left scratching their heads when the Hurricanes went off the board to pick him in 2009. This is not a move you can really judge a GM on but Brian Burke could be looking back on this one as a mistake in a couple of years. Hurricanes win this trade.

Continuing with the Hurricanes, well not really, but Peter Laviolette is the new bench boss of the Philadelphia Flyers as John Stevens has been given the boot due the Flyers recent struggles. The Flyers have indeed struggled as of late with a 3-7 record in their last 10 games, topped off with being shut-out in back-to-back games by the Canucks and the Thrashers. This has resulted in the Flyers dropping to 11^th in the eastern conference. This simply is not acceptable as the Flyers roster should be capable of much better performances with their only weakness on paper seeming to be between the pipes, but even Emery has been to the finals before. So changes were necessary, was this the right change? Let’s take a look:

John Stevens:

GC-263 W-120 L-109 OTL-34

Peter Laviolette:

GC-487 W-244 L-188 OTL-30 T-25

So Stevens has won about 46% of the games he has coached and Laviolette has won about 50% of the games he has coached. +1 to Peter.

Stevens has been to the playoffs twice in his coaching career, losing once in the conference finals and once in the first round. Laviolette has been to the playoffs 3 teams, losing twice in the first round and once winning the Stanley Cup. +1 to Peter.

Stevens, realizing that the team was flailing in the standings, was trying to bring new ideas to the team, and was even juggling lines in practice before learning that he was canned. But Laviolette could be just the change Stevens himself was looking for. Laviolette is known to be a tougher coach and he brings an up-tempo, aggressive style of play which should suit the Flyers really well with their roster. I do believe that this is a good move for the Flyers and I do believe that Laviolette will bring them back into a play-off position; they have a very good team. Personally though, I would have hired MacT.