LOS ANGELES -- The Kings traded defenseman Dmitry Yushkevich to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday for a fourth-round draft pick this year and a seventh-round choice in 2004.

		Mon., March 3 The Flyers know what they are getting in Dmitri Yuskevich, and at this time of year it's always nice to have players you are familiar with. He is a solid, hard-nosed player who moves the puck well, but it's what he does on his own side of the red line that he is most known for. He is a steady guy who will give them good minutes on defense. Yuskevich will also be a good influence on the younger members of that defensive unit. It will be important that Ken Hitchcock be able to call on someone who has been in tough situations down the stretch and during the playoffs, someone who can calm things down at key points in the game. He can take care of the back end when the team is scrambling and help the Flyers avoid losses that result from those situations.

He originally was drafted by Philadelphia in 1991 and played his first three seasons there, tallying 15 goals and 61 assists.

"He's a very competitive player, a gritty player that gives you 18 to 20 minutes a game,'' Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said at Saturday's 3-2 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins. "He's a nice addition.''

Yushkevich had three assists and 24 penalty minutes in 42 games for the Kings, who acquired him from Florida in November. He had one goal, six assists and 14 penalty minutes in 23 games with Florida this season.

The 11-year NHL veteran also has played for Toronto. He has 41 goals and 180 assists in his career.

"It was a surprise, but at the same time, it is nice to come back to the team that drafted me 12 years ago and that I started playing hockey with in the NHL,'' Yushkevich said.

Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said the team traded for Yushkevich in an effort to add depth and experience to the Flyers' young defense.

"We have been using two rookies in our group and you're not going to go through the playoffs without getting injuries,'' Clarke said.