Flyers and Avalanche Swap Forwards
The Colorado Avalanche announced on Thursday afternoon, that they had traded forward Steve Downie to the Philadelphia Flyers, in exchange for forward Maxime Talbot. The Flyers, in need of a shakeup, decided to trade one forward for another, and luckily for them, Stevie Downie, is all too familiar with the organization.
The twenty-six year old Downie, was drafted by the Flyers 29th overall in 2005, but ended up being traded to Tampa Bay in a deal for Matt Carle. Steve Downie quickly became a fan favourite in Tampa, leaving fans devastated (and still devastated to this day) when he was traded to the Avalanche in the 2011-12 season. After missing the 2012-2013 season with an injury, Downie came back to have one goal and six assists for seven points in eleven games with the Avalanche so far this season.
In seven seasons, Downie has 56 goals and 145 points in 285 games with the Flyers, Lightning and Avalanche.
In 285 NHL games with the Flyers, Tampa and Colorado, Downie has 56 goals and 89 assists for 145 points, along with 696 PIM. He appeared in 38 games for the Flyers during his first stop, including 32 in 2007-08 and six over the first month of the 2008-09 season prior to his trade. He recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points, along with 84 PIM. Downie will be wearing the #9 sweater for the Flyers.
Like Downie, Maxime Talbot, 29, has appeared in all eleven games for the Flyers this season. He has one goal and one assist in those games. His scoring record in 77 goals and 77 assists for 154 points in 515 career games during his career. Keeping with the number 77, he has appeared in 77 career playoff games totaling 39 points divided between his 18 goals and 21 assists. As hockey fans know, many of those games were played during his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both goals in the Penguin’s 2-1 win over the Red Wings were scored by him.
“Maxime is a veteran forward who has won a Stanley Cup and has a lot of NHL experience,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic. “We’re looking forward to him bringing that experience to our club.”
Selected by Pittsburgh in the eighth round (234th overall) of the 2002 Entry Draft, Talbot spent his first six seasons with the Penguins before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent on July 1, 2011.
It is felt that Down has more of a scorer’s touch, a versatile winger, who can play on the top three lines. Another factor for Downie’s probable Flyers success is the fact that he played with teammate Vinny Lecavalier in Tampa.
Financially, the Flyers are taking on more immediate salary, Downie has a $2.65 million cap hit while Talbot has a $1.75 million deal, but Downie is in the final year of his deal while Talbot is locked up for two more years after this season.
