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Flyers waive Boucher, Lilja

Brian Boucher

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher has some water as he looks up at the scoreboard after giving up another goal in the second period in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal NHL Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, April 30, 2011, in Philadelphia. The Bruins won 7-3. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

AP

The Flyers have waived recently acquired goaltender Brian Boucher as well as veteran defenseman Andreas Lilja.

Per CSNPhilly.com, here’s why:

The move gives the team the option to send either player to the Adirondack Phantoms – something general manager Paul Holmgren said was in the plans for Boucher earlier this week. The Flyers acquired Boucher in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday, in exchange for minor-leaguer Luke Pither.

Unlike Boucher, Lilja has participated in training camp since it opened Sunday morning. Whether he’ll start the season in the NHL or AHL is up in the air, likely pending the health of Andrej Meszaros, who tore his Achilles tendon over the summer. If Meszaros is healthy enough to start the season, Lilja will most likely head straight to Glens Falls.

With Lilja, the Flyers have eight defensemen. They will carry seven on their roster once the season starts.

Boucher’s expected demotion leaves Philadelphia with a goalie tandem of Ilya Bryzgalov and Michael Leighton, the latter of which won’t leave Flyers fans feeling very comfortable should the former falter.