PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Flyers President of Hockey Operations Chuck Fletcher was busy, busy, busy this weekend. He made several significant trades, one of which means the end of an era for a long-time member of the organization.
On Saturday, the Flyers swapped Jake Voracek for Cam Atkinson, sending him back to Columbus, which is where he played before his 10 years with the Flyers.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jake, and he’s one of the best players in franchise history,” Fletcher said. “Love him as a person … It’s definitely a mutual thing. I think he would say the same thing. I think it’s time. It was time for Jake to go to a new team and re-energize. It was time for us to bring in different players and get going in a different direction.”
Voracek was traded to the Flyers prior to the 2011-12 season for Jeff Carter. He became a part of the team’s core over the next decade, though he only experienced two playoff series victories.
Although Voracek's time with the Flyers lacked postseason success, spending a decade with a team in this era of professional sports is noteworthy — especially for a fan base that cares and is tough on its team.
When asked if he had a message for Flyers fans, Voracek said, “After I read all the stuff on the internet over the last two or three weeks, there was a lot of hate and we kinda always had a love-hate relationship with the fans, but they are really passionate. It was a pleasure to play in front of them. It was fun sometimes to hear ‘shoot the puck’ about 17 times a game.
“I was passionate, they were passionate. Ten years, basically, they gave me all the support that I needed to be the best hockey player I could be.”
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Voracek said he has no hard feelings for Fletcher, recognizing the business of the NHL.
Meanwhile, 32-year-old Atkinson makes his way to Philadelphia after 10 years in Columbus, where over the last two seasons, his numbers haven’t been what they were at his peak. However, his arrival is something new for a franchise that’s been mediocre for a long time.
“Cam Atkinson is what I guess we call a hockey player, and he just loves to play the game of hockey,” Fletcher said. “Tremendous energy. … He’s a player that really can contribute every which way. I think he’s been one of the better five-on-five goal scorers in the league over seven, eight years. He drives play. He's an elite penalty killer. … He’s been a really good scorer during the playoffs. There's really not much he can’t do. For a guy that isn’t that tall, he’s tenacious. He gets to the inside.”
Fletcher continued, “We just can’t keep bringing the same players back year after year and expect different results. We had to make changes this year.”
Fletcher emphasized creating “a new leadership group” and changing the energy among the team. That being said — according to Fletcher — Claude Giroux will remain the captain of the team.
Atkinson sounded excited about coming to Philadelphia and joining the core that remains.
“I think my energy alone is really gonna help the team,” he said. “I played at [Boston College] with Kevin Hayes and good friends with [James van Riemsdyk] and you know, I know obviously Giroux as well. One of my best friends is [former Flyer] Scotty Hartnell. He just rants and raves about what a special place Philly is and as you can see, I already got my Gritty shirt, so I’m ready to rock and roll.”
The Flyers also picked up defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen from the Sabres in a trade that sent this year’s 13th overall pick, a 2023 second round pick and defenseman Robert Hagg.
So far this offseason, Fletcher has made moves that sent Voracek, Hagg, Shayne Gostisbehere, Nolan Patrick and Phil Myers elsewhere, while bringing in Atkinson, Ristolainen and defenseman Ryan Ellis.
These are win-now moves for a team that has won only two playoff series since 2012.