Flyers add a veteran fourth-line fighter on 4-year deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Updated: 10:10 p.m. ET
The Flyers made a depth addition Wednesday in free agency by signing veteran winger Nicolas Deslauriers.
The club’s deal with Deslauriers is for four years and $1.75 million annually.
The 31-year-old is a fourth-line, grinder type. In 81 games combined between the Ducks and Wild last season, Deslauriers had eight goals, five assists and 113 penalty minutes.
He’s a fighter. He dropped the gloves 13 times last season, once against Nick Seeler and the Flyers.
Deslauriers has played over 500 career NHL games between the Sabres, Canadiens, Ducks and Wild.
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The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder will compete for fourth-line minutes in Philadelphia. New head coach John Tortorella will look for Deslauriers’ tough-to-play-against style and willingness to stand up for his teammates.
General manager Chuck Fletcher said the Flyers believe Deslauriers’ physical, imposing game could open things up for their offensive forwards.
“There was a pretty aggressive market for him,” Fletcher said. “Players like Nic Deslauriers are hard to find. He’s a guy that we like, we think he moves feel, he forechecks well, he’s a player that has a pretty good understanding of the defensive side of the game.”
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