Bolts Send Recchi, Draft Pick To Bruins For Prospects

The Tampa Bay Lightning struck a flurry of deals just before the NHL trade deadline, most notably reaching an agreement to send veteran forward Mark Recchi to the Boston Bruins in a multi-player trade.

Recchi, 41, was sent to conference-leading Boston along with a second-round draft pick in 2010 in exchange for 23-year-old winger Martins Karsams and 23-year-old defenseman Matt Lashoff.

Lightning general manager Brian Lawton wasn't finished as he dealt defenseman Steve Eminger to Florida in exchange for defenseman Noah Welch and a third-round draft pick. Eminger was acquired earlier this season from Philadelphia along with winger Steve Downie for defenseman Matt Carle.

Finally, Tampa Bay sent goalie Olie Kolzig, defenseman Jamie Heward, defenseman Andy Rogers and a fourth-round draft pick to Toronto for minor league defenseman Richard Petiot

In acquiring Recchi, the Bruins pick up a two-time Stanley Cup champion who can provide experience to a young Boston lineup by contributing on the ice and in the locker room. Recchi, who was signed to a one-year deal by Tampa Bay in July, is third on the Lightning in scoring with 45 points this season and is coming off a five-point night Sunday in Calgary in which he set a franchise record and tied a career high with five assists.

He told Canadian television network TSN that he is excited to make another run at a Stanley Cup with Boston.

"I think that is a great team, they are having a great season and they have a lot of great young players,'' Recchi said. "I have no idea [what role they have in mind], but quite frankly I don't care, I'll do whatever they want me to do.''

In return, the Lightning pick up a pair of prospects who have some NHL experience.

Lashoff is a former first-round draft pick of the Bruins in 2005 who has appeared in 46 games with Boston over the past three seasons. He has a goal and seven points. A native of Albany, N.Y., Lashoff is a product of the U.S. National Development Program and a former Kitchener Ranger. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound blue liner has 21 goals and 54 points in 131 games with the Providence Bruins.

Karsams is a former second-round pick of the Bruins in 2004 who has appeared in six games with Boston this season, picking up one assist. In 43 games this year with Providence, Karsams has 17 goals and 41 points in 43 games. In three seasons with Providence, Karsams has 50 goals and 139 points in 177 games.

By picking up Welch, a former second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Lightning pick up a 26-year-old defenseman who has struggled to stay healthy, missing nearly all last season with a shoulder injury. He has been in and out of the Florida lineup this season, appearing in only 23 games with the Panthers while picking up a goal and one assist.

Eminger, who has averaged over 22 minutes a game since being acquired from Philadelphia in November, was leading the Lightning blue line with 21 assists and 25 points this season. He is in the final year of a contract that pays him $1.2 million and he would likely be due for a significant raise this summer. Welch, who makes $650,000 this season, will also be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Earlier, 42-year-old forward Gary Roberts went unclaimed Wednesday after he was placed on waivers on Tuesday.