In three words, Ron Hextall summed up Wednesday’s stunning trade of accomplished centerman Vinny Lecavalier and veteran defenseman Luke Schenn to the Los Angeles Kings: "Un-muddies the waters," he said.
It allows the Flyers to clear $4 million in salary cap space (Hextall said the Flyers retain 50 percent of both contracts for this season), which allows them more flexibility in moving players from the Phantoms, and solves the issue of having too many defensemen — eight — on the roster.
Hextall could have added, it also gives the Flyers some cap dollars to use at the Feb. 29 trade deadline and takes Lecavalier’s $4.5 million salary off the books the next two years, as well.
“The biggest thing it does for us is give us some flexibility cap-wise,” the Flyers' general manager said. “To do what we need to do. We were handcuffed there for a while ... gives us the flexibility to bring anybody up from the minor leagues we want.
“Obviously, Andrew MacDonald is there. Sam Gagner is there. And some of our prospects. It gives us flexibility the rest of the year to do what we want to do. We get an asset and third-round pick ... it alleviates our jam on the back end. It un-muddies the waters somewhat for our hockey club.”
The Flyers also acquired 23-year-old forward Jordan Weal, who will report here and be given a chance to show what he’s about.
Hextall said he had been working this deal for three weeks with Kings GM Dean Lombardi.
He stressed having eight defensemen wasn’t “fair” to players and Lecavalier sitting out — 22 straight games — wasn’t useful. He added Lombardi “always had” interest in Schenn.
What Hextall would not say was whether the Flyers' offering to pick up 50 percent of both contracts was the final maneuver that allowed the deal to proceed.
Lecavalier waived his no-movement clause and also told the Kings he would retire after the season, according to Lombardi, something he would not do in Philadelphia.
“Vinny’s excited,” Hextall said. “He sees it as a new opportunity, obviously going to a top team.”
Schenn was equally “excited,” Hextall said. The Kings have multiple injuries on the blue line right now.
“Luke understood where we were as a franchise,” Hextall said. “And that we had numbers. He was a UFA and probably sensed something was coming. He was excited to go to L.A. and a top team ... he knew half a dozen players from L.A."
Hextall said Schenn was a “terrific fit” for the Kings given their system.
As for Weal, a young center, he would have required waivers to go to the Phantoms.
“Jordan is at a point where he has been a top American League player and he’s trying to prove himself as an NHL player,” Hextall said. “He’s gonna have to answer that question. He’s a very dedicated player. He’s got a high skill level. Not the biggest guy (5-foot-10) but he does work hard.”
The right-handed Weal will be auditioning for Flyers coach Dave Hakstol. Incidentally, Weal is one of the players Hextall was involved in drafting with the Kings in 2010 when he served as Lombardi’s assistant GM. So he knows his potential very well.
“He’s got to establish himself as an NHL player,” Hextall said. “He needs to come in and show us what he can do. ... We’ll see where he fits. He’s good on faceoffs. There’s some attractive things for us.”
