According to TSN.ca's Bob McKenzie, the Tampa Bay Lightning have traded winger Steve Downie to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Kyle Quincey. He is also reporting that the Lightning have swung Quincey to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a first-round pick and minor-leaguer Sebastian Piche.
Downie, who has been a member of the Lightning since the beginning of the 2008-2009 season, has 12 goals and 16 assists to go along with 121 penalty minutes this season.
The trade comes as no surprise, as Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has been busy in recent weeks with a new rebuilding effort that has seen Pavel Kubina and Dominic Moore also traded. Downie was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
The Avalanche currently sit three points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and were looking for a spark to get them over the top.
While Downie does bring a tough style of play to the table, he has also had a knack for taking bad penalties and has been suspended twice in his career for illegal hits.
The 24-year-old Piche will arrive in Tampa Bay having yet to play in an NHL game. He has no goals and three assists in 22 games with the AHL affiliates of the Red Wings, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
For more coverage on the Tampa Bay Lightning as the NHL Trade Deadline nears, check out Raw Charge.