The Tampa Bay Lightning were involved in some early morning trading ahead of the deadline on Monday, acquiring Braydon Coburn from the Philadelphia Flyers. In exchange, the Flyers will receive a 1st round pick, a 3rd round pick and defenceman Radko Gudas. The Lightning sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, but have struggled defensively a times this year. This move addresses that need immediately.

BREAKING: Braydon Coburn to #TBLightning for 1st-round pick, 3rd-round pick and Radko Gudas. — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 2, 2015

Coburn has struggled at times with the mediocre Philadelphia Flyers this year, recording only 1 goal and 8 assists in 39 games with the team. While never known as an offensive defencemen, he has been able to amass 37 goals and 166 points in 614 games on NHL experience. More than anything he will bring stability and experience to the Lightning defense. It will not be cheap for the Lightning, as Coburn carries the price tag of $4.5 million. According to NHL numbers he has two years left in that deal. The surprise piece in the move is Gudas, who was rated highly by most in Lightning circles. The 24 year old, however, is struggling to live up to last season’s heights with only 2 goals and 3 assists in 31 games. He has a career total of 7 goals and 32 points in 126 games of NHL experience. According to NHL numbers he is in the final year of a deal that pays his $990,000 per season. He will be a restricted free agent this summer. The draft picks that the Flyers have been able to add are also intriguing, as they give the team more pieces in a rebuild that will be built on the foundation of already impressive pieces. Gudas also means a young, likely cost efficient, defender who can help them both in the short term and the long term. The first round selection is lottery protected.

One last note on Coburn trade: There is a form of lottery protection on 1st-rounder in the unlikely event #TBLightning gets No. 1 pick. — Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 2, 2015

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