Advertisement

Lightning acquires Braydon Coburn; trades Radko Gudas, Brett Connolly

 
The price for Braydon Coburn, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound left-shot defenseman, was steep, Tampa Bay giving up injured defenseman Radko Gudas along with first and third round picks in 2015. [AP photo]
The price for Braydon Coburn, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound left-shot defenseman, was steep, Tampa Bay giving up injured defenseman Radko Gudas along with first and third round picks in 2015. [AP photo]
Published March 3, 2015

TAMPA — Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman didn't sleep much Sunday night, the eve of the trade deadline.

"Couple hours," Yzerman said. "Up late, up early."

That was because Yzerman struck two separate deals — contingent on each other — before sunrise to land the veteran defenseman the Lightning needed for a deeper playoff run. And Yzerman felt he did so without "mortgaging a lot of our future."

Yzerman acquired Braydon Coburn, 30, from the Flyers, admitting he paid a premium in shipping injured defenseman Radko Gudas plus a first- and third-round pick in this year's draft.

Yzerman didn't like giving up one of his two 2015 first-rounders, but realized he had to in this market; plus, he picked up two second-round picks (one this year, one in 2016) from the Bruins in another deal for wing Brett Connolly. Yzerman believes Tampa Bay's forward depth can absorb the loss of the 2010 sixth overall pick, who will be free agent this summer. Both deals were announced around 3 a.m.

The first-round choice was Tampa Bay's original pick; Tampa Bay retains the first-rounder it got from the Rangers last season.

"We just felt it was worth it," Yzerman said. "That we ultimately didn't pay too heavy of a price as far as high draft picks and what we consider our best prospects to get a player. The reality is, to get any of the top players that might have been available, it was going to cost us the first-round pick, hence the second deal.

"We feel we've accomplished what we wanted, that's what gives us a better chance to win in the playoffs."

The centerpiece was Coburn, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound left-shooting defenseman with 614 games experience who can slide into the right side in the top four. He has averaged 21 minutes of ice time throughout his 11-year career, with Yzerman saying the steady, stay-at-home defenseman has the skating ability, range and reach to match up against "the Crosbys, the Malkins, the Ovechkins and what not."

Coburn, the Flyers' longest-tenured player, said he found out at 6:30 a.m. when his wife, Nadine, got up to tend to their 11/2-year-old son Blair and told her husband to check his phone. Their 31/2-year old daughter, Rory, was thrilled after being told she'd be closer to Disney World.

"I was kind of shocked," Coburn said. "But I'm excited. It's a big new beginning for me."

Had Gudas not gotten hurt, undergoing knee surgery in January, the Lightning might not have made such a move, and he still might be in Tampa Bay. But with Lightning uncertain if Gudas would be back for the playoffs, it needed to lighten the load on defensemen Anton Stralman and Andrej Sustr.

And while rentals commanded a first-round pick and a prospect, Yzerman saw more value in how Coburn is under contract through next season ($4.5 million cap hit), though no salary was retained by Flyers.

With Coburn in the lineup starting tonight against the Sabres, and former Flyers teammate Matt Carle (abdominal surgery) set to return in the next couple of weeks, Tampa Bay's blueline is a lot less green, with rookie Luke Witkowski sent back to AHL Syracuse Monday and Nikita Nesterov likely to follow. Five of Tampa Bay's projected top six will have at least 375 NHL games under their belt.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Carle called Monday a bittersweet day, losing Gudas and Connolly, but thinks the team will be better, now and in the future.

"Look at our D-core now, it's pretty enticing, and bodes well down the road," Carle said. "I'm excited for the future; come playoff time, we'll be a dangerous team."

Gudas said he was "in shock" when he found out in the middle of the night. Connolly, 22, who felt he was playing his best hockey, felt the same way.

"It hit me out of leftfield," Connolly said. "I didn't expect to get traded. Nobody really is. I enjoyed my time in Tampa, and owe a lot to the organization. They did a lot for me to turn into the player that I am."

Yzerman wasn't worried about dealing with Atlantic Division rival Boston.

"Maybe I'm new and naive and I'll regret that one day," he said. "But today my philosophy is do what's best for your team."

And that was getting Coburn, who has had a weird season, breaking a bone in his left foot twice. But he is ready to join a Lightning team he feels has "all the pieces."

"I've felt as healthy as I've had in a couple years," Coburn said. "With all the extra rest, I'm ready for a long playoff push."

Contact Joe Smith at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.