The 5 Best Trades In Avalanche History

Earlier on, we listed the 5 worst trades in Avalanche history. They stunk, fans hated them, and it always came back to bite the management in the rear end. We felt bad for putting you through the agony of reliving those dark moment in Avs history, so we figured we'd cheer you up with this: The 5 BEST trades in Avalanche history! 

#5. The Colorado Avalanche traded TJ Galiardi, Daniel Winnik and a 7th round pick in 2013 to the San Jose Sharks for Jamie McGinn, Mike Connolly and Michael Sgarbossa.

The 5^th best trade in Avs history is a recent one. It is the best trade Greg Sherman made and pretty much the only trade of his that is above alright. In this trade the Avs got rid of struggling Galiardi and “dime a dozen on this team” Winnik. And in return they got Jamie McGinn, who will provide a great scoring touch on the 2^nd and 3^rd lines, and future 20 goal scorer Sgarbossa. Mike Connolly was just a toss in. Good trade, and it’s going to benifiet the team for years to come.

#4. The Colorado Avalanche traded Wendel Clark to the New York Islanders for Claude Lemieux.

This trade is perhaps the least talked about trade that had the most influence. The Avs got rid of a guy who wanted nothing to do with the franchise and in return they got a clutch playoff performer, future Avalanche legend, and a big piece to puzzle of the championship team of 1996, and the Avs domination in the late 90’s.

#3. The Colorado Avalanche traded Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, a 1st round pick in 2001 (Dave Steckel), a 1st round pick in 2003 (Brian Boyle) and a player to be named later (Jared Aulin) to the Los Angeles Kings for Rob Blake and Steven Reinprecht.

This trade is a catch 22. On one end, they Avs lose a heart and soul, skilled, tough player in Deadmarsh as well as a solid defenseman in Miller. They also lost a few 1^st round picks that they probably could’ve used. But in return they got what many call “the final piece to the puzzle” in Steven Reinprecht. Just kidding, but Rob Blake is what pushed the Avs across the line from potential NHL Champions to legitimate contenders. It was a steep price, but well worth it in the end. Reinprecht would provide some solid 3^rd line play until phasing out and being traded, and Blake would provide leadership and act as a role model to young Avs players for years to come. Great trade.

#2. The Colorado Avalanche traded Brian Rolston, Martin Grenier, Samuel Pahlsson and a 1st round pick in 2000 (Martin Samuelsson) to the Boston Bruins for Ray Bourque and Dave Andreychuk

Ahh Ray Bourque. Mission 16W, Sakic handing the Cup over, his kids crying as he hoisted it. What a story and what a memory for Avs fans everywhere, forever. We all know the story so we won’t bother explaining. But what is the best part of this trade? All we gave up was Rolston, who was useless to the team at that time, Grenier who amounted to nothing special, and Pahlsson. These three players, plus a 1^st rounder, for RAY BOURQUE? Ray Shero must have been watching Pierre Lacroix closely as a young adult. Oh right, Dave Andreychuk. Neat.

#1. The Colorado Avalanche traded Andrei Kovalenko, Martin Rucinsky and Jocelyn Thibault to the Montreal Canadiens for Patrick Roy and Mike Keane.

If you started reading this article unsure what would be the number one trade in Avs history, then we don’t blame you. The Blake trade, Bourque, and Roy all have significant meaning to the success of this franchise. But it was our call and we had to choose this one. The Avs got one of the best goalies in the league at the time, and a skilled checking forward in Mike Keane, for pennies! I know the Habs just wanted to get something for one of the best goalies in the NHL, but come on. They coud’ve done better than that! Not that we’re complaining. This trade set the stage for the franchise and set it up as an absolute powerhouse. If the Avs didn’t get Patrick Roy, think of how differently things could be right now. It’s scary. Sacco might still be our coach for pete’s sake! This isn’t only the greatest trade in Avs history, it is one of the best trades in the history of the NHL.

  

Honourable Mentions:

The Colorado Avalanche traded David Jones and Shane O'Brien to the Calgary Flames for Alex Tanguay and Cory Sarich.

The Colorado Avalanche traded Bates Battaglia and Jonas Johansson to the Washington Capitals for Steve Konowalchuk and a 3rd round pick in 2004 (Casey Borer).

The Colorado Avalanche traded Frederic Cassivi to the Atlanta Thrashers for Brett Clark.

The Colorado Avalanche traded a 3rd round pick in 2004 (Peter Regin) to the Nashville Predators for Karlis Skrastins. 

The Colorado Avalanche traded Scott Hannan to the Washington Capitals for Tomas Fleischmann.

