ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Colorado Avalanche made two minor moves before Monday's NHL trade deadline, but not the blockbuster trade some fans were hoping for.
The team acquired forward Vladislav Namestnikov from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and picked up goalie Michael Hutchinson from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Calle Rosen.
While Namestnikov projects to help the Avalanche immediately, he only has 25 points on the season. Hutchinson has posted just a 4-9-1 record in net, and might be headed for the Colorado Eagles once Philipp Grubauer is healthy.
On Tuesday, Avalanche EVP and general manager Joe Sakic met with the media to discuss the team's relatively quiet trade deadline.
“We added a lot last summer. We love the chemistry in our dressing room and we didn’t want to tinker too much with that," Sakic said.
The Avalanche acquired Namenstnikov and Hutchinson several hours before the trade deadline, and Sakic said they were having trade conversations until the last minute.
“We did a couple things early and then on the phones right until 1:00 o’clock to see what we could do to help our club," Sakic said. "If there was another deal that made sense for us we’d look at that, but nothing else materialized.”
Sakic consistently emphasized how much he likes his current roster, and when the team is fully healthy come mid-March, believes the group can make a deep playoff run.
The Avalanche are back in action Wednesday night against Buffalo at Pepsi Center.
