The Philadelphia Flyers made an organizational depth add down the middle on Tuesday as they signed center Lane Pederson to a one-year, two-contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level.
Pederson, 27, was an undrafted free agent who spent his major junior career in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Red Deer Rebels, and Swift Current Broncos. He signed with the Arizona Coyotes in 2016 and spent four seasons in their organization between Arizona and AHL Tucson. He largely played with the Roadrunners but appeared in 15 NHL games with the Coyotes in 2020-21, where he scored his first NHL goal in his first game and tacked on 2 assists while under the guidance of Rick Tocchet.
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was later traded to the San Jose Sharks in July 2021, and then a year later he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of a package with Brent Burns. He spent time with AHL Chicago before being traded once again to the Vancouver Canucks after just 4 games. Pederson scored at almost a goal per game pace (17 in 18) with AHL Abbotsford and also appeared in 11 games with Vancouver. He was later traded again to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he closed out the 2022-23 season.
Pederson signed with the Edmonton Oilers organization ahead of the 2023-24 season, where he has spent the last two years in AHL Bakersfield. He is coming off a 5-goal, 12-assist season with the Condors after appearing in just 18 games due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. The year prior, he put up 22 goals and 30 assists in 66 games.
Pederson will be a great veteran presence and talent for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season. He will get an opportunity to play alongside and mentor young forwards like Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Alexis Gendron, Denver Barkey, and potentially Jett Luchanko later in the year if he gets sent back to OHL Guelph again and their season ends prematurely. Should the Flyers need an injury replacement to be recalled, Pederson will be near the top of the list of available players as well.
