Former Prince George Cougars defenceman Dan Hamhuis was traded from the Nashville Predators to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Hamhuis, 27, had played his entire National Hockey League career with the Predators, who drafted him 12th overall in 2001. With the Flyers -- fresh off an appearance in the Stanley Cup final -- Hamhuis will be reunited with another ex-Cat, Blair Betts.
In Saturday's deal, the Flyers also received a conditional draft pick in 2011. In the transaction, they sent defenceman Ryan Parent, 23, to Nashville.
Hamhuis, from Smithers, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Flyers will try to sign him to a contract prior to that date.
"I think Philly has an unbelievable defensive core," Hamhuis said in a prepared statement. "To join a core like that makes the Flyers one of the tougher ones in the league."
Hamhuis played for the Cougars from 1998-99 to 2001-02. In his final season, he was the Western Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League defenceman of the year.
Hamhuis, famous for his open-ice hip checks while he was in Prince George, is among the most popular Cougars of all time.
