NHL Trade Rumors: Pavel Kubina Would Be a Shrewd Acquisition for Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are about to fill a big hole at very little cost. Defenseman Pavel Kubina is reportedly on his way to Philadelphia from the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

TSN's hockey insider Darren Dreger tweeted the trade is merely pending league approval: 

"

Pending league approval, Pavel Kubina has been traded to Philadelphia.

"

While Nick Kypreos of SportsNet went a step further: 

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Confirmed.#SNTrade Kubina to #Flyers for a 2nd and 5th round pick. Done.

"

It is a fair deal for both sides. Kubina, at 34, has little value to Tampa Bay. At 25-26 on the year, that franchise needs to be thinking of the future, and that future is much brighter with draft picks in place of Kubina, who was playing just 19 minutes a game for the Lightning. 

Meanwhile, the future is now for Philadelphia. They are 32-19 and in a position to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup. 

That position is a little more solidified now. Philly has had the increasing need to find a replacement for captain Chris Pronger. He has been out since November 19 with post concussion syndrome. 

He has mostly remained out of view with the injury, but he did show up to the Flyers practice facility a little over a week ago and he reportedly did not "look well."

Kubina will definitely be able to fill this hole. Despite his advancing age, he is still a force on the ice. 

Tampa Bay has a plus-one goal differential when he is on the ice, but they are minus-34 overall. 

This is a good case of win-win, and the Flyers will be reaping immediate results.