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Brotherly Shove: Downie signs with Pittsburgh

Steve Downie

Philadelphia Flyers’ Steve Downie skates in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, in Philadelphia. Downie, a former Flyer, was acquired on Oct. 31 in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche for Maxime Talbot. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

AP

Oh, this should be good.

Steve Downie, the noted agitator who’s spent three of his seven NHL seasons in Philadelphia, has agreed to join the Flyers’ bitter rival Pittsburgh on a one-year, $1 million deal, per TSN.

Downie, 27, struggled through last season and missed a number of games due to a concussion suffered in a fight with Washington’s Aaron Volpatti. Acquired by Philadelphia from Colorado early in the year, Downie had just three goals and 17 points in 51 games for the Flyers -- this after a stellar six-points-in-11-games start with the Avs -- and was shut down on Apr. 10, failing to appear in any of Philly’s opening-round playoff games against the Rangers.

When healthy, Downie can be an effective player, something he showed in Tampa Bay during the 2009-10 campaign when he had 22 goals and 46 points in 79 games...along with 208 penalty minutes, third-most in the NHL. That last statistic is telling, though, as a penchant for taking undisciplined penalties dogged Downie in his second go-round with the Flyers.

In Pittsburgh, Downie is likely play in the bottom-six forward group, one that new GM Jim Rutherford has made several additions to since taking the helm from Ray Shero. Nick Spaling was acquired in the James Neal trade, and yesterday the club ainked former Blue Jacket Blake Comeau to a one-year deal as free agency opened.

Rutherford also resigned depth center Marcel Goc, acquired from Florida at last year’s trade deadline.