Avalanche land Downie in three- team swap
The Tampa Bay Lightning livened a dull lead up to Monday’s NHL trade deadline, sending agitator Steve Downie to the Colorado Avalanche for defenceman Kyle Quincey on Tuesday. The Bolts then set Quincey to the Detroit Red Wings for a first- round pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft and American Hockey League defenceman Sebastien Piche. Downie, 24, can become a restricted free agent this summer. He’s in the final year of a two- year, $ 3.7- million US deal. Downie has 12 goals, 16 assists and 121 penalty minutes in 55 games this season. Quincey, 26, returns to the organization that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. He five goals, 18 assists and 60 penalty minutes in 54 games this season. The Lightning are loading up on early round draft picks. In addition to the first- round picks, the Bolts also have at least three picks in the second round.
Coyotes sale close: report
The NHL is poised to complete its sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to a group bent on keeping the team in Arizona. The Phoenix Business Journal reported Tuesday that the league is close to selling the Coyotes to a group headed by Greg Jamison, the former chief executive officer of the San Jose Sharks. The NHL bought the team out of bankruptcy in 2009. Since then, the league has sought to find an owner who intends to the keep the team in the desert. The paper reported that the NHL is seeking $ 170 million in the transaction, partly to boost the value of other franchises in the league. The league paid $ 140 million for the team.
Lecavalier out indefinitely
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s disappointing season took another hit Tuesday, when it was learned captain Vinny Lecavalier will be out indefinitely with an upperbody injury. The injury occurred Saturday in the Lightning’s win Saturday over the Washington Capitals. The Tampa Tribune reported that Lecavalier was seen leaving Tampa Bay Times Forum wearing a soft cast or brace on his right hand. “Vinny is out for a while,” Bolts coach Guy Boucher told the Tribune. “He’s a top centreman and we have nobody in our lineup that can replace that right now. “We just have to do it in committees, I guess.”
Langenbrunner out
Add another forward to the St. Louis Blues’ injury list. The club announced Tuesday that Jamie Langenbrunner will be out at least a month with a broken foot. Langenbrunner, 36, was injured Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
He said it:
“A lot of rookies, for them to watch a guy like that practise and do a little extra every day, it’s good for them to see a guy like that. He’s a legend in the league.” — Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Pavel Kubina on teammate and Czech Republic countryman Jaromir Jagr.