Put very simply, Steve Downie is an offensive upgrade.

Year Downie GP G A Pts PIM Shots Sh % 2009-10 TBL 79 22 24 46 208 116 19 2010-11 TBL 57 10 22 32 171 83 12 2011-12 TBL-COL 75 14 27 41 137 140 10 2012-13 COL 2 0 1 1 6 2 0 2013-14 COL 11 1 6 7 36 26 3.8

Year Talbot GP G A Pts PIM Shots Sh % 2009-10 PIT 45 2 5 7 30 49 4.1 2010-11 PIT 82 8 13 21 66 117 6.8 2011-12 PHI 81 19 15 34 59 115 16.5 2012-13 PHI 35 5 5 10 23 41 12.2 2013-14 PHI 11 1 1 2 2 14 7.1

It's true. Talbot had one good season back in 2011-12, his first in Philadelphia, when he shot the lights out and scored 19 goals. Other than that, he's been about a 20-25 point per year player across his career. Downie's been closer to a 40 point per game year player throughout his career.

Or, as Eric puts it on Twitter, the Flyers just acquired a guy who's averaged 42 points per 82 games for a guy averaging 24 points per 82 games during his career, and Talbot's seen more ice time per game. Upgrade.

More than this, though, Downie has proven he can play top-6 minutes. That's not to say he will play them all the time in Philadelphia, but he absolutely can. He's played this season with Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly, and in the past he's played with Steven Stamkos. Maybe that plays a role in the fact that he's scoring at a much higher rate than Talbot, but he's seen those opportunities in the past and he's taken advantage of them.

Wouldn't be shocked if Downie's on Claude Giroux's wing on Friday night against the Capitals.