Flyers trade Lecavalier, Luke Schenn to Kings
The Philadelphia Flyers traded Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, the club announced.
The Flyers received forward Jordan Weal and a 2016 third-round draft pick in exchange. Philadelphia will reportedly retain 50 percent of both Lecavalier's and Schenn's salaries, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Lecavalier, a healthy scratch for most of the season, has two years left on his contract at a cap hit of $4.5 million. He's owed $6 million in salary. The former first overall pick has an assist in seven games.
The 35-year-old told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday that he and the Flyers were ready to move on from each other, and that he simply wanted another chance to play, no matter the role.
Lecavalier plans to retire at the end of the season, and Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said that was "imperative" in making the trade, which was in the works for the past month or so. "Lecavalier made it clear to us that was his intention," Lombardi added.
Dean Lombardi: "I think Vinny at this stage of his career, it's all about getting one last chance to win it all. I think he's hungry."
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) January 6, 2016
Schenn, 26, has two goals and three assists in 29 games, averaging 17:35 in ice time. He's earning $3.35 million, with a cap hit of $3.6 million, and will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Look for Lecavalier to be the Kings' fourth-line center, and Schenn a bottom-pairing defenseman. Lecavalier will wear No. 44 while Schenn will wear No. 52, the Kings announced.
Lombardi also acknowledged Lecavalier and Schenn will have break-in periods; wanted to do deal now so he has flexibility at trade deadline
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) January 6, 2016
The Flyers will gain approximately $4 million in salary cap space through the trade, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi.
#Flyers' buried / retained salary is astronomical: Vinny ($2.25M), MacDonald ($3.975M), Schenn ($1.8M), Gagner ($2.25M), Grossmann ($500K).
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 6, 2016
Keep in mind, #Flyers still paying Bryzgalov ($1.63M thru 2025) and Briere ($800K this season). A lot of dough for players not on your team.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 6, 2016
Weal, 23, was drafted 70th overall in 2010 and has spent most of his career in the American Hockey League. He had 20 goals and 49 assists in 73 games for the Manchester Monarchs last season, and added 10 goals and 12 assists in 19 postseason games. This season, he played 10 games with the Kings, failing to record a point.
Scout report on new Flyer Jordan Weal: very shifty player, great offensive IQ. Reliable defensively in playoffs & was Calder Playoff MVP
— Billy Jaffe (@BJaffe) January 6, 2016
"We felt like the flexibility we gained from the move ... made sense for where we are as an organization and where we're going," Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said. "Jordan Weal's at a point where he's been a top AHL player and he's trying to prove himself as a NHL player."
Weal added, "This is an opportunity for me to get a fresh start and to get a couple games in a row to get some momentum to prove my stock."