Tampa Bay Lightning trade for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Commodore

For the second time this trade season, the Tampa Bay Lightning has swapped with the Detroit Red Wings organization. In this instance, the Bolts have actually picked up a player instead of sending one away.

Defenseman Mike Commodore was acquired from the Red Wings for a conditional 7^th round draft selection.

This sort of smacks in the face all the rhetoric I have thrown out about the Lightning not picking up any potential rental-players at the 2012 NHL deadline. Commodore, 32, is an unrestricted free-agent to be.

So, why?

Bolt Prospects mused on Twitter that Commodore's acquisition may specifically be to bolster Norfolk. No, no, Mike isn't to be sent to Norfolk. Evan Oberg may be returned to the club to further bolster things for their playoff push.

Which leaves a big hole in Tampa Bay on defense, where Victor Hedman has fallen to injury (again). It's also where Mattias Ohlund has been out all season, and where Pavel Kubina has recently been offloaded by GM Steve Yzerman.

See a pattern here? We're missing defense and so... defense.

If this move was not made for insurance and depth, perhaps it's a precursor to a move one of the other sought-after defensemen on the Lightning (Brett Clark and Matt Gilroy)? I'm extremely skeptical of that, however. Steve Yzerman has already stated the Bolts are working with mostly a skeleton crew. After this pick-up, I don't see the Bolts moving anyone from the blue line except if it's demoting Oberg back to Norfolk.