Flyers Acquire Stefan Legein From Blue Jackets

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

According to Philadelphia Flyers General manager Paul Holmgren, the Flyers have acquired 5’10”, 185-pound Stefan Legein from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Michael Ratchuk.

Legein made a name for himself as a key contributor to Canada’s Gold Medal effort as a member of Canada’s 2007/08 Under 20 World Junior Championship team. Legein hurt his shoulder in the Gold Medal game, but that didn’t stop Scouts from selecting the energetic forward.

His rugged style of play, speed, and ability to score timely goals made him a stand out at the tournament and with his OHL junior team (Niagara Ice Dogs), which contributed to Legein being a second round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets (37th overall) in the 2007 NHL entry draft.

Shortly after being drafted, Legein shocked the hockey world when he announced he was quitting hockey for good. At the time, Legein stated he had lost his desire to play hockey; the passion and feistiness that had made him so popular with scouts and fans alike, had left his blood.

After several months on the sidelines, Legein, retracted his earlier statement and announced he wanted to come back to hockey. So, essentially, after retiring from hockey for a few months, Legein was back on track, seemingly willing to make a concerted effort to reach his full potential as a hockey player, which, in many people’s eyes, would mean Legein becoming an NHL player.

Legein’s return to hockey has been lackluster to say the least. In 2008/09 He played a total of 26 games with the Columbus Blue Jacket’s AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, scoring a disappointing one goal and adding zero assists. His four penalty minutes was a shadow of the 100 plus penalty minutes Legein was accustomed to accumulating.

When everything was said and done, the Blue Jackets must have been saying to themselves, “who is this kid and what have they done with Stefan Legein?”

Through six games this season, Legein has netted two goals and registered one assist with the Syracuse Crunch. Clearly, Legein is off to a decent start, but he’s hardly a blue chip prospect at this time. Fact is, Legein was well down the Blue Jacket’s prospect depth chart, coming in around 20th.

Ratchuk, is regarded as a good skater with decent offensive upside for a defenseman. He has appeared in five games with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms this season, where he had a total of one assist and two penalty minutes. He was originally selected by the Flyers in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Legein will now report to the Flyers AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms and Ratchuk will Report to the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch. Don’t expect either one of these prospects to show up on an NHL roster anytime soon, both players should be looked upon as “projects” that will need tutoring and seasoning in the AHL before they are legitimate NHL prospects.

Until next time,

Peace!