The New York Islanders traded forward Mike York to the Philadelphia Flyers  for centre Randy Robitaille and a fifth-round pick in the 2008 NHL entry draft.

The deal was completed late Tuesday night but wasn't announced until Wednesday.

Mike York was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.Mike York was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

"We think that he is going to upgrade our offence," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in a release. "He is a player who is a right-handed shot, can play centre or right wing, and he gives us a little more versatility and a little more scoring.

"He is a highly competitive player."

York, a 28-year-old from Waterford, Mich., scored six goals and tallied 13 points in 32 games for the Islanders this season.

The seven-year NHL veteran has 117 goals and 300 points in 481 career regular-season games with the Islanders, New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers.

"It is always a little bit of a shock when you first get traded," said York. "I'm going to a new team and getting a new start, so I am excited about that. Hopefully, I can help turn the Flyers around in a positive way.

"I'm a fresh face and new blood coming in here. I have been in this situation before. We still have over half the season to play. There's a long way to go, so hopefully I can help the team improve."

In return, the Islanders receive Robitaille, a 31-year-old native of Ottawa who scored five goals and 17 points in 28 games for the Flyers this season.

Robitaille joined the Flyers as a free agent last July.

This will be Robitaille's second stint with New York — he played 10 regular- season games and five playoff matches for the Islanders at the end of the 2002-03 season

"We're very happy to acquire a strong playmaker in Randy Robitaille," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "Randy will help us on the power play and he's good on faceoffs. We add another draft pick, which is always good news.

"And while we acquire a player in Randy whose production is equal to Mike's, we also gain additional cap flexibility."

With files from the Associated Press