Seeing all those crazy Toronto posts about speculative trades that have the Avs being fleeced (and the Toronto fans thinking they are saving the Avalanche franchise) got me thinking about potential trades. Bryz just got traded to the Flyers. The Flyers have $0 to sign the talented free agent goalie (a stretch but you get the idea). Everybody is talking about Jeff Carter being put on the block yet he's signed for 10 years or so. Much too long for our Avs franchise. My thought, and I've seen this on another post in a comment, is why not target Matt Carle? He fits the Avs mold (college Hobey Baker winner), he's relatively young (26), he was the defensive partner of Chris Pronger (Johnson is supposedly comparable to Pronger), he is signed at a cap hit of 3.437 mil (to get to the cap floor), and he will be a free agent after the 2011-2012 season (like almost all of the Avalanche players).

Philly is in the same situation as Chicago was last year and has to unload some salary. A couple prospects and a late draft pick might get the deal done.

Also, the Flyers probably will not be able to resign Ville Leino. I believe he was a Red Wing prior but he could be a solid 2nd liner if Flash and Mueller are unable to go and Hishon doesn't make the roster. Something for everybody to ponder.

I'm sorry if this has been brought up in other threads but I was wondering what everyone thinks about the NHL being involved in the Olympics going forward.  As we all know, it is not decided whether or not we will be sending the best hockey players in the world to Russia for the 2014 games.  We also know that the commish and most owners do not like the Olympics since the schedule gets messed up and most importantly, to them, they do not receive one dollar from the 42 games taking place.

I think the NHL belongs in the Olympics.  For one, what better way to promote the game than on the grandest stage in several countries on several continents?  Maybe it was because the US played Canada in the Gold Medal Game, but out here in California, there is some serious talk about hockey. The Gold Medal Game came on before the Lakers even on the evening news! (No really, the news would rather talk about the Lakers practice, the Dodgers, the Clippers, the Cavaliers, and then the Ducks/Kings game as a side note in that order).  The NHL definitely wants to promote itself across borders because we send teams overseas to start the year.  How fair is that?  That messes up the schedule for those teams and affects the people that care most about the sport, the fans.  The fans get to see at least one less home game and deal with several games in a row then a prolonged break.  If the schedule is a major issue during the Olympics, why don't we start the season a week early and do away with these international games the year the Olympics take place?  I also liked being able to root for a player that I went to school with and plays for my favorite professional team.  Congrats Stastny on a Silver Medal.  It is awkward rooting for a Canuck or a Red Wing (had to do it with Rafalski) but rooting for national pride for two weeks overcomes professional differences.  Back in 2002, it was easier having Joe Sakic beat Team USA but that gives another reason to like the Olympics.  If the home country is down, I find an Avalanche player that I can root for in the other games.  If we do away with the NHL, I wouldn't know anyone besides USA and Canada.  Where's the fun in that?

Long rant short, NHL players belong in the Olympics.  There is a buzz around hockey that I haven't noticed in a long time.  I was 15 during the Salt Lake Games and don't know about the attitude then, but this feels like something that could be on a level with, but not completely comparable to, 1980.  Those were college kids then.  But it was still an underdog beating a favorite.  And that's what captured America in 2010; an underdog nearly defeating a favorite on the grandest stage with its best players.

I'm sorry guys if a post has already been made about this subject but with all the talk in the air about trades, I figured I would throw 2 out there.  These are not ones that I have heard and the probability of them happening are probably minimal at best.  But for some reason, trade rumors always sparks hockey fans' interests.

