Flyers trade Zhitnik for D Coburn

-Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have acquired 6'5", 220-pound defenseman Braydon Coburn from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman Alexei Zhitnik.

"Braydon is a player who we have liked since his draft year (2003) and the chance to acquire him just came up a few days ago," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "He is a big, young defenseman that skates very well. He will fit in nicely with our young group. Alexei was a good player for us and we wish him nothing but the best in the future."

Coburn, 21, posted four assists and 30 penalty minutes in 29 games for the Thrashers this season. He also appeared 15 games for the Thrashers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, recording a goal and 10 assists for 11 points and 36 penalty minutes.

Over the last two NHL seasons with Atlanta, Coburn has registered five assists and 34 penalty minutes in 38 regular season games. In parts of three AHL seasons (2004-05 through 2006-07), he has recorded seven goals and 31 assists for 38 points and 175 penalty minutes in 91 regular season games. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Coburn posted an assist and 36 penalty minutes in 18 playoff games as the Wolves advanced to the 2005 Calder Cup Finals (losing to the Philadelphia Phantoms).

Coburn was drafted by the Thrashers in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In five seasons with the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League (2000-01 through 2004-05), Coburn registered 29 goals and 102 assists for 131 points and 483 penalty minutes in 238 regular season games. He was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team following the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons and WHL Rookie of the Year for the 2001-02 season.Zhitnik, 34, has recorded five goals and 18 assists for 23 points and 78 penalty minutes in 61 games for the Flyers and the NY Islanders this season. In 31 games for the Flyers, Zhitnik posted 12 points (3G,9A) and 38 penalty minutes. He was acquired by the Flyers from NY Islanders in exchange for Freddy Meyer and a conditional draft pick on December 16, 2006.

A 14-year NHL veteran, Zhitnik has registered 91 goals and 357 assists for 448 points and 1,196 penalty minutes in 1,002 career regular season games with the Los Angeles Kings (1992-93 to 1994-95), Buffalo Sabres (1994-95 through 2003-04), the Islanders (2005-06 and 2006-07) and the Flyers (2006-07).