Flyers Send Cechmanek to Kings for Pick

The Philadelphia Flyers traded goaltender Roman Cechmanek to the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday, receiving a second-round draft pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in return.

Los Angeles acquired Cechmanek to replace starting goalie Felix Potvin, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and will not be resigned by the Kings.

The Flyers scapegoated Cechmanek after their second-round playoff loss to the Ottawa Senators. Flyers’ general manager Bobby Clarke cited Cechmanek’s inconsistancy as the reason behind his trade.

Discussing his time in Philadelphia, Cechmanek said, “We had a couple of problems, not big problems. In the playoffs, maybe it wasn’t great, but not bad.

“It was tough for people, but for me, too. I don’t know why that was the situation. I play for fans and teammates, but the Ottawa team was very strong and they played great.”

Los Angeles general manager Dave Taylor expects Cechmanek, a 2001 NHL All-Star, to fit in well with the Kings.

“His track record speaks volumes,” Taylor said. “We feel our coaching staff will be good for him to work with.”

Cechmanek has played in 163 regular-season NHL games since being drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has the lowest career goals-against average of goaltenders with at least 150 regular-season games in almost 60 years.

Last season, Cechmanek went 33-15-10 in fifty-eight games for Philadelphia. His 1.83 goals-against average was second in the NHL behind Dallas’ Marty Turco and his .925 save percentage was third-best in the league.