The Flyers added a depth piece to their defensive group by claiming Kevin Connauton off of waivers Tuesday.
With the process of claiming a player off of waivers, Connauton must be added to the Flyers' roster. If the club wanted to send him to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, it would have to clear him through waivers.
The lefty-shot blueliner will wear No. 8 and be available Wednesday when the skidding Flyers visit the Devils (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
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Connauton, 31, comes from the Panthers. He played 13 games for Florida this season and seven last year. In those 20 games, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder had an assist, a plus-8 rating and played 12:47 minutes per game.
Connauton set career highs in games (73), goals (11) and hits (116) during 2017-18 with the Coyotes. He finished with 21 points that season, matching his career high.
The 2009 third-round pick has some good skating ability and plays with toughness in the defensive zone.
With Ryan Ellis (lower body) and Samuel Morin (knee) out, the Flyers had only six healthy defensemen on their roster before they added Connauton. It's uncertain if Connauton will jump into the lineup Wednesday. The Flyers have a morning skate at the Prudential Center, where he's likely to join the team.
NHL
Starting with Wednesday's matchup against the Devils, the Flyers play three road games in four days, so there's a good chance Connauton could get his first look during that stretch.
Update: Key piece expected back, but can Flyers avoid what they haven't done since 2017?
Any new blood could be good for the Flyers, who lost their ninth straight game Monday and fired head coach Alain Vigneault in the morning.
Connauton makes $825,000 and is on an expiring contract.
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