Flyers lose both Metropolit and Vaananen

To clear salary space for the returning Danny Briere, the Flyers waived both Glen Metropolit and Ossi Vaananen yesterday. The Flyers exposed them to waivers hoping that one or both of them would clear and they could be sent to the Phantoms. Unfortunately, both players were claimed: Metro by the Canadiens and Vaananen by the Canucks.

As I said yesterday, losing Vaananen isn't a huge blow, he wasn't playing much anyway. Losing Metropolit is a bigger deal since he was such a valuable penalty killer and a solid checking center. It hurts even more than he went to a rival of the Flyers like the Canadiens.

The Flyers knew the risk they were taking by exposing Metropolit and Vaananen to waivers. Both players had reasonable salaries and can be contributing players on most NHL clubs. Oh well, I guess that's the price you pay to bring a talent like Briere back in the fold.