Flyers re-sign Akeson and trade McGinn

The Flyers re-signed winger Jason Akeson on Wednesday and traded winger Tye McGinn to San Jose. They also added a pair of unrestricted free agents - defenseman Nick Schultz and winger Andrew Gordon - who figure to be spare parts next season.

Late Wednesday night, the Flyers also signed unrestricted free agent Zack Stortini, a 6-4, 214-pound forward, to a one-year, two-way deal. Stortini, 28, led the AHL with 299 penalty minutes last season.

Yes, it was a busy day for new general manager Ron Hextall.

All the moves left the Flyers about $2.5 million over the $69 million salary cap. Teams can go 10 percent over the cap in the summer.

Akeson, 24, is a strong candidate to land a roster spot. He signed a two-way contract. The winger had a productive postseason, although it included a high-sticking penalty that led to two power-play goals in the playoff opener against the New York Rangers.

The Ottawa native atoned for the mistake in Game 2, scoring a power-play goal to tie the score at 2. The Flyers won, 4-2.

Akeson has played in just two regular-season NHL games - the finales of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns. He scored a goal in his first game and contributed an assist in the second.

In 70 AHL games with the Phantoms last season, Akeson had 24 goals and 64 points.

Schultz, 31, was selected by Minnesota in the second round in 2000. He has played a total of 880 NHL games with Minnesota, Edmonton, and Columbus. The 6-foot-1, 203-pounder is expected to be the Flyers' seventh defenseman, and he signed a one-year deal for $1.25 million.

Gordon, 28, signed a two-way deal. He played last season for St. John's, Winnipeg's AHL affiliate, and collected 23 goals and 57 points. In 55 NHL games, Gordon has three goals and four assists.

McGinn, a restricted free agent who still has to sign with the Sharks, was dealt for a third-round draft pick in 2015. McGinn, 23, had four goals in 18 games with the Flyers last season and 20 goals with the Phantoms. He never was given a chance to be a regular over an extended period.

Steve Downie signed a one-year free-agent deal for $1 million with Pittsburgh. Acquired from Colorado for Max Talbot early last season, Downie, 27, was hindered by injuries and managed just three goals and 17 points in 51 games after the trade.

In Pittsburgh, Downie will be reunited with assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who was the head coach at Tampa Bay when the winger had his most productive seasons.