INSIDE HOCKEY

On a day that everyone expected there to be fireworks coming out of GM Paul Holmgren’s office, there was less than that, to be generous. Jay Bouwmeester was supposed to be the one being brought into Philadelphia for some depth forwards and young prospects, but instead, it was another bunch of young forwards moving around.

Paul Holmgren moved Scottie Upshall, 25, to the Phoenix Coyotes with a second round pick in 2011 in exchange for Daniel Carcillo, 24. Carcillo, who was acquired originally from Pittsburgh in exchange for Georges Laraque in 2007, was drafted 73rd overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He has been an energy player for a few years for Phoenix, fighting when he needs to in order to stick up for his teammates, but also scoring a few goals along the way.

Upshall was acquired in the famed Peter Forsberg trade last season when the Flyers traded Peter Forsberg to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent, and a first round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. That pick was later traded back for the rights to Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen.

In a separate deal, the Flyers traded a sixth round pick in 2009 to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for 32-year old defenseman Kyle McLaren. McLaren will spend the rest of the regular season with the Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL, and perhaps join the NHL team for the playoffs.

GM Paul Holmgren explained that certain trades were in place but were unable to take place because of the salary cap situation that the Flyers were in. Possible trades included one with Florida for Jay Bouwmeester, one with Phoenix for Derek Morris, one with Toronto for Nik Antropov, and even one with Anaheim for Chris Pronger.

By trading for Carcillo, Holmgren explained, he now has about $900,000 of cap space, meaning he can take on another young Phantom on the NHL roster in order to have an extra player.

Although rumors said that the Flyers were close to landing Bouwmeester, Holmgren denies ever being in the running. He also got calls about goaltender Martin Biron, but Marty has a no trade clause, and Holmgren said he liked the Flyers’ goaltending situation at this point, and did not want to make any moves.

Calls came in about James Van Riemsdyk, the Flyers’ hot prospect and second overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, but Holmgren deemed Reemer untouchable.

Upshall seemed extremely upset, and in a conference call with Philadelphia Flyers’ reporters, he said he enjoyed his time in Philadelphia and was sad to be leaving. Carcillo, on the other hand, having been a Flyers’ fan as a young kid, was thrilled to be coming to Philadelphia to play for the Flyers’ organization.

Holmgren explained that Coach John Stevens was to pick Daniel up from the airport tonight, and immediately explain what his role will be. Having scored 17 goals last season, the Flyers are looking first for Carcillo to score goals and make plays, and be a fighter second. He has to make sure that he is a hockey player first, Holmgren says.

Carcillo will be in the lineup tomorrow night, when the Flyers take on the Calgary Flames and newly acquired Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold.