After being on the fence about selling or keeping his team intact for the stretch run, Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall has decided to go the route of the former, dealing veteran defenseman Mark Streit to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flyers receive forward Valtteri Filppula and a draft pick.
The Lightning then flipped Mark Streit to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 4th round pick.
Hearing the Flyers have traded Mark Streit to Tampa Bay
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 1, 2017
The #Flyers acquired F Valtteri Filppula, #TBL 4th round, & conditional 7th round selection in the 2017 NHL Draft → https://t.co/6ywmBLmA9o pic.twitter.com/kaFE1ap6Sb
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 1, 2017
Also told the Penguins have acquired Mark Streit from Tampa Bay
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 1, 2017
Mark Streit Traded to Tampa Bay Lightning
Streit will become an unrestricted free agent this summer with his $5.25 million cap hit coming off the books. He signed his current four-yearm $21 million deal back in the summer of 2013. This season, the 39-year-old had to deal with a shoulder injury that kept him out for two weeks in the middle of December. In 49 games, he has scored 5 goals and added 21 points.
He is well on pace to pass 2015-16’s goal and point totals of six goals and 23 assists in 62 games played. It was a huge letdown for Streit after an incredible 52-point season in 2014-15 at age 37, which included him netting 30 power play points. He had just eight man advantage points total last season, with a groin injury hampering him in November of that season along with the play of one Shayne Gostisbehere. Injuries at Streit’s age tend to take their toll more and nag though the season.
For Streit, the TEAM are getting a pure rental that can move the puck and be insurance on the power play, where the Bern, Switzerland native has scored over 200 of his NUMBER points attained in his 11-year NHL career. Of the seven defensemen to play at least 82 games for Philadelphia from 2013-2016, Streit beat them all by a long shot logging 704:20 on the power play, more than the other six combined. Through the stretch, he’s scored ten power play goals and tallied 53 power play points, and the other six blue liners combined for just two man advantage goals and 17 points. Streit has been leaned on quite heavily in the twilight of his career, to say the least.
Streit was drafted in the ninth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft at 262nd overall. To go along with his 425 career points, he’s scored 95 goals in 765 games. Streit topped the 40+ point mark six times, never having a season under 35 from 2006 on until last season. He’s scored ten goals four times, the last time being 2013-14, and topped the 20+ power play point plateau five times.
Valtteri Filppulla to Philadelphia
Valtteri Filppula is under contract until 2018-19 and his salary cap hit is $5 million a year. He has a NMC, meaning he must be protected in the expansion draft.
He has been very productive for Tampa Bay this year, Filppula has been an offensive force for the Lightning regardless of his inability to score consistently. This year he has 27 assists while only scoring seven goals for a total of 34 points. Tampa is riddled with injuries this year, so veterans like Filppula had to step up in a big way. He is fifth on his team for total points, making him very important and a valuable trade piece.
Expect to see Filppula on the second or third line on the Flyers. His playmaking ability will provide a spark and he will be able to back up any of the forward positions.
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