There was a six-hour window on Sunday where every player was safe. As the Flyers Wives Carnival took place in Wells Fargo Center, no trades would be announced as the players met with fans.
But during this time, Ron Hextall was busy working the phones. The Flyers GM was not in attendance at the Carnival.
Hextall struck in the early-morning hours of deadline day, sending Braydon Coburn to Tampa Bay for defenseman Radko Gudas and two draft picks.
In some cases, you can consider this an even swap of defensemen. Coburn is starting to round the corner between the prime of his career and the twilight at age 30. Gudas is just 24, but a lower-echelon defenseman, likely to play on the lowest pairing at best.
That said, the Flyers get a huge victory in this deal by accomplishing their goal. Coburn will make $4.5 million next year. Gudas will make approximately $990,000. That a huge relief in the Flyers cap woes.
Additionally, what makes the Flyers winners is the two draft picks. Gudas is essentially the little something extra the Flyers get. What the Flyers needed to net for Coburn was either multiple draft picks or a first-round pick. Hextall managed to do both.
The Flyers received a first-round pick and a third-round pick in this year's draft. The fact that they will now have two first-round picks in a draft as deep is huge for the team's future building. The fact that the Flyers managed a deal like this shows Hextall's strong ability to make a deal and negotiate.
Gudas is likely more of a temporary fix for the Flyers as they continue to develop prospects. That all depends on which prospects are ready at the start of next season. At worst, Gudas becomes a similar player to Nick Schultz – the team's seventh defenseman that could be called upon in a pinch.
You could also compare Gudas to Michael Del Zotto. The Flyers took a risk on Del Zotto for one season and it has paid dividends and now he could either net the Flyers another solid return for Hextall or be a part of the team's immediate future. Del Zotto is also 24, the same age as Gudas.
This is a huge deal for Hextall to make as he continues a strong deadline, starting with the Kimmo Timonen trade – two picks in return there as well – and now with Coburn.
And to think this happened overnight. There's still the rest of the morning and early afternoon leading to the 3 p.m. deadline for Hextall to keep working.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
