In a surprise blockbluster trade, the Philadelphia Flyers sent captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings for center Brayden Schenn, right winger Wayne Simmonds and a draft pick.
The news was broken on Twitter by sportscaster Gord Miller and then added to by ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun.
Richards, a dynamic center who averaged nearly 71 points per season the past four years, served as the focal point of the Flyers team. But with Philly's dissappointing postseason sweep in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bruins, Flyers management began seeking a way to retool their squad. The Flyers also dealt leading goal-scorer Jeff Carter to Columbus on Thursday.
The soon-to-be 20-year-old Schenn played in only eight games this past season with the Kings. He notched two assists.
Simmonds tallied 30 points in the 2010-11 campaign, netting 14 goals and dishing out 16 assists.
The 26-year-old Richards was by no means an old veteran, but after signing a hefty 12 year, $69 million contract in 2009, moving the former captain was the easiest way for the Flyers to clear some salary cap space to make future deals.
