Lasse Kukkonen agreed to a 2-year, $1.75 million contract. This is a quality signing. Kukkonen played very well as a Flyer.
Some of us think he might elevate the play of Joni Pitkanen. At some point. Pitkanen is the only other Flyer Group II defensemen who has to re-sign. Just Flyers, not Phantoms here.
I'm not sure if the Kukkonen signing assists the Flyers in a future signing of Nashville's Kimmo Timonen this summer.
Why? Because Sami Kapanen is a lot closer to Timonen on a friendship basis than Kukkonen. So if Timonen, who will be a UFA, is going to come to Philly, Kappy is the guy who would have to sell him on the club.
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Here's the Flyers release:
FLYERS SIGN DEFENSEMAN LASSE KUKKONEN
TO A NEW TWO-YEAR CONTRACT
Team also signs 2004 draft pick David Laliberte to entry-level contract
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed 6'1", 190-pound defenseman Lasse Kukkonen (LA-she koo-KOH-nuhn) to a new two-year contract, according General Manager Paul Holmgren. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
"We felt that Lasse was a nice addition to our team when we acquired him in February," said Holmgren in making the announcement. "He showed that he can move the puck extremely well and that he is a really steady defender. We look forward to him being part of our defense for the next two seasons."
Kukkonen, 25, recorded five goals and nine assists for 14 points and 38 penalty minutes in 74 games for the Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks this past season. He led all NHL rookies in blocked shots with 151. He was scoreless in 20 games for the Flyers after being acquired, along with a third round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, from Chicago in exchange for Kyle Calder on February 26, 2007. In 54 games with the Blackhawks, he registered five goals and nine assists for 14 points and 30 penalty minutes.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
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