Lightning trade Recchi to Bruins

Mark Recchi is moving from the basement to the penthouse.

The 41-year-old right winger was dealt to the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins from the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking the fifth time in his career that the veteran has move late in the year.

"It's not a surprise at all, I just didn't know where it was going to happen, or when," Recchi told Jeff Marek on Hockey Night in Canada Radio just after he was dealt. "It's nice to know, and it's a good situation. Boston's a first place team and I'm excited to be a part of it."

Going the other way are first-year forward Martins Karsums and AHL prospect Matt Lashoff. Boston also received a second-round pick in 2010.

"The acquisitions of Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums today help the Tampa Bay Lightning as we look to build a younger, more aggressive team," said Lightning GM Brian Lawton. "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."

Recchi has 13 goals and 32 assists this season, and just tied the Lightning record by tallying five assists in a single game on Sunday against Calgary. The two-time Stanley Cup winner had 535 goals and 891 assists with seven teams in his 20-year career.

He won a Cup with Pittsburgh in 1991 and Carolina in 2006. Recchi's earning $1.5 million (U.S) and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Karsums has only played six games for the Bruins, spending most of his time with Provdence (AHL). He has one assist with the big club, and 41 points in the AHL this season.