The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded forward Kris Versteeg to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a couple of draft picks.

In return, the Leafs received the Flyers' first- and third-round picks in the 2011 NHL entry draft, the teams announced Monday night.

Versteeg says he's excited to be joining the playoff-bound Flyers, who currently sit first in the Eastern Conference.

"They've had a lot of success this season," Versteeg told the Flyers' website. "They had a great playoff push last year and I'm excited to try and have a good one this year."

As for the Leafs, the deal gives them a first-round selection in this summer's draft after trading their top pick to the Boston Bruins in the Phil Kessel deal in September 2009.

In a conference call, Leafs GM Brian Burke said he was hoping to receive a player who could join the team immediately, but that didn't happen.

Burke said the Flyers' offer for Versteeg was the best deal available and he jumped on it now because he didn't think it would still be on the table at the league's Feb. 28 trade deadline.

Burke said the Leafs are already shopping the third-round pick they received from the Flyers, offering it to at least one team as part of a proposed trade.

Versteeg had 14 goals and 21 assists in 53 games with the Leafs this season, his fourth in the NHL.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren says Versteeg, 24, is an exciting, versatile forward who can fill a number of roles for his club.

"We think he's a guy that over the last few years, particularly in Chicago, has really blossomed into a good forward and we think he's going to be a really good addition to our team," Holmgren said in a statement on the Flyers' website.

Versteeg was originally acquired by the Leafs in a five-player trade with the Chicago Blackhawks last June after the Hawks defeated the Flyers in the Stanley Cup final.

In that deal, Versteeg and Bill Sweatt were sent to the Leafs in exchange for Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Phillippe Paradis.

Sweatt, however, is no longer in the Leafs' organization. He became a free agent shortly after the trade and signed with the Vancouver Canucks. He is currently playing with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.