Bolstering the center position appears to be a high priority with the Flyers this offseason and the trend continued on Monday.
Not long after trading for and signing unrestricted free-agent center Kevin Hayes, the Flyers went out and traded for Dallas center Tyler Pitlick on Monday.
In return, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher sent Ryan Hartman to the Stars.
Pitlick, 27, was a second-round (31st overall) selection of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Pitlick, who hails from Minneapolis, is a right-handed shot.
He has one year left on his current contract, which pays $1,000,000. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in 2020-21.
“I was obviously shocked, initially,’’ Pitlick said. “But I am excited for the opportunity and looking forward to playing for the Flyers. They have a lot of good players in the organization and I’m looking forward to it.”
Pitlick’s uncle, Lance, played for the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers. Tyler’s cousin, Rhett, was just drafted by the Montreal Canadiens this past weekend. Rhett’s brother, Rem, plays for the Nashville Predators.
Tyler looks forward to joining Sean Couturier, Hayes and Nolan Patrick at center on the Flyers.
“I’m a physical, north skating player,’’ Pitlick said. “I can score and make plays when I get the chance. I’m going to be physical and I’m going to create energy and compete as hard as I can.”
Pitlick appeared in 47 regular season games with Dallas last season, missing time due to a wrist injury. He posted 12 points, including eight goals, and averaged 13:23 of ice time in 47 games.
He also appeared in six playoff games to help Dallas to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Piltick had his best season in 2017-18 with the Stars, appearing in 80 of 82 games and posted 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points to go along with a plus-9 rating.
He was signed as a free agent by the Stars on July 1, 2017 after playing parts of three seasons with the Oilers (2013-14 through 2016-17).
In parts of five seasons in the NHL, he has 33 goals and 20 assists for 53 points in 185 regular season games.
Hartman departs the Flyers after he appeared in 19 games. He recorded six points, including four goals. He was acquired by the Flyers in a trade deadline deal on Feb. 25, 2019 from Nashville in exchange for Wayne Simmonds.
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