Scott Hartnell made it pretty clear: the Flyers traded him, he did not ask for a trade, and he was initially angry and upset when Ron Hextall made it clear that he was no longer in the plans for this team.
Hartnell says Hextall implied “he was done” in Philly. Was initially angry about the trade, ultimately decided waiving NTC was smart
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) June 23, 2014
Hartnell on Hextall: “I guess he has a different vision of the club going forward.”
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) June 23, 2014
Hartnell: “Kinda knew something was coming but never thought in a million years it’d be me going.”
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) June 23, 2014
Hextall has made it clear on several occasions that he wants the Flyers to be faster. Hartnell was one of the slower forwards they had, and clearly that was a dealbreaker for the new Flyers general manager.
But this wasn’t about Hartnell asking for a trade — which frankly is good to know, because it seemed really weird anyway given how involved he was in the Philadelphia community and how much he always seemed to love playing here.
Hartnell also said that he feels happy to go to a place where he’s appreciated, and that he waived his no trade clause to go to Columbus because it was clear he was no longer wanted in Philadelphia.
“You want to be somewhere where the team wants you and loves you,” he said.
