Top 3 highest-paid players in Colorado Avalanche history
![February 11, 2011; Columbus, OH, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg (21) skates up ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports February 11, 2011; Columbus, OH, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg (21) skates up ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1aa794b1ece34fabd631f8bb7dfee95f17778529e1947f18c72d67e5a6e83b60.jpg)
#3 Highest-Paid Colorado Avalanche: Rob Blake: $9,326,519 in 2003-04
On February 21, 2001, the Colorado acquired defenseman Rob Blake and center Steven Reinprecht from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Adam Deadmarsh and defenseman Aaron Miller.
The Avalanche gave up a first-round pick in 2001, as well as a first-round pick in 2003, and February 21, 2001: Colorado acquires defenseman Rob Blake and center Steven Reinprecht from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Adam Deadmarsh, defenseman Aaron Miller, a first-round pick in 2001, a first-round pick in 2003, and Jared Aylin, who was sent to the team at a later date.
Rob Blake’s first year as a member of the Avalanche was a great one. He had the fourth-highest amount of points of his career, which included 16 goals and 40 assists in 75 games.
During the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2001, the Avalanche scored 270 goals while allowing 192. He led all Avalanche defensemen with 19 points and time on ice of 29:25 in 23 games. He also led the Avalanche defense in game-winning goals with five and power play points with 11.
Blake was a part of the greatest Avalanche team in history. In a salary cap-less era, this was a great investment for the team.
In 2001, Blake played in just 13 games for the Avalanche but that was because he played 54 games for the Los Angeles Kings the same year prior to the trade. He had two goals and eight assists in 2001 for the Avalanche, which shows that he made a fairly instant and frequent impact.