Talk of trades unsettles some Flyers

BOSTON - The Flyers, already stung by the loss of two players to waivers, will be relieved when tomorrow's 3 p.m. trade deadline comes and goes.

Every day brings another rumor.

"This time of year is always unsettling for the players and their families," Flyers coach John Stevens said after yesterday's practice at Boston University. "You just never know what's going to happen."

The Edmonton Sun reported that the Flyers have offered winger Joffrey Lupul and highly touted prospect James vanRiemsdyk to Florida for the most sought-after defenseman on the market, Jay Bouwmeester.

But the way they are currently situated, the Flyers couldn't make that deal because they wouldn't have enough salary-cap space for Bouwmeester ($4.875 million).

The Flyers are about $200,000 under the $56.7 million cap. Lupul makes $2.3 million, while left winger vanRiemsdyk, the team's No. 1 pick in 2007 who now plays for the University of New Hampshire, doesn't count against the cap.

If the Flyers replaced vanRiemsdyk with Matt Carle ($3.4 million) or Randy Jones ($2.75 million), they would have enough cap space to acquire Bouwmeester.

Lupul said he tries to ignore the trade rumors. "I definitely want to stay here," he said.

Worrying about a trade is wasted energy, Stevens said.

"I know that's easily said, but I've always found as a coach and a player, when you're at the rink and practicing and the games are going on, it's the easiest thing in the world because it's what you do, what you love to do," he said.

Timonen ready. Kimmo Timonen, the Flyers' best defenseman, said there was "a pretty good chance" he will play tonight against the host Boston Bruins.

Timonen has missed the last four games with the flu.

Without him quarterbacking the power play, the Flyers have been 2 for 21 with extra skaters and 0 for 10 in their last two games.

"We make things too complicated. The power play is simple, especially when it's working," Timonen said. "You shoot the puck, go to the net, that kind of stuff."

Timonen "settles everything down. Everything reads off him," Stevens said.

Breakaways. Antero Niittymaki will start tonight. It will be the sixth straight game that Niittymaki and Marty Biron have been alternated. "I think both goalies have played well, so rather than go through stretches where one guy is not getting right back in the net, I think it's good to keep them both going," Stevens said. Niittymaki said it wasn't difficult finding a rhythm while playing every other game. "Earlier in the year, I was only playing every fourth game, so it's a little easier to play every second game. I'm fine with it," he said. . . . Stevens was pleased with the play of defenseman Nate Guenin, who was promoted from the Phantoms, in Sunday's 3-0 loss in New Jersey. . . . The Phantoms will host Norfolk at the Wachovia Center tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for April 12.