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Colorado Avalanche: Shawn Matthias Trade A Fire Starter?

By Jeremy Lambert

Feb 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center John Mitchell (7) checks Vancouver Canucks right wing Derek Dorsett (15) in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Canucks defeated the Avalanche 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center John Mitchell (7) checks Vancouver Canucks right wing Derek Dorsett (15) in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Canucks defeated the Avalanche 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Is the addition of Shawn Matthias just the start of something bigger for the Colorado Avalanche heading into the trade deadline?

A week before the NHL trade deadline, the Colorado Avalanche wasted little time making a move to strengthen the team. On Sunday, they acquired Shawn Matthias for Colin Smith and a 4th round pick. It’s not a blockbuster deal, but it is a deal that gives the team a little extra scoring depth and helps them solidify their bottom six. The question is, is this a prelude to a bigger deal?

The Avs still have 50 players under contract, which is the maximum amount allowed by the league. So in any deal they make, they would have to give up more players than they would be gaining or it would have to be an even player swap. It’s not a huge hindrance, but it does shackle Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy a bit as they can’t trade one player (likely an NHL player) for two (likely two AHL players). Given that the Avs are in a playoff position and will likely be soft buyers at the deadline, this shouldn’t be a big issue.

With the Matthias deal, the Colorado Avalanche bottom six now includes Carl Soderberg, John Mitchell, Blake Comeau, Cody McLeod, Jack Skille, and Andres Martinsen. At first glance, it would seem likely that Martinsen would head back down to the AHL, but Roy loves his grit and determination. Soderberg and Comeau aren’t going anywhere (and rightfully so), McLeod is a veteran and a leader, and Skille has been a surprisingly welcome addition on the fourth line. That leaves Mitchell, a versatile forward who is in the middle of a rather disappointing season after such a hot start.

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The advanced stats don’t like Mitchell this season. With a 41.74% SAT, he ranks second to last on the Avalanche in puck possession amongst all full-time players. In fairness to him, the Colorado Avalanche are a poor puck possession team (dead last in the league at 43.50% SAT) so it’s not like Mitchell is dragging the team down too far when he’s on the ice.

Mitchell isn’t a bad NHL forward. He’s proven to have a scoring touch throughout his career and can be a decent playmaker when he’s not holding onto the puck for too long. He’s a decent defensive player who isn’t afraid to make a hit or block a shot, but far below average in the faceoff circle. On a team looking for depth, Mitchell could certainly be a useful player. On a team that relies so much on speed and transition, he just doesn’t quite fit in.

The Colorado Avalanche should be in the market for a bottom two defenseman or a top six forward. You’re probably thinking that the team needs a top four defenseman, and you’d be right, but that’s not going to happen. Roy loves the top four of Erik Johnson, Francios Beauchemin, Tyson Barrie, and Nick Holden. When Johnson was hurt, rather than move Barrie up to the top pairing, he used a combination of players alongside Beauchemin, unwilling to split Barrie and Holden.

It would be much easier to acquire a bottom two player. Chris Bigras has earned a spot on the team, but he’s stuck playing with Andrew Bodnarchuk (a guy who couldn’t crack the Columbus lineup) or Zach Redmond (a limited offensive defenseman). Neither are NHL capable defenseman for a playoff team. Mitchell could easily fetch the sixth defenseman that the Avs need.

The top six forward is a little trickier. While we’d all love Jonathan Drouin in burgundy and blue, it’s going to take a lot more than Mitchell. Mitchell would be a nice piece of the Lightning, adding to their depth that let them down during last year’s Stanley Cup run, but he’s not enough for a player who was the third overall pick in 2013. Unless of course Sakic and Lightning GM Steve Yzerman make a friendly wager on Saturday or Sakic promises Yzerman that Adam Foote will play nice if Yzerman trades Drouin for Mitchell straight up.

Packaging Mitchell with players like Joey Hishon or Duncan Siemens and a draft pick (like a 2nd round pick since Sakic hates those) might land the team the top six forward they desperately need. Remember, the Colorado Avalanche aren’t looking for a top six forward by NHL standards (although that would help). They’re looking for a top six forward by Avalanche standards. When you’re giving Alex Tanguay top six minutes, your standards are just a little lower than most teams.

Next: A Quiet Trade Deadline?

Adding Matthias seems like a minor deal, but it could be the kindling that starts a major trade fire.

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