The Rare 3-Way Deal

			2011/2012 Stats				2012	July 1st Details
To Colorado	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	P	Cap Hit	Years	Cap Hit
Steve Downie	F	24	55	12	16	28	$1.85m	0	RFA
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To Tampa Bay	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	P	Cap Hit	Years	Cap Hit
Kyle Quincey	D	26	54	5	18	23	$3.125m	0	RFA

			2011/2012 Stats				2012	July 1st Details
To Detroit	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	P	Cap Hit	Years	Cap Hit
Kyle Quincey	D	26	54	5	18	23	$3.125m	0	RFA
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To Tampa Bay	Pos	Age	GP	G	A	P	Cap Hit	Years	Cap Hit
Sebastian Piche	D	24	0	0	0	0	$563k	0	RFA
2012 1st Round Draft Pick

Steve Yzerman and the Tampa Bay Lightning remain the busiest team leading up to the NHL trade deadline, which is now less than a week away.  In a couple of deals, the Lightning GM dealt potential restricted free agent Steve Downie to the Avalanche for veteran defenseman Kyle Quincey to start the process and then he turned around and flipped Quincey for a 1st round pick, which is the quick version of what had gone down during the day.

In Downie, the Avalanche gain a versatile forward with some gritty (and sometimes agitating) ability, who can play anywhere in the four lines, depending on his confidence and/or his coach's faith.  Downie has been having an okay season with the Lightning, not quite the big season that he had in 2011, playing alongside Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis for a good portion of it, but still a productive member.  I think the Avalanche can find a number of spots for him, all for a defenseman that possibly wasn't working out as well as they would have hoped.

The Red Wings, at the back end of this deal, gain some more defensive depth, more so in the puck moving category, something that they have had plenty of in the past few years.  Quincey is a younger defenseman, who still has a year of restricted free agency left in him and being as though Detroit originally drafted him some years ago, which gives them some familiarity going forward.  Also, there may be a maturity factor to consider, he may have been deemed ready to receive some the coaching that Mike Babcock is about to impart on him, which could possibly make him into a much better defender going forward.

As for the Lightning, they're stocking up for the Entry Draft, getting another 1st round pick for a defenseman, which will give them two to play with, when the draft takes place in Pittsburgh in June.  The Lightning have deemed themselves sellers already and moving Steve Downie, in essence, for a 1st round pick, is a pretty good job by them.  Downie didn't bring them very much on an everyday basis, so making a trade for him for possibly someone of a better pedigree could be a definite plus for them.

Both players, Downie and Quincey, are featured in the draft this year, Downie belonging to the 6th place team of Wayne H. and Quincey belonging to Chris M., who is in 18th, so if there is going to be any impact, it will be with Downie.

Wayne just sits 4 points out of the money, going into Tuesday night's action, but a move away from the Lightning to the Avalanche doesn't seem to be as exciting as it may look.  Colorado may have been looking for a bit more sandpaper in the offensive zone and Downie will give them that, but I don't think it will be the thing that helps Wayne back into the money (by itself).

Quincey going to the Red Wings should help his numbers, in theory, but it is much too late to help Chris' team at this point in the season.

Overall, I like what the Avalanche had done in this deal and I think the Lightning came away like bandits in the deal as well. I do, however, believe, that there is a bit too much risk taken by the Red Wings, giving up a 1st round pick for an injury-prone underachiever like Quincey, but the Red Wings do have a knack for turning these kinds of guys around.

The early winner in this deal, more so in the long-term, is the Lightning, who have been doing well with their draft picks, getting guys that fit their own system and such, so I think they have done well here.  Quincey has the potential to be huge in Detroit, but I again go back to the risk, which scores him a little lower right now to me.  Downie and the Avalanche can be a good fit, but it's depth, more than anything, which won't win any team much for deals.