Put very simply, Steve Downie is an offensive upgrade.
| Year | Downie | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | Shots | Sh % |
| 2009-10 | TBL | 79 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 208 | 116 | 19 |
| 2010-11 | TBL | 57 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 171 | 83 | 12 |
| 2011-12 | TBL-COL | 75 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 137 | 140 | 10 |
| 2012-13 | COL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013-14 | COL | 11 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 36 | 26 | 3.8 |
| Year | Talbot | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | Shots | Sh % |
| 2009-10 | PIT | 45 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 49 | 4.1 |
| 2010-11 | PIT | 82 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 66 | 117 | 6.8 |
| 2011-12 | PHI | 81 | 19 | 15 | 34 | 59 | 115 | 16.5 |
| 2012-13 | PHI | 35 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 41 | 12.2 |
| 2013-14 | PHI | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 7.1 |
It’s true. Talbot had one good season back in 2011-12, his first in Philadelphia, when he shot the lights out and scored 19 goals. Other than that, he’s been about a 20-25 point per year player across his career. Downie’s been closer to a 40 point per game year player throughout his career.
Or, as Eric puts it on Twitter, the Flyers just acquired a guy who’s averaged 42 points per 82 games for a guy averaging 24 points per 82 games during his career, and Talbot’s seen more ice time per game. Upgrade.
More than this, though, Downie has proven he can play top-6 minutes. That’s not to say he will play them all the time in Philadelphia, but he absolutely can. He’s played this season with Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly, and in the past he’s played with Steven Stamkos. Maybe that plays a role in the fact that he’s scoring at a much higher rate than Talbot, but he’s seen those opportunities in the past and he’s taken advantage of them.
Wouldn’t be shocked if Downie’s on Claude Giroux’s wing on Friday night against the Capitals.
