PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers are serving notice that they have big plans for the 2001-2002 NHL season.

The club announced the signing of veteran defenseman Eric Weinrich Thursday. Weinrich, who played for the Montreal Canadians and Boston Bruins last season, was an unrestricted free agent.

Weinrich signed a three-year contract with the Flyers. As per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

Already this summer, the Flyers have re-signed left wing John LeClair, and also signed centers Jeremy Roenick and Jiri Dopita.

Now, Flyers GM Bob Clarke has addressed the team's defense and he likes the fit with Weinrich.

"We felt that Weinrich was the best available defenseman for our organization," Clarke said. "We thought that we needed somebody who could play on the power play, who moves the puck, and who has some experience and some size. Weinrich fills all those needs. We are very excited that we were able to sign him."

Weinrich is a 34-year-old veteran who appeared in all 82 regular season games last season. He scored a total of seven goals and 24 assists in action with the Canadians and Bruins. He also totaled 44 penalty minutes.

Weinrich opened the season with the Canadians, but was traded to the Bruins on Feb. 21, 2001 in exchange for defenseman Patrick Traverse.

For his career, which has totaled 13 seasons, Weinrich has scored 59 goals and 249 assists in 841 regular-season games. He was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 1985 Entry Draft, the 32nd overall selection. The University of Maine product, who also has played for the United States Olympic Team, made the NHL All-Rookie Team for the 1990-91 season when he scored four goals and 34 assists for the Devils.

Weinrich joined the Hartford Whalers on Aug. 28, 1992 along with goalie Sean Burke for center Bobby Holik and the second-round selection in the 1993 Entry Draft that became winger Jay Pandolfo.

The 6-foot-1, 215 pound defenseman was traded by the Whalers to the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 2, 1993 along with forward Patrick Poulin in exchange for winger Steve Larmer and defenseman Bryan Marchment. In parts of six seasons with the Blackhawks (1993-94 to 1998-99), Weinrich recorded 113 points (21 goals,92 assists) in 356 regular season games.

He was on the move again on Nov. 16, 1998, this time to Montreal along with goalie Jeff Hackett, forward Alain Nasreddine and the Tampa Bay Lightning's fourth-round selection in the 1999 Entry Draft for goalie Jocelyn Thibault and defensemen Dave Manson and Brad Brown. Weinrich was a regular on the Montreal backline until his trade to Boston last season.