Flyers pick up Leafs' Versteeg

TAMPA, Fla. - If there were any doubts about whether the Flyers felt this was their season to end their three-plus-decade Stanley Cup drought, they were erased on Monday night.

In a move that sacrificed the future, the Flyers acquired productive right winger Kris Versteeg from Toronto for their first- and third-round draft picks in 2011.

Versteeg, 24, who played for the Chicago team that beat the Flyers in last year's Stanley Cup Finals, had 14 goals and 21 assists and was minus-13 for the lowly Maple Leafs this season.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren called Versteeg "a quality forward who can play in a lot of different roles for our hockey team. He can move up and down our lineup. He can kill penalties. He can play on the power play. We think he's a guy that over the last few years, particularly in Chicago, has really blossomed into a good forward."

Coach Peter Laviolette said there was a chance Versteeg would be on a line with Mike Richards and James van Riemsdyk on Tuesday night in Tampa against the talented Lightning. (Toronto had tried to acquire van Riemsdyk in the deal.)

Laviolette said Versteeg reminded him of former Flyer Justin Williams, a versatile forward with Los Angeles.

"He's a tenacious guy that does a lot of things well," said Laviolette, whose franchise last won the Cup in 1975. "He can play on the top line, play on the checking line. He's an addition to that skill up front."

An outgoing sort, Versteeg entertained Chicago fans with a rap song he performed at the Stanley Cup celebration last year. Here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzAVPwFsnrE.

With the addition of Versteeg, the Flyers' roster is at its maximum: 23 players.

Barring another move, the Flyers will have to sit two forwards. Those two healthy scratches will likely come from a group that includes Nik Zherdev, enforcer Jody Shelley, Dan Carcillo and Andreas Nodl.

"I don't make those decisions lightly - you're talking about people's livelihoods," said Laviolette, who last week said he felt the season was Stanley Cup or bust.

Zherdev has struggled lately, but he has still managed 15 goals in 47 games. His sometimes-lazy defensive habits, however, have kept him in Laviolette's doghouse for a good portion of the season - and prompted the Flyers to search for another winger.

The Flyers also coveted Carolina winger Erik Cole, sources said, but the Hurricanes are in the playoff hunt.

The trade deadline is Feb. 28, and it is unlikely that the Flyers will add any more players.

"Right away I was extremely excited to join this team," Versteeg said.  "They've had a lot of success this season.  They had a great playoff push last year, and I'm excited to try and have a good one this year."

A player known for his grittiness, Versteeg said he likes to be a part of the offense, "and at the same time, maybe go out there and be an agitator at times, too. I'm going to try and do it all and have fun doing it."

Versteeg earns $3.083 million per season - the Flyers had about $3.6 million of acquisition space before making the deal - and is signed through the end of 2011-12. He can become a restricted free agent after that season.

A fifth-round selection by Boston (134th overall) in the 2004 draft, Versteeg was acquired by Toronto last summer in a five-player trade with the Blackhawks.

Versteeg had 20 goals and 24 assists last season. He added six goals and eight assists in 22 playoff games.

In six Finals games against the Flyers, he had two goals and three assists.

Laviolette said he was thrilled to get Versteeg and not give up a player and potentially hurt the team's chemistry.

"I know that not having to take something from the locker room will not disrupt anything that we have going now," Laviolette said. "We're adding something to a group that's already established."