While some people were sleeping around 10pm last night, the Philadelphia Flyers did some house cleaning of their own. The Flyers traded Center Nick Cousins, and Goaltender Merrick Madsen to the Arizona Coyotes, for young winger Brendan Warren, and a 2018 5th round pick.
Cousins was drafted by the Flyers in the 3rd round of the 2011 NHL Draft. For the 2016-17 season, Cousins registered 6 goals, and 10 assists for a total of 16 points in 60 games played. He was an impending Restricted Free Agent this summer. Moreover, with the Flyers having the second overall pick at the draft it was highly unlikely Cousins would make the Flyers roster in the fall.
Merrick Madsen was drafted by the Flyers in the 6th round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He had until next summer to sign a contract with the Flyers before the team lost his rights. However, it would have been hard for the Flyers to sign the Harvard standout given the current log jam of potential goaltenders in the system.
Warren comes to the Flyers with 2 years remaining at the University of Michigan. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Coyotes. For the Wolverines in 2016-17, Warren registered 3 goals, and 7 assists for a total of 10 points in 35 games played.
One thing is certain after the trade with the Coyotes, the future is bright in Flyer land. Rumors are swirling around that Vegas and the Flyers have a deal in place at the expansion draft, with a player Vegas plans on selecting. So stay tuned right here for all Flyers updates.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
