With the Avalanche season wrapping up there were many positives since GM Patrick Faith took over as the head of the franchise. With a 14-9-1 record since taking over there showed quite a few positives in the short time as GM. The first order of business was to become younger by re-stocking the prospect pool, adding draft picks, and getting skillful CPHL players. The GM didnt make a splash right off the bad because they wanted to get a feel for the league and what players were worth. The first trade as a GM was a minor one shipping out a few spare parts and a young D man for high scoring junior player Colin Long, and depth D man Vishnevsky. The Avs GM still wasnt too happy with his current roster and made a big splash trading Ray Whitney for Simon Gagne. This was a trade that most GMs around the league did not see coming but we knew that you had to trade quality to get quality.
The next trade GM Faith made was making a lateral move, acquiring Kristian Huselius from the coyotes. We had to give up quite a bit to get him but GM Faith needed a play maker for newly acquired Simon Gagne and really liked Huselius. Also coming in the deal is Eric Nystrom and a 3rd round pick. Going to the coyotes was Sykora, Armstrong and Aliu. Sykora was not in the future plans for the Avs so he was easy to deal, Armstrong was very hard to deal but getting Nystrom helped the pain.
The next few deals were tinkering deals to try and make a playoff push. Coming in we wernt in a playoff spot and thought there could still be hope. With 2 games remaining and the trade deadline near GM Faith was stuck in a very hard position. Do we keep our pending UFAs and hope to sneak into the playoffs or do we trade them away, get some quality prospects and picks and look forward to the summer. The Avs were faced with a very hard schedule and the chances were very slim to beat one of the top teams, the Sharks. GM Faith made the decision to pull the trigger on some deals shipping Straka, Sopel, and Grier to playoff contenders.
The Avs are set up very well for next season with a lot more quality assets for trading and potential for great CPHL players.
"I had clear goals set when I came in to manage the Avs, and I feel I have acomplished most of those goals and really like our team moving forward. We added lots of assets that we like and will look forward to the off season" said GM Faith.
Here is a list of mentionable players that were brought in and out.
IN
Simon Gagne
Kristian Huselius
Eric Nystrom
Jordan Eberle
2010 1st (nyr)
2010 2nd (col)
Colin Long
Benoit Pouliot
Brandon Prust
TJ Brennan
Simon Danis-Pepin
OUT
Ray Whitney
Petr Sykora
Chris Drury (ufa)
Matt Cooke (ufa)
Martin Straka (ufa)
Brent Sopel (ufa)
Mike Grier (ufa)
Colby Armstrong
Akim Aliu
Free Agent/Waiver Claims In
Eddie Del Grosso
Johan Backlund
The following awards were given out at the end of the Avs season:
MVP
Cristobal Huet 76GP - 35W - 24L - 6T
Huet was outstanding, but with the lack of quality D, his losses were not his fault.
Leadership
Ethan Moreau 86GP - 15G - 26A - 41P
Played great for an 71OVR, couldnt have asked for more production with him sitting on the 3rd and 4th line most of the season.
Best Newcomer(s)
Kristian Huselius 12GP - 6G - 10A - 16P
He was brought in to be a playmaker for Gagne, and he did exactly that. More then a PPG is over achieving.
Simon Gagne 13GP - 6G - 10A - 16P
Again, more then a PPG is more then I can ask for. He will be in the future plans for the Avs
Best D Man
Ian White 72GP - 14G - 26A - 40P
White was a force on the blueline, great offensivly for a 72OVR. The Avs expect him to be solid for us next year.
The Avs are still a work in progress but GM Faith feels that he has done all he can do for this season and he looks forward to the off season.
And that is about it, good luck to all in the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche - Season In Review
