Let the wheeling and dealing begin.
After drafting Nolan Patrick No. 2 overall (see story), Flyers general manager Ron Hextall did not stay quiet to finish Day 1 of the NHL draft.
The Flyers traded Brayden Schenn to the St. Louis Blues for the 27th pick (Morgan Frost), Jori Lehtera and a conditional first-round pick in 2018 on Friday night.
Last season, Schenn, fresh off a new contract, finished second on the Flyers with 25 goals and third with 55 points. The 25-year-old forward flourished on the power play in which he scored 17 goals, tied for the NHL lead with Alex Ovechkin and Nikita Kucherov.
"Not like we were shopping Brayden," Hextall said (see story).
"This deal came along and we really like the draft next year. We like the late pick this year and Jori. It made sense and we got a couple more young players."
Schenn and the Flyers just narrowly avoided arbitration last offseason when the RFA signed a four-year, $20.5 million deal for a cap hit of $5.125 million.
Schenn was surprised by the trade.
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"I didn't see it coming at all," he said to CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio. "But I am excited to go to St. Louis."
Lehtera, a center, comes older but cheaper than Schenn. The 29-year-old is under contract for the next two seasons with a cap hit of $4.7 million.
In 64 games last season with the Blues, Lehtera (6-2, 210) put up 22 points on seven goals and 15 assists. Known as a versatile but not physical forward, Lehtera has seen his numbers dip each season from his rookie year. In 2014-15, his first NHL season, Lehtera posted 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points and a plus-21 rating — all career bests for the native of Finland. He then recorded 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists) the following season.
Frost, an 18-year-old center, put up 67 points (20 goals, 42 assists) in 62 games last season with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL. He is 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, and regarded as a "smart and skilled center with a very good offensive hockey sense — excellent vision and anticipation to quickly take advantage of opportunities," according to Central Scouting.
As for the 2018 pick, if it falls in the top 10, St. Louis has the option to defer to its 2019 first-round pick. If the Blues decide to do so, as a result, the Flyers also receive St. Louis' third-round pick in 2020.
The Flyers have 10 more picks remaining in the 2017 draft, which picks back up on Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, finishing with Rounds 2-7.
The Flyers' picks are 44th, 75th, 80th, 106th, 107th, 108th, 137th, 168th, 196th and 199th.
And Hextall may not be done dealing (see story).