The Colorado Avalanche are not likely done wheeling and dealing before Friday’s trade deadline. While the Avalanche have turned heads this year with a number of massive trades, the teams will still be looking to continue adding to the roster.
Thus far, the Avalanche secured a starting goaltender in MacKenzie Blackwood, got a dynamic young winger in Martin Necas, and added key defensive depth with Ryan Lindgren.
But there’s one spot that I sense could be the Colorado Avalanche’s next target before the trade deadline hits its 3 pm buzzer on Friday afternoon. The Avalanche need a third-string goaltender.
Allow me to expand on this point: At the outset of this year, many of us, especially me, believed that Justus Annunen was poised to become the Avs’ goalie of the future. He was in a perfect spot to take the reins and run with the starting job.
However, Annunen struggled, forcing Chris MacFarland to trade for another netminder, Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood has been terrific since coming over. But few believed Wedgewood was going to be the solution, particularly with former netminder Alexandar Georgiev struggling the way he was.
So, the Avs pulled off the Blackwood trade. Blackwood has been fantastic. He’s given the Avs exactly what the team needed from Georgiev and/or Annunen.
But the Blackwood/Wedgewood tandem exposed one fatal flaw: The Avs don’t have a capable NHL-caliber goalie behind them. That situation was exposed when Scott Wedgewood was injured earlier this year. The Avs had to turn to Trent Miner.
Now, no disrespect to Mr. Miner. I think he deserves a shot at becoming an NHL-level goalie. But he’s not the third-string option a potential Cup contender like the Colorado Avalanche need at this point in the season.
The Colorado Avalanche will be looking to add another goalie before the deadline
So, considering how much the Avalanche need a third-string goalie, they will surely kick the tires on teams that have a surplus of goaltenders. Teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, or Boston Bruins may be inclined to move a goalie at the deadline.
For instance, the Bruins may be inclined to move Joonas Korpisalo, given their commitment to Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins are unlikely going to make the playoffs this season and could recoup some assets heading into next season.
Similarly, the Penguins may be enticed to move one of Alex Nedeljkovic or Joel Blomqvist. Either one would come cheap and would likely fill the void for Colorado.
The Blackhawks now have four goalies on their depth chart and could be willing to move one now that Spencer Knight would likely get a shot at becoming the starter.
It remains to be seen what the Avalanche have up their sleeve heading into the final hours of this year’s trade deadline. I don’t think the Avs are going to push back from the table and call it a day. They will try to continue adding pieces, without needlessly breaking the bank.