Colorado Avalanche Rumors: Considering Erik Johnson as Trade Bait

Conclusion

Erik Johnson is easily the best defenseman on the Avs, but that doesn’t mean they should avoid trading him. He’s nearing the end of his prime, he carries a cap hit of 6 million, and he’s never played in a full NHL season.

That spells T-R-A-D-A-B-L-E as far as I am concerned, and it’s not like his value is low or depleted by any means, especially when considering a trade with the Hurricanes.

They have four defenseman currently on their roster under the age of 25, and two more that fit that bill in their system as well. They don’t really have a veteran presence on their blueline, and could benefit from that tremendously.

Next: Analyzing the LA Kings as Trade Partners

Unfortunately, there is one more kicker to these speculations. Erik Johnson has a modified no-movement clause, which means he would have to submit a list of teams he is comfortable being traded to.

You have to imagine that the Carolina Hurricanes would not be on that list, but hey, you never know. The Hurricanes are not far off from becoming contenders, and the additions of Erik Johnson and Matt Duchene could help them reach that goal sooner rather than later.

Even if the Hurricanes don’t want to complete a deal like the one above — or at least similar to it — the Avs should certainly consider offers from other teams on Erik Johnson.

Check back in the coming days for more analyses of possible trade partners for the Avs.