Three Potential Commerce Targets For Slumping Avalanche Workforce In Want Of Depth

The Colorado Avalanche have been one of many NHL’s greatest unlucky surprises this season, and so they’ve additionally been one of many streakiest groups within the league. The Avs started the 12 months on a four-game shedding stretch, gained the next 5 video games, and so they’re now on a three-game shedding skid. And in these previous three defeats, Colorado has used three completely different goalies and received the identical outcome every time – a 5-2 loss.

Because of this, the Avalanche are actually the league’s worst defensive crew – averaging a whopping 4.25 goals-against per sport – and 9 of their subsequent 10 video games are in opposition to stable groups: Seattle, Winnipeg, Washington (twice), Carolina, Nashville, L.A., Florida and Tampa Bay.

Yikes. Yikes-and-a-half.

The pre-season worries about this Colorado team were well-founded. They’ve nowhere close to the depth they’d a couple of years in the past once they gained the third Stanley Cup in franchise historical past. And now, Avs brass, Joe Sakic and Chris MacFarland, have greater than slightly work to do to salvage their season.

Clearly, Colorado wants assistance on protection, however so do many NHL groups, and there isn’t a wellspring of expertise on ‘D’ obtainable to anybody. Per Puck Pedia, the Avalanche at present have $7.27 million in wage cap area – sufficient to swing a deal for a veteran or two – however with their present spell of accidents, it’s their ahead group that’s best to deal with proper now.

To that finish, might the Avs make a transfer for Islanders veteran heart Brock Nelson? The 33-year-old heart has a cap hit of $6 million, however he’s a pure rental who’s within the closing season of his present contract. Whether or not that makes him kind of engaging to Sakic and MacFarland is up for debate, however Nelson’s expertise and accomplishment – and the Islanders’ struggles in the mean time – make him a robust match with Colorado.

Another choice for the Avs is Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Nick Robertson, a wholesome scratch of late for the Buds. Robertson is a far cheaper asset at simply $875,000 for this season, and if Colorado can give you a stable choice of draft picks and/or prospects, they will add a teen with velocity and ability who would get rather more alternative than he’s getting in Leaf Land proper now.

One other comparatively low-cost different is Utah Hockey Membership heart Michael Carcone, a 28-year-old who has appeared in solely three video games this season. Carcone is incomes $775,000 this 12 months, and his 21-goal efficiency for Utah/Arizona final season must be engaging for the Avs. Carcone will likely be a UFA this summer time, so he is a low-risk asset who might nonetheless be a long-term match with Colorado.

Actually, the Avalanche can’t attempt to out-score their defensive deficiencies, however their present-day protection corps doesn’t have many components Avs administration would wish to quit on. Perhaps there’s a third-pair D-man who might fill a necessity for Colorado, however the Avs aren’t simply going to discover a difference-maker in their very own zone – and that’s why a commerce for a ahead might be the best choice for MacFarland and Sakic to drag off.

Regardless of the case, the clock is ticking on the Avalanche. They’re presently the third-worst crew within the Central Division, only one standings level forward of the Predators and Chicago Blackhawks. No person noticed that coming, however now that the Avs are the place they’re, Colorado brass has to do one thing to vary issues up.

The established order isn’t an excellent course for Colorado, and the earlier the Avalanche addresses their unlucky circumstance, the better their street to redemption will likely be.

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