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Bolts Still Seeking Winning Formula

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The Lightning traded Matt Carle and a draft pick to the Flyers for Steve Eminger, Steve Downie and another pick.

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 8, 2008

Updated: 11/08/2008 02:13 am

PHILADELPHIA - Tampa Bay's Rubik's Cube roster took another turn Friday as the Lightning continue to seek the right combination.

Tampa Bay dealt defenseman Matt Carle - the key player acquired from San Jose for Dan Boyle in July - and a third-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for 25-year-old defenseman Steve Eminger, forward Steve Downie and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft.

"We like Matt and hope he does well, but this is a deal in which we were able to move one young player for two young players who we think can help our team," Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said. "We are able to pick up a right-handed defenseman, which is something we are lacking, while Downie brings that grit factor to our organization. In the process, we clear some cap space."

Carle is in the first year of a four-year contract he signed with San Jose that pays him $13.75 million - including $2.95 million this year - while Eminger, acquired by the Flyers from Washington at the draft, is in the final year of his deal that will pay him $1.2 million this season. The available cap space gives Lawton flexibility for more potential moves, which could come sooner rather than later.

"There are a group of new evaluators and new people to evaluate," Lawton said. "And until we prove that we are more than a .500 team, I won't be happy. We have a lot of talented players here. ... I think we are starting to see the club come around a little bit, but we continue to work on our defense."

When Tampa Bay takes the ice tonight, only one defenseman from the opening-night lineup will suit up. Eminger will become the 11th different defenseman in 13 games this season to play for the Lightning.

Eminger, a first-round pick by the Capitals in 2002, fell out of favor in Washington last season when Bruce Boudreau took over from Glen Hanlon. He appeared in only 20 regular-season games and spent most of the year as a healthy scratch, although he did appear in five playoff games last season. In 224 career games, Eminger has six goals and 45 points, with 229 penalty minutes.

Downie, 21, was a Flyers first-round pick in 2005 and has six goals and 12 points to go with 84 penalty minutes in 38 games with Philadelphia. Downie, who may be best known for a 20-game suspension he received last year for a preseason hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond, will be assigned to Norfolk.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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