In spite of the defensive logjam on the Colorado Avalanche, looking at the roster, it is difficult to find a player who could play with Erik Johnson.
The Avalanche have a collection of defenseman who can play on the second or third pairing but not one who thrives in a top-pairing role. Duncan Siemens might eventually be that player but he is at least a year away from cracking the NHL lineup.
Finding a top pairing defenseman is no easy feat just because they are rarer than first line centers, it seems. On the market currently, there are some players that could fill that role.
Even though he has never lived up to the huge contract he signed, Jay Bouwmeester is as good as a lock to play 82 games a year. The only problem is that he plays 82 games where he doesn't hit, block shots or play any sort of gritty game. Last year, he had 69 hits in 82 games. Those numbers would rank sixth on the Avs' defensive corps last year with the only ones behind him being Matt Hunwick, Tyson Barrie and Stefan Elliott.
Still, Bouwmeester does eat up 25 minutes a night and, as long as Johnson plays physical like he did the last half of the season, it could work.
Caught up on the defensive depth of the Phoenix Coyotes and the murky ownership situation, Keith Yandle could be had for the right person. He plays solid positional defense and is also a big threat on offense.
Now, the Avs don't have the assets that other teams do to get Yandle unless they move Stastny in the deal, a player Dave Tippett would really love, the Avs won't be able to get Yandle. Their only hope is if Phoenix is folded by the NHL and the Avs can Yandle when the players are redistributed across the league.
Marc Staal would be another player that would be great to have but unless he asks to be traded, it is highly unlikely that the New York Rangers move him.
That leaves the Avs with another option of trading for a young defenseman they think can blossom in the near future into a top pairing guy. Someone like Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders.
Hamonic was a bright spot on the Islanders. He had 24 points in 73 games. He had 170 hits and a 154 blocked shots last year and is only 21. Considering the Islanders have Griffin Reinhart and Calvin De Haan on the way, they could move Hamonic for the right deal, especially since the Avs could give the Islanders a good goaltending prospect.
Hamonic wouldn't come easy or cheap but he would be a good partner for Johnson.
The Avs will probably be fine with Greg Zanon or Shane O'Brien playing with Johnson but the Avs would be better off with a true top pairing defenseman.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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