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Emery sidelined; Flyers make deal

The Flyers traded defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen on Saturday to Detroit.

UPDATED: Michael Leighton will start in goal tonight for the Flyers in Minnesota.

Ray Emery will not play because of "tightness in his left hip," according to general manager Paul Holmgren.

EARLIER:

The Flyers made a depth trade with the Detroit Red Wings early on Saturday.

They sent defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, who has struggled with injuries this season, and a 5th round pick in the 2011 Draft to Detroit for forward Ville Leino.

Leino, 26, has 4 goals and 3 assists in 42 games with the Red Wings this season.

"Ville is a skilled forward that is going to give us some depth," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I think he has the ability to play up and down our lineup and play with our skilled players. We're excited to have him."

Leino is expected to join the Flyers in Minnesota at some point today. Even if he arrives before game time, Leino will not be in the lineup against the Wild (8:00 p.m.) tonight.

Leino has showed a scoring touch in the past - it just hasn't converted to the NHL. He posted 46 points in 57 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) last season and an impressive 77 points in 55 games in the relatively low scoring Finnish League in 2007-08 with Jokerit. He was named league MVP that season.

Tollefsen, 25, was signed by the Flyers as a free agent this summer. He has missed 23 games with a concussion and sprained right MCL. He was also a healthy scratch for 14 contests. Tollefsen will represent Norway in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Leino's cap hit of $800,000 is $200,000 more than Tollefsen's, which leaves the Flyers with about $700,000 in cap room while carrying the maximum 23-man roster. If the Flyers needed to clear cap space for another move, Riley Cote ($550k) and extra goalie Brian Boucher ($925k) could be moved to the Phantoms through waivers to make room.

Follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DNFlyers for the latest updates.