Colorado Avalanche: Sven Andrighetto Likely to Get Top Six Minutes

The Colorado Avalanche recently acquired forward Sven Andrighetto via a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, and he is likely to get top six minutes with the Avs.

Sven Andrighetto won’t make his debut in a Colorado Avalanche uniform until Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, but when he does, he is likely to be in the top six. He is also going to wear No. 10 for the Colorado Avalanche, in case you were curious.

The Avs acquired Andrighetto for a reason. They were looking to get speedier and younger. They were also looking for an upgrade on Andreas Martinsen, and they found it.

Unfortunately, the Avs could have gotten him for free when the Canadiens placed him on waivers back in October. However, hindsight is 20/20.

Regardless, Andrighetto is going to be a nice addition to the top six, especially for a tryout run down the stretch. Joe Sakic has made no bones about his intent with Andrighetto:

"What we’re trying to do is get faster and more skilled. Andrighetto, he brings that. He can fly out there. He has great hockey sense. Power play’s been struggling all year and we feel he can help on the power play."

So maybe he’s only likely to help on the power play. However, I imagine they also think he’s an upgrade in the top six over Blake Comeau, just like Matt Nieto was an upgrade on Jarome Iginla.

But how much of an upgrade is Andrighetto?

What Line will Sven Andrighetto Slot Into?

At this point, the Avs have a few different options to get Andrighetto in the top six. He’s a left-hand shot who plays the right-side, so that’s a real nice easy transition for the Avs.

They can just move Blake Comeau down, and pop Andrighetto on Nathan MacKinnon’s right side.

However, Mikko Rantanen is also playing the left side currently, and even though he is a left-hand shot, he usually plays the right side. Rants is a sniper capable of scoring goals from his off wing, and that’s an asset you don’t waste.

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So, it might be more beneficial to see what Andrighetto can do on the second line right side with Matt Nieto on the left wing and Duchene in the middle. Or, he could move to the left side as well, seeing as he is left-handed.

The thing about players who are able to play their off wing is that they provide a nice versatility. So, at this point, it’s really up to Jared Bednar to decide where Andrighetto would best be suited.

Who knows, I could be wrong and he might not even make it into the top six. However, Sakic seems pretty adamant about giving him the opportunity he didn’t have in Montreal. Here’s what he had to say about Andrighetto:

"A young, skilled forward looking for more of an opportunity."

So, why not give him an opportunity in the top six? The remainder of the season should be reserved for try-outs and analysis anyway, and Andrighetto should be in the thick of it.

Conclusion

Most are calling the Jarome Iginla trade the biggest trade of the day. However, the Andrighetto trade has the potential to be the most impactful trade on deadline day.

The Avs were able to get younger, and they certainly got faster, and both are directions that Sakic is trying to take this team.

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Furthermore, Andrighetto has the potential to develop into a top six forward. He’s been a prolific scorer in the AHL since he joined the league, and he’s still only 23 years old.

He has been unable to translate that AHL success to the NHL, but he has the ability to do it. This was a smart trade for the Colorado Avalanche, and it’s going to be fun to watch Andrighetto throughout the remainder of the season.

What’s on Tap:

The Avalanche will face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night, at 5:00 pm MST in the MTS Centre, on Altitude2. The game against the Jets will be Andrighetto’s debut in an Avalanche uniform, so tune in.