The Avs Only Get 3 Games On National TV This Season. What A Joke, NBC

The 2013-14 Colorado Avalanche. A bright, up and coming young team with budding stars such as Ryan O’Reilly, Matt Duchene, Tyson Barrie, Semyon Varlamov, and Gabe “don’t call me Gabriel” Landeskog. The team also features recent 1^st overall pick Nathan MacKinnon and probably Olympic backup Semyon Varlamov. Behind the bench is former NHL Superstar Patrick Roy and up in the press box is Joe Sakic. So what does this team get for having such an exciting team with unlimited potential? 3 lousy games on the NBC Sports Network, that’s what! Yes three. And one of them doesn’t really count because it’s against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. I bet the Hartford Whalers even have one of those games aired on NBC this year.

So did the Avs get the shaft again this year? Of course they did. When this team starts tearing it up a month into the season and the hockey world figures out what an exciting team this is to watch, the execs at NBC are going to be kicking themselves for letting America watch the Dallas Stars (5 games), Sharks (5), Devils (7!!!?)  and Wild (12 *faints*) more. Now, blame the “East Coast Bias” on this, but we have a different theory up our sleeves, and guess what! We’re about to share it with you. The real reason why the Avs don’t get a lick of TV time compared to other teams? Because they don’t have Sidney Crosby (18 games aired), and Alexander Ovechkin (13), because they haven’t won the cup in the last 5 years (CHI:17, LA: 9, BOS: 14, DET: 14), and because they aren’t the New York Rangers (18). Come on NBC. Gettin’ tired of your…stuff.

So what does this say about the decision makers at the glorious NBC Sports Network? It says this: they think we Americans are just a bunch of mindless robots that only want to watch the players and teams that the NHL shamelessly markets the death out of. But what if a hardcore hockey fan likes the New York Islanders? Do you think he is going to want to watch the Rangers, Bruins, Penguins, and Red Wings all the time? No. Do you think a Hurricanes fan wants to watch the Penguins, Devils, Capitals, and Flyers (19!!) while their team only plays once in front of the entire country? No. And why do we Avs faithful want to watch the Red Wings, Stars, Devils, Hawks, and Blues (13) all the time? We don’t.

So NBC has proven one of two things: they don’t care about the fans of 28 other teams in the league (yes NBC, there ARE other teams) and just want to make money, and/or they think we will just tune in on a Sunday evening to one of the 6000 Bruins/Pens games instead of flipping to Altitude to watch the Avs, or bumming a stream off the internet.

Well, sorry NBC. I think we speak for a lot of hockey fans in America, and even Canada, when we say you can take your 8 teams (Pens, Hawks, Bruins, Rangers, Kings, Wings, Flyers, Caps) and shove it. Yea, we’re going to watch those games because we are hockey fans and they are exciting. But stop giving the fans of the other teams the middle finger. There is more to this sport than making as much money as possible. 

Actually, on second thought....this might not be a bad thing....

Our Exclusive Interview With Greg Zanon

As you know, Greg Zanon is in the process of being bought out. Or, depending when you’re reading this, he already has been. Well, as was the case with Ryan O’Byrne, we had the privilege of sitting him down for an interview before his departure:

Us (AU): Hey Greg, welcome to the set. So it looks like your time in Colorado is done. How do you think the free agent market will be for you?

Zanon: Thanks guys good to be here. You know, I’m not too worried about finding a job in the NHL. I don’t think it’ll take too long.

AU: That’s optimistic. Why?

Zanon: Well, these past few years, and even these past few weeks, I know there’s GM’s out there that are willing to grossly overpay for mediocre talent, and make horrible decisions for their teams.

AU: Fair enough. Any places in particular you

Zanon: Well, the guys over in Philadelphia like to give guys a ridiculous amount of money for doing…not so much. And, their defense is horrible enough that I think I would fit right in.

AU: No disagreements here. So, say you get picked up by the Flyers, how do you think you can contribute to the team?

Zanon: Well, as I said, the Flyers have a history of bad defense, so if I could just go in there, play horribly, and let all the blame fall on the goalies, I’ll feel great about cashing my hard earned paychecks.

AU: Oh…kay. So let’s talk about your time with the Avs. Short, but sweet?

Zanon: Yea it was great I got along famously with the guys.

AU: Oh really? So you’re a good locker room guy?

Zanon: No not really. I just played so bad that whenever anyone else screwed up, they still looked good in comparison. The guys really appreciated that.

AU: Yea that sounds great. What else can you tell us about your time in Colorado?

Zanon: Well the entire management staff was just fantastic. Joe Sacco really helped the team chemistry but putting everybody in the locker room on the same level.

AU: Oh really? How so?

Zanon: Well, he was the coach. The bench boss. But we never felt like there was much separation.

AU: Because…?

