Sometimes a minor deal can turn into something major, which is what the Flyers were hoping Monday night in acquiring defenseman Roman Schmidt from Tampa Bay for defenseman Ethan Samson.
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere announced the trade. Schmidt was assigned to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Schmidt, 22, has appeared in 13 games this season with Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound native of Midland, Michigan, has one assist and leads the Crunch with 38 penalty minutes.
Selected by Tampa Bay in the third round (96th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Schmidt has played parts of three seasons with the Crunch (2023–25). He has three goals and seven points in 63 career AHL games, along with 117 total penalty minutes.
During the 2024-25 season he recorded a career-high three goals and five points, including a shorthanded goal, and a plus-seven rating.
Samson, 22, was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (174th overall) in the 2021 Draft and has played parts of three seasons for the Phantoms. Through 142 games played with the Phantoms, he registered 15 goals and 40 points.