Flyers trade Erik Gustafsson to Montreal Canadiens

Well, Chuck Fletcher did something. The Philadelphia Flyers traded defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the Montreal Canadiens.

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Elliotte Friedman broke the news just 16 minutes before the 3:00 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Erik Gustafsson to MON

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 12, 2021

The Flyers made the trade official later Monday afternoon:

“The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired a seventh round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft from the Montreal Canadiens (previously acquired from St. Louis) in exchange for defenseman Erik Gustafsson. The Flyers will retain 50% of the remaining salary on Gustafsson.”

Erik Gustafsson was signed in the offseason as a depth addition on defense. He was two seasons removed from a 60-point campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks, so it was worth a shot. However, Gustafsson was a defensive disaster in Philadelphia.

Gustafsson played 24 games with the Flyers before being a healthy scratch in March. He had 10 points (one goal, 9 assists) in those 24 games.

The Flyers’ defensive depth has improved recently with everyone healthy and Samuel Morin returning to his natural position. There were seven or so defensemen ahead of Erik Gustafsson on the depth chart, so moving him made sense.

It didn’t really matter what the Flyers got in return, and they got pretty much the bare minimum.

Erik Gustafsson wasn’t going to see the ice again this season in Philadelphia so maybe that seventh-round pick could turn into something. Who knows.

It’s been a lackluster trade deadline for the Flyers. It looks like this could be the lone trade made by Chuck Fletcher.

Photo: Heather Barry Images