The Colorado Avalanche appear to be open for business.
Report: Strong chance Avalanche's Barrie could be traded
After missing the playoffs for the second straight season, the club is looking to shake things up and - according to TSN's Darren Dreger - are willing to move just about anybody to do so.
"No, it's not just noise," Dreger said on TSN 1040, according to Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot. "I know that Joe Sakic has told NHL general managers that he's willing to listen and willing to deal any of those big guys like (Tyson) Barrie, like (Matt) Duchene. But it's got to be part of something big. Something significant.
"And look, we're getting close to the place where the freedom and flexibility to make those type of deals is probably best than it is at any point in the season, and that's on the draft floor or right before the draft."
Dreger insists he picked the brains of those around the club and the sense is that nearly anybody could be had short of Nathan MacKinnon.
"I had a couple of people during my Stanley Cup run here, guys I trust who are pretty deeply connected to the Avalanche, say that the sense is that they're willing to move just about anyone outside of Nathan MacKinnon.
"I find that to be a bit hard to believe, but Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche are big-game hunting. They know that they've got to do something fairly significant to turn this organization around, and the only way you can do that is by being bold and making some moves."
The Avalanche could use help at all positions. The team finished 20th in the league with 2.59 goals per game this season and 25th with 2.93 goals against per game. The team also generated the 25th most shots per game and allowed the third most.
All eyes are sure to be on Colorado in the coming weeks.
