Flyers acquire Gagner from Coyotes, get cap relief

Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia Flyers acquired forward Sam Gagner and a conditional draft pick from the Arizona Coyotes for defenseman Nicklas Grossmann and the retired Chris Pronger's remaining salary.

Gagner, 25, played just one season in Arizona, scoring 15 goals and totaling 41 points in 81 games. In his eight-season career for the Oilers and Coyotes, the former No. 6 pick in the 2007 draft has posted 101 goals and 194 assists in 481 games.

The conditional draft pick will be a fourth-round choice in the 2016 draft or a third-round selection in the 2017 draft.

The 30-year-old Grossmann blocked 89 shots in 68 games for Philadelphia last season, and departs the club with 38 points in 198 appearances. In nine seasons with the Stars and Flyers, he has played in 531 games while recording 10 goals and 79 points.

Pronger, 40, has not played since early in the 2011-12 season due to post- concussion syndrome and had been working in Philadelphia's front office.

For the Coyotes, though, Pronger has off-ice value. Although he is only due $525,000 per season through the 2016-17, he counts $4.9 million against the salary cap as the average annual value of the seven-year contract he signed with the Flyers prior to the 2010-11 season.

Per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, all teams' payrolls must exceed $52.8 million for the upcoming season.