With the clock counting down on NHL trade deadline day, the Colorado Avalanche pulled the trigger on a move with Arizona that swapped two forwards who are about to become free agents, sending two prospects along as well. Departing Colorado is longtime winger Alex Tanguay, who was in his second stint with the club. Joining the Avs in their playoff race is Mikkel Boedker, a 26-year-old right wing.
Colorado currently leads the Minnesota Wild by only two points for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with 18 games still on the schedule. The two teams skate against one another Tuesday in Minnesota.
Boedker complements Colorado’s fast pace and is expected to be an upgrade on the power play, writes Adam Gretz of CBS Sports:
“Boedker adds a ton of speed to the Avalanche lineup on the wing and has been a productive player on the Coyotes’ power play this season which should be a nice add to an Avs team that is a middle of the pack team on the man advantage.”
The Avs currently rank 13th in the league in power play percentage.
Colorado continues to be outshot in 5-on-5 hockey again this year, and is not considered to be a strength for Boedker, but he was one of the few available wings available on a short-term commitment only.
Boedker has played his entire eight-year career in Arizona, logging 445 games with 80 goals and 133 assists. He’s a minus-42 for his career and has averaged more than 17:29 on ice in each of the past four years. The left-handed Dane was the eighth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Tanguay, who will forever be known for his two goals and an assist in Game 7 of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, now departs Denver for a second time. Ten years ago he was sent to Calgary in exchange for Jordan Leopold and two draft picks.
This time around, though, it’s Colorado who is giving up more in the deal, also sending prospects Connor Bleakley and Kyle Wood to Arizona.
For longtime Avalanche fans sad to see Tanguay go, the’ll have one more chance to see him at Pepsi Center this year. Arizona travels to Denver on March 7.