Zanon: Well everyone in the room, including the 14 year old stick boy, knew just as much about coaching an NHL team than him.

AU: We don’t doubt that for a second. So how did feel getting bought out? Were you disappointed that the Avs no longer wanted your services?

Zanon: Well, I knew it was coming the moment Roy and Sakic got hired. When you have guys that actually know stuff about hockey, guys like me know their time is running out.

AU: True. But getting a nice chunk of your salary for doing nothing…that’s got to be nice!

Zanon: Guys….didn’t you watch any games last year? I got paid for doing nothing then too.

AU: Yea I guess so…so over the last few months the Avs have gotten rid of 3 defensemen. You, O’Byrne, and O’Brien. Why do you think you guys were the ones that were shown the door?

Zanon: Well me, ROB, and SOB share a lot of the same desirable traits. Bad mobility, horrible penalty killing position, horrible hockey sense, virtually no offense, and when the game is on the line, we can make the player’s bench look nice and full. We have a lot to offer.

AU: Alright that’s about enough for now. Good luck in your future with the NHL…or..AHL. Yea so, let us know how your 6 games in the KHL go.

Zanon: Thanks guys!

AU: And if you do play in the NHL next season, try not to resurrect the curse of the former Avs and score a lot of…ahh nevermind.

Absolute Greed: Now Playing At NHL Arenas Everywhere

Have you ever been to a store, seen a kid crying because a parent wouldn’t buy him or her a toy, only to have the parent cave to shut the spoiled little brat up? Then, as soon as the kid gets what it wants, it is happy until the next aisle, and it sees another glimmering, taunting object that it must possess.  Well, welcome to the fallout of the most recent NHL Lockout. If it were a Broadway production, it would look like this:

Playing the part of the spoiled brat kid that no one likes: The Players

Playing the part of the helpless parent who is trying desperately to calm and please an undeserving child: The NHL

Playing the part of the innocent bystander watching helplessly shaking his head: the fans, and everyone reading this post.

Scene I: After losing out on a whole entire NHL season, players are satisfied and owners can cope with the result of lockout. (Enter greedy NHL Players a few years later) “For some reason, I think the rise in the salary cap gives me full entitlement for a huge, front loaded, long term salary that won’t work out in the end. But that’s ok, because even if I get bought out 6 years into my 12 year, 60 million dollar deal, I have still managed to make 40 million of it. And I get paid about 12 for doing nothing. Because I deserve it. Why? Because I do something I love for a living.”

(Enter dumb NHL GM’s and owners) Sounds good greedy NHL players. If this is what it takes to get you on our teams so we can still have a marketable asset in our portfolio, lets sign the papers!”

The cast members then live in harmony for the next few years. Until the expiration of the CBA. Uh oh, trouble on the horizon.

Scene II: (Enter NHLPA, NHL Owners) Owners: “we messed up. We are paying you too much. We wish to pay you less and shave some money off of your salaries. Also, we wish receive a higher percentage of the money made off the products we own and you do not.”

Players: What!?!?! Not a chance! You signed us to those deals and we are fully entitled! And we deserve more money than you from the jerseys, hats, ect that you sell! Even though we just work for you!”

Owners: “But that would be like paying a worker at a grocery store 60 cents for every $1 tomato gets sold”

Players: “we know.”

At this point of the play, everything is open to interpretation on both sides. Each side has fair and equal points. The CBA gets signed, the season is half lost, and play resumes.

Scene III: (Enter players, owners) Owner: The salary cap is going down next year. In order to keep you on our team, we will have to pay you the same as last year, or less.

Player: What!? I scored 15 goals last year and we missed the playoffs! I must have MORE! Because 4.5 million dollars a year isn’t good enough! (Player breaks 4^th wall and turns to crowd) “You there, what do you do for a living?”

Crowd Member: “I am a surgeon sir.”

Player: “Oh. So you have a definite use to society and without trained people such as yourself, many undeserving people would die. You are a hero and mean a great deal to the world.”

Crowd Member: “I guess so”

Player: “Well I am in the NHL. I make 4.5 million dollars to play a sport and serve no real purpose to society, especially not in the way you do. And I make millions more per year than you!” (Turns to owner) “My 4.5 million dollars is not good enough. I demand 5.3 or I walk! Because I am an NHLer.”

Scene IV: (Owner’s Office) Mr. Letang. I noticed that your contract is running out soon. You made $3.5M last year, and scored 5 goals. We feel your play has improved over the past few years so we would like to offer you a raise. How does $5M per year sound for 7 years?”

Mr. Letang: “*scoff* That is INSULTING! Only 5 million dollars? To play a game I love, have access to the greatest sports physiotherapists, trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, and facilities in the world? No! I will test the free agent market until somebody presents me with a number that I feel I deserve! Good day sir!”

