The Colorado Avalanche have made their intentions clear with the trades they completed today. Colorado’s deadline day was most productive and exciting.
Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy were not messing about, checking a couple of big boxes on their list. This coming just shortly after another checked box with the recent acquisition of Shawn Matthias.
The Avalanche have to be considered one of the deadline day winners. There wasn’t much action around the league on this big day and Colorado stepped into the spotlight. Let’s take a look at what exactly took place from an Avs perspective.
Addressing the Top-Six
The first deal that was made saw the Avalanche send veteran Alex Tanguay, along with prospects Conner Bleackley, and Kyle Wood for the speedy Danish Mikkel Boedker. This is a player I personally have admired and occasionally had delusions of him playing in Burgundy and Blue.
Well, now that is very much a reality, and the Avalanche’s already potent offense, just got much faster and more dangerous.
Boedker, a former 8th overall pick, is a UFA, having not come to an agreement on a new deal with the Arizona Coyotes. Colorado however, has a good chance of signing Boedker long-term if he likes his new surroundings. And who wouldn’t enjoy skating with Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabe Landeskog, amongst all the other young talent the Avs possess?
This is a great trade all the way around. As much as everyone loves Tanguay, his hockey days are numbered, it’s just a sad fact. Fans however, must not forget his contributions to the organization. Tanguay is a class act, and played a huge role in Colorado’s 2001 Stanley Cup run.
Bleackley showed some promise with the Red Deer Rebels, but had the captaincy stripped from him, and his numbers have taken a nose dive. While Wood is a prospect Sakic and company were not sold on re-signing.
So for Colorado to bring in a much younger forward to replace Tanguay alongside MacKinnon and Landeskog cannot be seen in a negative light whatsoever. This guy has speed and skill, and that’s the Avalanche.
Rounding Out the Defense
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Sakic himself said they were looking for forward depth and help on the back-end. They took care of the forward depth exceptionally with the additions of Matthias and Boedker. Now Colorado’s defense has improved too with Eric Gelinas inserted into the lineup.
Colorado traded a third-round pick to the New Jersey Devils to bring in the youthful Gelinas. He was not having fun in New Jersey. Gelinas was a healthy scratch the past nine or so games. However, this kid is one with potential, and a definite upgrade over Andrew Bodnarchuk.
The former 54th overall pick in 2009 has a deadly shot from the point, something Colorado has been missing since Peter Mueller(on the PP) and Rob Blake(perhaps). If Gelinas can provide that bomb from the point consistently, management will be all smiles.
The New Look
Here’s what Colorado’s lineup could possibly look like with these new additions:
OFFENSE
- Landeskog – MacKinnon – Boedker
- Grigorenko – Duchene – Iginla
- Matthias – Soderberg – Comeau
- McLeod – Mitchell – Skille
DEFENSE
- Beauchemin – Johnson
- Gelinas – Barrie
- Holden – Bigras
That is a drastically improved lineup with the additions of Matthias, Boedker, and Gelinas. The final battle for the playoffs is here.
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