With news that Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Beregevin and assistant GM Scott Mellanby were in Denver and attended a couple of Avalanche games, there’s buzz there might be a trade brewing. In fact, there’s whispers the two teams are working on something significant.
TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that teams who aren’t eyeing up a trade spend that much time and that many resources, so something bigger might be on the horizon. That said, word is, it’s not for Max Domi or Carey Price. Avs GM Joe Sakic might be searching for a depth goalie with Philipp Grubauer out.
Sakic’s Avs are already one of the front-runners for Chris Kreider but where else does Montreal fit in trade talks with the Avs? With so many injuries in Colorado right now, they could be eyeing up more that just Kreider and they may be formulating backup plans. Ilya Kovalchuk would be a potential fit. Maybe Jeff Petry who has been rumored as a potential trade candidate and has the interest of the Carolina Hurricanes. Maybe even Jonathan Drouin or Tomas Tatar?
The Avs are missing Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, Matt Calvert and Colin Wilson – but all are expected back by the end of the regular season and “injuries won’t have any impact on what we’re going to do.” It also means he can’t go crazy spending their salaries on other players. But, the Avs already had cap space, so there was room to wiggle already.
“I prefer a hockey trade rather than going into the rental market,” Sakic said. “But we’re going into the rental market as well. It all depends on the price.” If he can help it, he doesn’t want to move his first-round pick.
All anyone knows for sure, based on what Sakic would divulge is that he’s looking at something. “I’m paid to look about the big picture,” Sakic said. “We’re not just here looking short term.”
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