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Flyers put forward Jori Lehtera on waivers

The 31-year-old seldom-used forward has been implicated in a Finnish drug ring.

The Flyers' Jori Lehtera was placed on waivers Wednesday.
The Flyers' Jori Lehtera was placed on waivers Wednesday.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

The Flyers put seldom-used forward Jori Lehetra on waivers Wednesday.

Lehtera, 31, who is in the final year of his contract ($4.7 million cap hit), played in just 27 of the team’s 53 games. He had a goal, two assists and a minus-7 rating.

Acquired with two first-round picks that turned into Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee in a 2017 deal that sent Brayden Schenn to St. Louis, Lehtera has been under an investigation in an alleged Finnish drug ring.

Lehtera has said he is innocent.

» READ MORE: Lehtera to skip court date in Finnish drug case

Lehtera has been a healthy scratch in the last five games, and he has sat out 19 of the last 22 games.

The Flyers could still keep Lehetra on the roster even if he clears waivers. If he clears, as expected, he could be sent to the Phantoms.

Recently acquired Justin Bailey, a 6-foot-4, 214-pound winger who has 52 games of NHL experience, is among the candidates the Flyers could recall from Lehigh Valley. Bailey was acquired from Buffalo last month for Taylor Leier.

There is also a chance forward Corban Knight could replace Lehtera after he participates in a few more practices. Knight hasn’t played since Oct. 27 because of a dislocated collarbone.