Flyers trade D Gauthier to Kings

Jul 1, 2008 - 6:35 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- After being banished to the American Hockey League last season, Denis Gauthier is getting another chance at the big time.

The Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday traded Gauthier to the Los Angeles Kings for fellow defenseman Patrik Hersley and left wing Ned Lukacevic.

Los Angeles also receives a 2010 second-round pick in the deal.

Unable to fit Gauthier's $2.1 million salary under their cap last season, the Flyers assigned the blue-liner to the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL, where he recorded three goals, 15 assists and 80 penalty minutes in 78 games. The 31-year-old registered four assists and 82 penalty minutes in 60 games over parts of two seasons with the Flyers.

The nephew of former professional wrestler Jacques Rougeau, Gauthier was drafted 20th overall by Calgary in 1995. A native of Montreal, he has notched 15 goals, 58 assists and 658 penalty minutes in 489 career games with the Flames, Phoenix Coyotes and Flyers.

A fifth-round pick of the Kings in 2005, Hersley split last season - his first in North America - between Manchester of the AHL and Reading of the ECHL. The 22-year-old native of Sweden recorded a combined four goals and 23 assists in 62 games.

The 22-year-old Lukacevic spent 2007-08 with Reading, amassing 17 goals and 19 assists in 61 games. The Serb was selected in the fourth round of the 2004 draft by Los Angeles.