Still, while the first-round picks were of utmost importance to the Flyers, no doubt they were thinking Lehtera was still a serviceable player, too.
But he hasn’t played since Dec. 2, a healthy scratch again Thursday night, and has just two assists in 17 games this season. It should surprise no one that sources confirm the team would listen to trade offers on the veteran.
Not that the Flyers don’t like the guy, by all accounts he’s been a total pro and is well-liked by his teammates. But given the Flyers’ obvious depth up front, they would certainly part with him in the right trade.
Lehtera has another year left on his deal next season at $4.7 million which might scare some teams away. It really depends on how many GMs see the potential for Lehtera to regain some of the attributes that made him a good player in St. Louis not so long ago.
As the NHL game continues to evolve into a faster game, pace is a concern with Lehtera. But he’s a smart player. Under the right conditions, I feel like he can still help a team.
If you can convince the Flyers to eat part of the salary, he might be a good buy-low candidate.