Defenseman Kyle Quincey, who began his NHL career with the Red Wings, is headed back to Detroit. With the NHL trade deadline less than a week away, the Red Wings decided to make the move to acquire Quincey from the Tampa Bay Lightning, which just traded for him from the Colorado Avalanche.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Red Wings will send a first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Lightning in exchange for Quincey. The Lightning originally sent Steve Downie to Colorado to get Quincey, and former Red Wing and current Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman turned right around and flipped Quincey to Detroit.
Quincey was originally selected by the Red Wings 132nd overall in the 2003 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Red Wings in 2005 and appeared in a total of 13 games over the course of three seasons.
After spending time with the Red Wings (mostly as a practice player) during the 2008 NHL playoffs, when the team won the Stanley Cup, Quincey entered the 2008-09 season with hopes of making the roster. He didn't, however, and the Red Wings tried to send him to Grand Rapids via waivers. He was claimed by the Kings and ended up appearing in 72 games in 2008-09 for Los Angeles. In July 2009, Quincey was traded from Los Angeles to Colorado, which is where he had been the past two and half seasons.
This move will give the Red Wings some added depth on the defensive side of things as they look to make another run at a Stanley Cup. While a first-round pick was a lot to give up, the Red Wings are hoping that pick will end up being the final one before the second round anyway, as that would mean they have won another Stanley Cup.
UPDATE: Ansar Khan reports that the Lightning will also get Sebastien Piche, who was with the Grand Rapids Griffins, in the deal.
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