SB Nation NHL 2012 NHL Trade Deadline
Steve Downie was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday in exchange for defenseman Kyle Quincey, who the Tampa Bay Lightning flipped to the Detroit Red Wings for a first-round pick and a minor leaguer.
Feb 21, 2012 - The Tampa Bay Lightning have already made two trades in the run-up to the 2012 NHL trade deadline, and now, they're suddenly looking to be one of the more active teams at this year's deadline.
On Monday, general manager Steve Yzerman agreed to send forward Steve Downie to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Kyle Quincey, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. Quincey was then immediately flipped from the Lightning to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for minor-league player Sebastien Piche and a first-round pick in the 2012 NHL draft.
After acquiring him from Col for Downie, TB turns around and sends Kyle Quincey to Detroit for the Wings 1st round pick in 2012.
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) February 21, 2012
For Tampa, it's essentially the swap of Downie, the 29th overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft, for the Red Wings' first round pick, which will likely fall right around that 29th spot. You obviously can't draw a direct comparison in value there, but Downie's a pending RFA, Yzerman is selling off parts at this deadline and he's getting value back in return. It seems like a strong trade for the Lightning.
The Bolts hold two first round picks and, depending on the conditions of one pick, could hold as many as four second-round picks in the 2012 draft. That's impressive. They save some cap space by losing Downie, who earns $1.85 million on his current deal.
Detroit gets Quincey, a 26-year-old pending RFA originally drafted by the club. The Red Wings defense could have some question marks come summer time, so having Quincey, who can play against top competition and can log lots of ice time when asked, under team control could be big for them. It's not like they can't take on the $3.25 million salary against the cap, either, even though that's expected to rise on a new contract over the summer.
Downie heads West to Colorado, where Avalanche fans at Mile High Hockey are wondering why they didn't get a first-round pick for Quincey instead.
For more on this trade from the Tampa perspective, check in with Lightning blog Raw Charge, and for more from the Detroit perspective, check in with Red Wings blog Winging It In Motown.
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