Another trade deadline, and another move for Mark Recchi.
For the fifth time in his career, the veteran has been traded late in a season, this time the Tampa Bay Lightning dealing him to Boston. The Bruins also receive a second round draft pick in 2010.
"To get picked up by a first-place team is really nice and comforting. It's a team that thinks I can help, and I'm going to do everything I can to," Recchi said in a conference call. "Boston's been pretty successful the last few years with other sports. I think it's the Bruins' time."
In return, the Lightning receive defenceman Matt Lashoff and forward Martins Karsums.
Recchi, 41, signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with Tampa Bay prior to this season. He last played on Sunday in Calgary, and contributed five assists in an 8-6 win over the Flames. In anticipation of a possible trade, he was made a healthy scratch for Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh.
Overall this season, Recchi has 13 goals and 32 assists in 62 games for the Lightning. The two-time Stanley Cup winner began his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988.
"The experience factor was big," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli told the Canadian Press. "Just the experience that he's played in the league a long time. He's a durable player and you need that in this stretch, in the playoffs. Then you factor in the Stanley Cup experience, and that's invaluable."
He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Lashoff, 22, was drafted by the Bruins in the first round (22nd overall) in 2005. In 16 games this season, the East Greenbush, New York, native has one assist with a plus- 1 rating. The remainder of the season has been spent with the AHL's Providence Bruins where he's accumulated five goals and 16 assists with a minus- 2 rating in 33 games.
Karsums, 23, was drafted by the Bruins in the second round (64th overall) in 2004. The Latvian native has played in six games with the Bruins this season, collecting one assist. He was a healthy scratch in the team's last four contests. With the AHL Bruins, he's put up 17 goals and 24 assists with 20 penalty minutes in 43 games played.
"The acquisitions of Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums today help the Tampa Bay Lightning as we look to build a younger, more aggressive team," Tampa Bay general manager Brian Lawton said.
"We believe both players are NHL-ready; Matt is an offensive defenseman who skates very well and Martins is a smart, reliable, hard worker who gives us some depth at the forward position."