Colorado Avalanche: 4 Players the Team Must Unload

Jan 2, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Francois Beauchemin (32) defends against Vancouver Canucks forward Henrik Sedin (33) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Francois Beauchemin (32) defends against Vancouver Canucks forward Henrik Sedin (33) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
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colorado avalanche
colorado avalanche

Blake Comeau

Position: Winger

Age: 30

Height: 6’1

Weight: 202 lbs

Shoots: Right

Contract:  $2.4 million cap hit through 2018

Unloading winger Blake Comeau‘s contract is not as big a need as with Beauchemin or Soderberg. He’s the youngest and the cheapest of the three.

Comeau had a decent year last season, scoring 36 points. That was his second-best season for points in his career. This year he’s on-pace for about 20 points.

Comeau is a pretty good energy player. He’s also pretty versatile. He took a lot of bad penalties early in the season, but he’s gotten better with that.

The rationale for trading Comeau would largely be to free up a roster spot for a prospect, perhaps JT Compher or, especially, AJ Greer.

Scenario: Blake Comeau doesn’t have any limitations on his contract, so the Colorado Avalanche could move him at any time. The fact that Colorado hasn’t even waived him means the team still sees some use in him. He averages about 15 minutes a game, usually playing on a line with Soderberg and Iginla.

If the Avalanche could get a draft pick for Comeau, it might be worth moving him. The other scenario might be including Blake as a small piece in a bigger trade, like sending Jamie McGinn to Buffalo in the O’Reilly trade.

I doubt Colorado would protect Comeau in the expansion draft, but I also doubt the Knights would care to pick him up.