Lightning acquire defenseman Coburn from Flyers

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired defenseman Braydon Coburn from the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday for defenseman Radko Gudas and a first-round and a third-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

If Tampa Bay fails to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2015 and get the first pick in the draft, Philadelphia will receive the New York Rangers' 2015 first-round pick, acquired last season as part of the Martin St. Louis trade, in lieu of Tampa Bay's first-round selection.

Coburn has one goal and eight assists in 39 games this season. He has one more season remaining on the four-year contract he signed in November 2011.

"I'm excited to go to Tampa Bay," Coburn said on TSN. "They've got a great team. Little sad to leave Philly but I'm looking forward to getting down to Tampa."

The 30-year-old was the longest-tenured Flyers player, in his ninth season, joining them after a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers for Alexei Zhitnik during the 2006-07 season. In 545 games with the Flyers, Coburn had 37 goals and 110 assists, and 23 points in 72 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Coburn's departure leaves Claude Giroux as the only active player on the Flyers roster from the 2010 Stanley Cup Final; goaltender Ray Emery was with the Flyers but injured.

"It's been unbelievable," Coburn said of his time in Philadelphia. "I love playing here. I've been here eight years. I feel like this has been my home. Had both my kids born in Philadelphia, proud to call them Philadelphians. This team, [chairman Ed] Snider and [president] Paul Holmgren and [general manager] Ron Hextall, first-class organization. Been a real pleasure to be a Flyer."

In 614 NHL games with the Thrashers and Flyers, Coburn has 37 goals and 129 assists.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said he thought he paid a fair price to acquire Coburn.

"We just felt it was worth it, 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," Yzerman said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "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. We feel we've accomplished what we wanted, that's what gives us a better chance to win in the playoffs."

Gudas, 24, had two goals, three assists and 34 penalty minutes in 31 games before sustaining a season-ending injury to his right knee Dec. 29. He had surgery in January was expected to need at least four months to recover.

He said Monday that he's on pace to start skating in early April.

Gudas said he wasn't upset to be leaving a Lightning team that is in the hunt for the Atlantic Division title for a team that likely won't make the playoffs.

"I wouldn't say I'm disappointed," he said. "I see it as a different opportunity. Philadelphia wanted me to play for them so I'm excited that a team is excited to have me. I'm looking forward to joining them. I'm hearing a lot of good things about the organization and the team. I'm looking forward to it. I don't look at the standings and see one team here and one there. I'm looking forward to playing hockey."

Gudas was Tampa Bay's third-round pick (No. 66) at the 2010 NHL Draft; in 126 games he has seven goals and 25 assists.

Also Monday, the Lightning traded forward Brett Connolly to the Boston Bruins for second-round picks in the 2015 and 2016 drafts.

Connolly, 20, has 12 goals and three assists in 50 games. The Lightning selected him with the sixth pick of the 2010 NHL Draft.