Trade/Transfer

The Tampa Bay Lightning have claimed overaged left wing prospect David Koci off of waivers from the St. Louis Blues organization. Koci was lost to the Blues via waivers earlier in the season when the Lightning waived Koci with the intention of reassigning him Norfolk (AHL).

According the Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune, there were numerous claims registered for Koci, which means the Lightning cannot reassign him to Norfolk without placing him back on waivers.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired defenseman Steve Eminger, right wing Steve Downie and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Matt Carle and San Jose’s third-round pick in 2009 (previously acquired) today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.

Downie, a 5-foot-10, 192-pound native of Newmarket, Ontario, has played in six games with the Flyers this year, recording 11 penalty minutes. He has played in 38 career NHL games, all with Philadelphia, recording six goals and 12 points. He also has one career shorthanded goal and one game-winning goal. The 21-year-old played in 190 career junior games with Windsor, Peterborough and Kitchener. He amassed 82 career goals and 234 points. He also appeared in 43 OHL playoff games, recording 18 goals and 53 points. Downie was originally drafted by Philadelphia in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

(WHL Release) Lethbridge Hurricanes General Manager, Roy Stasiuk and Tri City Americans General Manager, Robert Tory jointly announced a major trade today which sees high scoring forward and Lightning prospect, Mitch Fadden and defensemen, Cam Stevens and Brock Sutherland moving south in exchange for defenseman, Eric Mestery and forward Drew Hoff.

The two GM's made a huge splash two years ago when high scoring forward (and former Traverse City Lightning member), Colton Yellow Horn was moved to the Americans in exchange for a first round draft pick. Yellow Horn went on to become one of the more prolific scorers in the WHL and the Hurricanes' secured scoring prospect, Mark Reners in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

"Mitch Fadden is an incredibly gifted, talented and exciting player, however, our biggest need right now is a solid top four defenseman and Eric Mestery fits that bill." said Stasiuk, the Canes' GM added, "With Luca Sbisa remaining with the Philadelphia Flyers, we had to use some of our offensive depth in order to address a more pressing need. Cam and Brock will both have more opportunity to develop in supporting roles with the Americans and Drew Hoff is expected to inject some energy into our forward groupings."

The goalie no one in the WHL wanted now suddenly is in high demand.

For the second time in a week, Lightning prospect Torrie Jung was traded. This time, Lethbridge dealt the netminder to the Edmonton Oil Kings, who were unhappy with the inconsistency of veteran goaltender Dalyn Flette and need healthy options in net.

It was a busy morning on Channelside today as the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed veteran forward Matt Pettinger off of recall waivers from the Vancouver Canucks. Pettinger, who was acquired by the Canucks at the trade deadline last February from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Matt Cooke, failed to make the Vancouver roster out of camp and was assigned to the AHL Manitoba Moose. Pettinger had 3 goals for Manitoba in 2 games, and has 56 goals, 105 points in 354 NHL games with the Capitals and Canucks. The Canucks are on the hook for half of his $1.1M contract, and he is expected to join the Lightning instead of being reassigned to Norfolk.

The Lightning also placed reserve forward Jason Ward on waivers today, presumably ahead of a possible signing and activation of veteran defenseman Marek Malik.

It was also announced by the NHL that enforcer David Koci was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Blues. Koci was waived on Monday ahead of an anticipated activation of foward Ryan Craig off of IR. Tampa will have the first option to reclaim Koci from the Blues if he cannot maintain a roster spot with St. Louis, and would be free to be reassigned to Norfolk by the Lightning.