On February 21, 2012, in the last year of his contract with the Avalanche, Quincey was traded by Colorado to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Steve Downie. Just moments later, Tampa Bay traded him to the Detroit Red Wings for a first-round draft pick in 2012 and prospect Sébastien Piché. Marking his progression in returning to his original draft team in which his initially left on a waiver transaction, Quincey appeared in all 18 games and the Red Wings' first round defeat to the Nashville Predators to end the 2011–12 season.