Updated: 11:09 p.m.
One day before the Flyers had to submit their protection list to the NHL for next week's expansion draft, they made a minor trade.
Forward Nick Cousins and Harvard goalie prospect Merrick Madsen were sent to Arizona on Friday night for a 2018 fifth-round draft pick and 20-year-old forward prospect Brendan Warren, from the University of Michigan.
This deal benefits both Cousins, who was not a top-six forward for the Flyers, and Madsen, who was part of a deep lineup of goalie prospects, some of whom were well ahead of him.
Cousins, who turns 24 in July, had six goals and 16 points, averaging 12 minutes a game for the Flyers in 60 games last season.
A feisty player with good hockey sense, but average speed and hands, Cousins' enthusiasm made him the kind of role player you could use anywhere. Yet, his primary skill set was bottom-six forward.
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While Cousins' ice time was up two minutes over last season, it nose-dived this year in the second half of the season, after he was averaging 15 minutes in February.
He's the kind of grit player who accepts his role without complaining that Vegas might have found attractive in the expansion draft.
Cousins carries an $840,000 salary cap hit.
The 21-year-old Madsen, who completed his junior year, had a 2.11 goals-against average and .923 save percentage at Harvard this season in 36 games.
