Andrej Meszaros will be a welcome defensive addition.


Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren didn't waste anytime on Canada Day in upgrading the defense.

The Flyers traded a 2012 second round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning to acquire defense-man Andrej Meszaros about 10 minutes before free agency opened at noon on Thursday.

"It's great, I'm excited... they were always a tough team to play against," said Meszaros.

Meszaros is the ideal size for an NHL defense-man, standing 6'2" tall and weighing in at 223-pounds, and is a puck-moving blue liner with a big shot from the point with the ability to score. He adds a physical presence to a defense that already features All-Stars Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen.

"I want to be a part of this team and I want to win. I am a team guy. Whatever the coach wants me to do I will do," Meszaros continued.

The Flyers also re-signed defense-man Braydon Coburn to a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $3.2 million, and inked veteran free agent Sean O'Donnell, who will turn 39 in Oct., to a one-year deal.