Owner: “Ok Mr. Letang. You are vital to our team. Here is $7.25M. But can you score more than an average of 11 goals next year?

Scene IV, act II: The Office of the Tampa Bay Lightning) Owner: Vinny, we messed up your contract. We are going to use a buyout on you. Sorry. Here is 32 million dollars over the next 14 years for doing nothing.

Lecavalier then proceeds find 3 teams who are willing to use his services. After an average cap hit of 4 million dollars per year is proposed by one team, Lecavalier turns them down. After his demands are too high for the 2^nd team, he walks away as well. Lecavalier then manages to find someone to pay him 4.5 million more dollars per year. Upon announcing this to the audience, the surgeon in the crowd has a heart attack. No one can save him because no one has hundreds of thousands of dollars to go through the training it takes for those abilities. Meanwhile, while his family grieves and wonders how the bills are going to be paid, all over the league in the offseason, millionaire hockey players continue to cry out and demand more millions upon millions to play a game 9 months out of the year.

Scene V: The set shifts to the grocery store. The child who was at first crying and whining because he wasn’t getting what he felt he deserved, is now sitting in the shopping cart, toy in hand, with a big smile on his face. His cheeks are still red from screaming, his eyes are still swollen from crying. But he has his toy. All is well for now. Until the next aisle.

The parent, feeling sheepish for giving in, but just wanted to continue shopping without hassle, quietly pushes the shopping cart along. A blank, solemn stare radiates from their face. The child is playing with the toy. All that can be heard is the sound of the cart wheels rolling along the marble floor. And the sound of the child laughing.

Fin

Our Future Lies With Some Of You: 2013 Edition

Just like last year, here is a look at your newest Avs prospects:

1^st pick, 1^st overall: Seth Jones, all American hero, son of an athlete, 1^st overall pick was a lock. Until everyone ever, Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy included, read our blog citing why drafting Jones was a bad idea. So, we credit ourselves with full responsibility of the Avs drafting future NHL star Nathan Mackinnon. You are VERY welcome Avs fans.

2^nd pick, 32^nd overall: Chris Bigras (Owen Sound, OHL). The Avs got their defenseman. The OHL blueliner led his team in defensive scoring last season and is apparently very smart, having won his team’s Scholastic Player of the Year award. And if you are still mad the Avs didn’t get Jones, keep this in mind: Duncan Keith was once drafted 52^nd overall. So you never know.

3^rd pick, 63^rd overall: Spencer Martin (Mississauga, OHL). The Avs continued to fill holes in the roster in the 3^rd round by drafting a goaltender. This adds much needed depth to a position that is currently filled by Varlamov, Giguere, Aittokallio, Pickard, Patterson, and  Milan. Yea. We really needed that goalie. But he really fits the Avs recent goaltending curve as he compiled a losing record last year. Who said change is a good thing?

4^th pick, 93^rd overall: Mason Geertsen (Vancouver, WHL). Another dman for the Avs as the add size to their backend. This defenseman is most comparable to Erik Johnson as his goal total sucked last year and he isn’t very offensive. The only difference between the two: one is a solid defenseman that plays hard night in and night out, and tries to better his team. The other is Erik Johnson.

5^th pick, 123^rd overall: Will Butcher (USA U-18, USHL). The Avs drafted another blueliner. I guess they just wanted to shutup all the Seth Jones whiners. Butcher is in the American development program, so if history is any indication, he will get really good and the Avs will trade him to St. Louis for a draft dud, a guy we won’t keep around, and  a pick.

6^th pick, 153^rd overall: Ben Storm (Muskegon USHL). I’m guessing this was Greg Sherman’s call. Only he could screw up bad enough and think that teams iced 12 defensemen a game and just 6 forwards.

7^th pick, 183^rd overall. With their last pick in the draft, the Avs obtained fabled future star defenseman Seth Jones! Oh wait, that isn’t right is it? We just figured they did considering how far Jones fell in the draft. Oh, Wilhelm Westlund from Farjestad Jr was the last pick? He wins the award of “Most German Sounding Name In A Swedish Hockey League”. Already a champion. Well we’re sick of talking about defensemen, so let’s focus on other stuff. Barkov at no. 2? It’s nice to see that Florida hasn’t stopped being Florida.

So that’s it for the 2013 NHL draft. The Avs got their guy, Nashville stole Jones at 4^th, Feaster managed to screw up his team’s draft even though he had THREE first round choices, and every TV analyst managed to kiss the very last spot on Ray Shero’s ass for his ability to give to way too much money to Letang/trade Kennedy. Everyone is happy! Oh, except Luongo.