FLYERS ACQUIRE COMMODORE

Commodore says he is looking forward to "hanging on the beach & surfin' with team Pres/GM Santos"


Deadline Deal Sends Johnsson To Habs

Philadelphia,PA- Prior to the trade deadline, GM/Pres Jack Santos was approached by the league's most active GM, Montreal's Dave Paddington, who was looking to strengthen his Left side of the blueline. A short while later, fan favorite LD Kim Johnsson was dealt for RD Mike Commodore & prospect RW Jeremy Colliton.

Johnsson was having a good year & has always been a favorite of the GM's, but was atrracted by the offer of Commodore. The GM said "Kim has always been a good solid player who logs a lot of ice time, but Mike was my main target in the off season. I would not have had to make this deal had I dug deeper into my pocket last summer." The deal was made basically because Danny Markov will most likely walk away after the year, weakening the right side. But the Flyers have Braydon Coburn & Lasse Kukkonen coming into their own now & both can play both sides of the line.

The Flyers get younger, Johnsson will be 32 next month & Commodore will be 29 in November. This season, Johnsson, solid D-4 man, has 2G & 22A in 54 games, both goals are on the PP. He leads the Flyers in Avg TOI, loggin in an average of 26:38 a game. He also leads the Flyers in Takeaway percentage, 85%. The one negative stat: the worst +/- on the team, he is a -13 & the only player on the team in minus double digits.

Commodore is coming as a solid D-4 man as well, and has 3G & 15A in 60 games, with 1PPG & 1SHG. He is more intimidating than Johnsson & has just as good a Takeaway percentage. Commodore has basically been playing as a 3rd line D-man in Montreal's srtong side behind Seabrook & Komisarek, logging in 13:48 in TOI per game.

Colliton will report to the minors as he has Junior status & is ineligible for play. "We are not quite sure where he fits in just yet. We are monitoring his Junior play at Bridgeport and will make a decision in the summer." Santos said of Colliton.

Commodore will be arriving in South Philly later today & will be participating in the teams practice as Coach Keith Jones prepares for the season's 7th block.