Lightning trade for Gagner, send him to Coyotes

Jun 30, 2014 - 3:22 AM Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Shortly after acquiring forward Sam Gagner from the Edmonton Oilers, the Tampa Bay Lightning sent the former first-round pick and forward B.J. Crombeen to the Arizona Coyotes for a sixth-round selection in the 2015 draft.

The Lightning first sent forward Teddy Purcell to the Oilers for Gagner's services, then flipped him and Crombeen to Arizona to free up cap space with the free agency period on the horizon.

Gagner, 24, has spent his entire seven-year career in Edmonton after being taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft. He has compiled 101 goals and 295 points over 481 games.

"We are very pleased to acquire a talented, young center like Sam Gagner," said Coyotes general manager Don Maloney. "He has the intelligence, character and skill set we were looking for and we believe he has further growth in his game. We look forward to welcoming Sam to Arizona."

Crombeen, 28, has spent time in Dallas, St. Louis and Tampa Bay, where last season he totaled three goals, seven assists and 79 penalty minutes in 55 games.

Purcell, 28, has spent the past four-plus seasons in Tampa Bay after being acquired in a midseason trade with the Kings during the 2009-10 season. He set career highs with 24 goals and 65 points in 2011-12, but regressed to 12 goals and 42 points in 81 games this past season.