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Paul Bereswill/Getty ImagesThe Flyers traded both Jeff Carter, left, and Mike Richards on Thursday.
The Flyers will receive forward Jakub Voracek, the eighth overall draft pick Friday night and a third-round draft pick from the Blue Jackets.
Later Thursday, the Flyers sent captainMike Richards to the Los Angeles Kingsin exchange for prized prospectBrayden Schenn, winger Wayne Simmonds and an undisclosed draft pick. They also signed goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year deal worth $51 million, a source told ESPN.com.
Carter, a first-round draft pick of Philadelphia in 2003, had 66 points (36 goals, 30 assists) in 80 regular-season games last season. The 26-year-old center has 181 goals and 162 assists in 461 career games.
His presence finally gives the Blue Jackets a top-line center to pair with their best player,Rick Nash.
"The Columbus Blue Jackets are very pleased and excited to acquire Jeff Carter," GM Scott Howson said in a statement. "Jeff is a proven No. 1 center in the National Hockey League and we look forward to him having many productive seasons as a Blue Jacket."
Carter's 11-year, $58 million contract extension, which he signed in November, kicks in next season. He's signed through the 2021-22 season at a $5.27 million yearly cap hit.
Voracek, a first-round pick in the 2007 draft, had 14 goals and 32 assists a year ago.
The Flyers made a big splash, trading Jeff Carter to Columbus and Mike Richards to L.A. before locking up goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.The deal was a big hit in Columbus, which needed a headline-grabber to sell tickets. Fan websites and the team site lit up with enthusiastic responses after word of the trade came out.
Scottie Upshall, a current Blue Jacket and a former teammate of Carter's with the Flyers, issued a warning on his Twitter account: "Blue Jackets just picked up a World Class player & teammate in Carter. With 61 (Nash) on his wing, look out!"
Carter's agent, Rick Curran, told The Associated Press he was stunned by the news after being told last week that the Flyers were not discussing trading Carter to the Blue Jackets.
Pierre LeBrun covers the NHL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
