Teams are becoming increasingly active with the NHL trade deadline less than a week away. It was the Lightning, Red Wings and Avalanche that made a splash on Tuesday.
The Lightning traded winger Steve Downie to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Kyle Quincey. Tampa Bay then shipped Quincey to the Detroit Red Wings for their first-round pick and defenseman Sebastien Piche.
The Avalanche, who currently sit outside the Western Conference playoff picture, add a physical forward in Downie. He enters Tuesday's action sixth in the NHL with 121 penalty minutes. He's ranked among the top 10 in that category each of the past two seasons.
The 24-year-old has 12-16-28 totals through 55 games with Tampa this season. The former first-round pick arrived in Tampa Bay via trade in 2008, and posted career highs of 22-24-46 in 79 games in 2009-10.
In Boston, Downie's most likely known as the player who Tim Thomas robbed with an incredible stick save during last season's Eastern Conference final.
Quincey, meanwhile, will be returning to Detroit for his second stint with the club. He played 13 games with the Wings over the course of three seasons to begin his career before being claimed off waivers by the Kings in October 2008. Quincey was then shipped to Colorado during the 2009 offseason.
The 26-year-old defenseman gives Detroit some added depth on its blue line, bringing over 5-18-23 totals in 54 games this season.
Piche is currently playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.
