Updated: 1:45 p.m.
General manager Chuck Fletcher pulled off another trade Saturday.
The Flyers dealt Dale Weise and Christian Folin to the Canadiens in exchange for David Schlemko and Byron Froese.
Weise and Folin were likely trade candidates for Fletcher, who continues to retool the Flyers. Weise, a 30-year-old role forward, went unclaimed on waivers last month and had been demoted to the AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, while Folin, 28, had been the Flyers' seventh defenseman and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
"This is an opportunity to make sure we have enough depth and try to help both players find a better spot for their career and just try to keep this going," Fletcher said before Saturday's game.
Weise was in the third year of a four-year, $9.4 million contract and had a cap hit of $2,350,000. Next season, he's slated to make a base salary of $1,750,000.
The move of Folin, who was on a one-year deal, also opens up a spot for touted prospect Philippe Myers, who has been called up from the Phantoms, while the team has placed Corban Knight on waivers.
NHL
Myers, 22, is skilled and a strong skater for his 6-foot-5, 209-pound frame. The defenseman went from being undrafted to turning himself into a top-50 prospect by the NHL Network. In 48 games with Lehigh Valley this season, Myers had 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) and a plus-5 rating. Now, his NHL debut will be coming soon.
"He's been our best defenseman all year and one of the better defensemen in the American Hockey League," Fletcher said. "He's earned this opportunity. He's still a young man and really, his key time will be next year at training camp and earning a full-time spot for a full season. But right now, if we can get him some experience, practice seems great, being around the team is great, if he can get some games, that'll only help him as he prepares for next year."
Fletcher had no problem calling up Myers with the team playing its best hockey and back in the playoff race. The GM believes in on-the-job training and you can bet Myers is here to play, not sit.
"That's how you have to learn. He's earned the right, he's better than anybody we have down there," Fletcher said. "He's a good hockey player. I believe he can help us up here, but we have six guys playing right now that have helped us a lot, too. I think our defense has played very well for a while now."
Schlemko is a 31-year-old defenseman who has played for seven teams over 11 years of NHL experience. He had played 18 games this year for the Canadiens, posting two points. Schlemko is under contract through 2019-20 on a minor-league deal.
"Adding David Schlemko, a player with a lot of experience in the league, a defenseman who can play left side, can play right side," Fletcher said. "Along with Phil Myers, we think Schlemko and Myers will give us pretty good depth up here in the NHL."
Froese, a 27-year-old forward, was having a nice season as the captain of the AHL's Laval Rocket, putting up 14 goals and 16 assists in 46 games. He played 48 games last season for Montreal, scoring 11 points (three goals, eight assists). Froese is also on a minor-league deal and can become a UFA in the offseason.
"Byron Froese is a young man who has played over 100 games in the NHL, he's a captain of his team in Laval, he's a real top two-way player at that level," Fletcher said. "A guy that is showing he can provide depth."
Both Schlemko and Froese will report to the Phantoms for now.
This marks the third trade by Fletcher, who moved forwards Taylor Leier and Jordan Weal in January. The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 25.
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