Flyers Acquire Mike York from the Islanders

[5 Minute Major]

The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have acquired 5’10”, 185-pound forward Mike York from the New York Islanders in exchange for center Randy Robitaille and a fifth round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, according to General Manager Paul Holmgren.

“Mike is a younger player,” said Holmgren in making the announcement. “He has had very good offensive numbers over the course of his career with the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and the Islanders. We think that he is going to upgrade our offense. He is a player who is a right-handed shot, can play center or right wing and he gives us a little more versatility and a little more scoring. He is a highly competitive player.”

“It is always a little bit of a shock when you first get traded,” said York. “I’m going to a new team and getting a new start, so I am excited about that. Hopefully, I can help turn the Flyers around in a positive way.

“I’m a fresh face and new blood coming in here. I have been in this situation before. We still have over half the season to play. There’s a long way to go, so hopefully I can help the team improve.”

York, 28, recorded six goals and seven assists for 13 points and 14 penalty minutes in 32 games for the NY Islanders this season. A native of Waterford, Michigan, York posted 52 points (13G,39A) and 30 penalty minutes in 75 regular season games for the Islanders during the 2005-06 season. His 39 assists led the team.

A seven-year NHL veteran, York has registered 117 goals and 183 assists for 300 points and 123 penalty minutes in 481 career regular season games with the NY Rangers (1999-2000 to 2001-02), Edmonton (2001-02 through 2003-04) and the Islanders (2005-06 and 2006-07).

Robitaille, 31, registered five goals and 12 assists for 17 points and 22 penalty minutes in 28 games for the Flyers this season. He was second on the team in assists (12) and tied for third on the team in points (17). He was signed as a free agent by the Flyers on July 4, 2006.

Over parts of the last 10 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, the Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers, Minnesota Wild and the Flyers, Robitaille has recorded 68 goals and 136 assists for 204 points and 161 penalty minutes in 413 regular season games.

[AVALANCHE FAN]

Its gonna take alot more then that to fix their problems especialy now that Forsberg is out for who knows how long with a concussion.

[lampington]

Yes! Mike York! Just Send The Cup To Philly Now!!!

[FlyersEnforcer]

Originally Posted by lampington

Yes! Mike York! Just Send The Cup To Philly Now!!!

i don't think i'd go that far. but york isn't a bad player and could help some of the guys in slumps(calder, richards)

[lampington]

Originally Posted by FlyersEnforcer

i don't think i'd go that far. but york isn't a bad player and could help some of the guys in slumps(calder, richards)

yeah, i was serious too! thanks for straightening me out!!

also calder is god-awful i can't beleive we traded handzus for him! i'm not the worlds biggest handzus fan but...

calder - 30 games 4 points minus 23!!!!
handzus - 8 games 8 points plus 4

even missing 22 games handzus would have given the flyers twice as many points as calder! and minus 23??!!!! even on a bad team that is terrible after 30 games. he is a waste of a roster spot.

[canuck2]

first Zitnik and now York. Is Snow trying to help rebuild Philly?

[canuck2]

Originally Posted by lampington

yeah, i was serious too! thanks for straightening me out!!

also calder is god-awful i can't beleive we traded handzus for him! i'm not the worlds biggest handzus fan but...

calder - 30 games 4 points minus 23!!!!
handzus - 8 games 8 points plus 4

even missing 22 games handzus would have given the flyers twice as many points as calder! and minus 23??!!!! even on a bad team that is terrible after 30 games. he is a waste of a roster spot.

Points aren't everything. Handzus is a solid defensive player. He has never been a big scorer but is a solid two way player.

[lampington]

Originally Posted by canuck2

Points aren't everything. Handzus is a solid defensive player. He has never been a big scorer but is a solid two way player.

exactly which is another reason why the trade sucked the bag.

[mongoose]

Originally Posted by canuck2

first Zitnik and now York. Is Snow trying to help rebuild Philly?

LOL yashin is next.

[mr_athlete2002]

york is a ufa at seasons end. so if he doesnt improve...goodbye. hes younger and if they resign him, wont cost as much cause he has done nothing.

for the money he is getting, he doesnt impress. only 13 goals last yr? on pace to score..what...15? and paid 2.85 million? come on. that is wrong.

robitaille never did anything special in his career. signing him in the first place was strange. then again, he did come cheap.

funny how NYI is clearing a ton of cap space and a bad team like philly is bringing in high priced players.

there better be a trade coming, for either team. nyi is def. clearing cap space for something. or unloading dead-weight.

[VodkaFish]

Originally Posted by canuck2

first Zitnik and now York. Is Snow trying to help rebuild Philly?

If dumping salary for picks and a younger player w/a AAAA thrown in is "helping rebuild", then yes.

[flyersrule]

what a useless trade

[Isles4life]

To correct Mr Athlete, York has another year left on his contract.

Snow better have something big in the works, and not stupid either. I agreed with getting rid of Zhitnik for a younger, cheaper player, especially given Zhitnik's poor performance. York has been having a very poor year, too, and I'm not surprised to see him go, but the bottom line is York is a lot more talented and younger than Randy Robitaille, even if Robitaille is somehow putting up respectable numbers. Sure, it's saving a ton of cap room, but there's now one less potentially dangerous offensive player on the Islanders roster. All Robitaille brings is some power play skills, which are nice, but the past few games it's looked decent. There's clearly a lot of cap space now, so I'd be surprised if it stays like that for too long.

[PhlyerPhanatic]

Now this is a move I can live with.

[Thrillhouse]

I like this move for the Isles. $3 mil is a lot of money to pay a guy who's underperforming. Snow is definately setting up to acquire a big salary guy.