I follow the ESPN "Rumor Central" and really they only use stuff from the Ottawa Sun or media sources from Toronto (so basically everybody is rumored to go to Ontario for draft picks).  Anyways, it seems that Bobby Ryan is available since he is a RFA at the end of the season and the Ducks suck this year.  I've had Ryan on fantasy teams for 2 years so maybe that's why I would love to see him in an Avs uni but the possibility of Ryan on a line with Stastny would be awesome.  Some stats for you to consider with Ryan: 132 GP 56 G 46 A for 102 PTS.  Last year, in his coming out party, he scored 31 goals, 26 assists and was +13 in 64 games.  This year, through 45 games, he has 20 goals and 15 assists (+1).  I would much rather have the Avs trade away Shattenkirk to the Ducks for Ryan than to the Blackhawks for Versteeg.  My thoughts for the trade to work:  Avs send Svatos, Shattenkirk and a high draft pick (hopefully 2nd Rd but may need to be a 1) for Ryan.  Svatos is a goal scorer that could be placed with Getzlaf and Perry (plus he takes dumb penalties which is exactly what the Ducks look for in forwards).  A friend of mine that follows the Ducks says the team needs young defenders because A) the team doesn't have much cap room and B) doesn't have that many good defensive prospects.  So Svatos and Shattenkirk would replace Ryan for the Ducks and the draft pick would compensate for the loss of the RFA draft pick that could have been acquired.  For the Avs, according to the Sun, Ryan should be worth around 3 to 3.5 million per season.  If we don't resign him, we could end up with a first round pick.

Another to just throw out there.  Out of Carolina, it seems they suck too (yet they beat us and almost shut us out).  The best player they have to trade is Whitney who, if we are in serious contention, wouldn't be that bad of a pick up.  He still has offensive talent and he has playoff experience (not to mention a Cup ring with a then very young Carolina squad).  If he could come fairly cheaply, maybe we could look into that acquisition.

Personally, I think the Avs don't need to make any drastic moves.  We have a nice young core that is overachieving this year.  Why put the future at stake to make a long shot run this year?  Trade off some dead defensive weight for some assets in the draft and keep the rebuilding process going. Rumor has it that the Islanders are looking for a shot blocking defenseman and are willing to part with a mid round draft pick.  Would Clark fit the bill there?

I just caught some of the Boston University hockey game against Notre Dame.  I watched for a few reasons.  1 being the amount of Avalanche prospects on the team.  2 my sister goes there.  And 3, and you can't hate me for this, but a kid I played club hockey with is on the team.  He also happens to be a 4th round draft pick of the hated Red Wings (in interviews he said he was excited to go to Detroit but whisperings around town is that he wanted to go to the hometown LA Kings so got to like him for that at least).  Back to the short recap.

Shattenkirk.  The broadcasters reported that he was fighting the flu but this kid can skate.  I liked his outlet passes out of his own zone and he definitely has some offensive ability from the blue line.  He played smart and there were stretches where he would he would control the play by either jumping into the zone on a rush or pinching in the zone to keep the puck in.  His defensive placement seemed a bit off tonight but it's early in the season, he had the flu, and the game was played on a Tuesday (normally games are weekend tilts if you were unaware).  I'm definitely excited to see him play in the pros next year, I think he can be that good.

Cohen-  This kid is big.  I've seen him play before but I didn't realize how large he is.  He's taller than most other players on the ice and built bigger (I don't know if it's the pads or if he has more muscle).  I liked his offensive instincts too and his outlet passes seemed effortless and always on the tape leading the forward.  Exactly what you teach defensemen.  His defense was suspect as he lost his man if they cycled the puck and he seemed a little slow/sluggish in and around the net area.  Hopefully, if his defense picks up and after a year or two in the AHL, we will see him in an Avs sweater.  He has a heavy shot.

Milan (G)- I played defense in club hockey so I may not be the best to judge goalies but Milan would go down early nearly every shot it seemed.  He gave up 3 goals (I missed the 3rd) but the first one wasn't his fault, it was deflected off a defenseman's skate (my buddies of all people), the second one was a bouncing puck scramble that he went down on and couldn't reach the puck on the rebound.  The broadcaster kept commenting on his positioning and saying it was good. Even though he we would go down, he seemed to cover most of the net.  However, once he was down, he seemed really slow.  He'll have to work on that but he has a couple years at BU to fix that problem.

As far as my friend, the Red Wings may have drafted a potential solid defenseman.  Maybe the Avs can acquire him in a trade...or the Red Wings can drop him ala Quincey.  I meant this to be a short recap but it was quite lengthy.  Sorry team.