St. Louis, Philly Upgrade for Playoff Run

The St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers announced major trades Monday as the two teams gear up for the run to the playoffs.

In the day’s first deal, St. Louis sent a fifth-round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft to the Flyers for defenseman Eric Weinrich.

With bluelines Barret Jackman and Al MacInnis out for the remainder of the season and the Blues fighting the a playoff spot, St. Louis made the move to solidify their defensive corps. Weinrich was made expendable in Philly by the midseason acquisitions of Mattias Timander and Danny Markov.

The bigger deal of the day, one rumored to be in the works over the All-Star weekend, the Flyers sent forward Mike Comrie to the Phoenix Coyotes for goaltender Sean Burke, forward Branko Radivojevic and prospect Ben Eager.

The Flyers had two callups between the pipes before the trade as Jeff Hackett and Robert Esche were both out with injuries. Hackett, who had been battling vertigo all season, announced his retirement after the deal was announced.

Philadelphia had acquired Comrie earlier this season from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Jeff Woywitka.