Philadelphia Flyers Trade Max Talbot to Colorado Avalanche for Steve Downie

Two teams at the opposite ends of the NHL standings decided to make a deal on Thursday, as the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche agreed to swap Max Talbot and Steve Downie. 

The Avalanche's official website confirmed the news, while Joe Sakic, the team's vice president of hockey operations, had this to say about the deal:

"

Maxime is a veteran forward who has won a Stanley Cup and has a lot of NHL experience. We’re looking forward to him bringing that experience to our club.

"

Hockey reporter Renaud Lavoie, meanwhile, noted that the 29-year-old Talbot, who was in his third season with the Flyers, was happy about the switch from Philadelphia to Colorado: 

Rob Parent of the Delaware County Daily Times provides these quotes from Paul Holmgren:

Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer indicates when we can expect to see Downie in action:

Carchidi also supplies these quotes from Downie:

The Flyers, at 3-8-0, currently sit in last place in the Metropolitan division with six points, while the Avalanche look like legitimate Stanley Cup contenders after a blazing 10-1-0 start, which has them in first place in the Central.    

Talbot, who has 77 goals and 77 assists in 515 career games, not only brings an important veteran leadership to a team looking to contend deep into June, but also provides depth and versatility, likely helping bolster Colorado's third line either on the wing or at center. He is plus-one in 11 games in 2013 for the struggling Flyers. 

Downie, who inked a two-year contract extension with the Avs in June, has one goal and six assists and is plus-four in 11 games this season. 

The 26-year-old, who started his NHL career in 2007 with Philadelphia, figures to fit into the second line on the right wing, and Flyers fans will be hoping their former first-round pick can provide something of a spark for the team that is second-to-last in the NHL in goals scored.