If the Avs want to become fast track their rebuild, there really is only one way: trade Wojtek Wolski.

Wolski, though inconsistent last year, is our best asset to move. He's got the skills, the experience and the potential to play on the first line of a lot of clubs.

There really is only one way to get the Avs competitive and that's to get an upgrade between the pipes. In order to do it, we'll have to give up something extremely valuable in the process.

Smyth, Stastny, Hejduk would all bring a great return but the three look to be our first line of the rebuild. Liles, Foote both have No Trade Clauses and the rest of our roster isn't worth much, outside of Wolski.

Wolski is a magician in the shootout, proven to be at least 40-50 point scorer and has an established defensive game. In other words, a complete center.

The Avs need a goalie. Peter Budaj and Andrew Raycroft wont cut it and it would be a dangerous assumption (about as dangerous as the one that Budaj can be a number one goalie) to think that Tyler Weiman, Jason Bacashihua or Trevor Cann will be able to step in and fill the void. No, the Avs need an established goalie.

In the search for one, a few names come to the top:

1. Kari Lehtonen- I have been a huge supporter of Lehtonen since he entered the league. He's 6'4 215, fast, agile and has good positioning. He also has above average puckhandling skills. He's also an RFA this offseason. On top of that Ilya Kovalchuk has come on record asking Atlanta GM Don Waddell to get him some players to play with, otherwise he'll be gone once his contract is up. The only downside to Lehtonen is that he has been pretty injury prone but given what we have now, I'll take the risk.

If I were (insert new the Avs' new gm name here), I would put this offer on the table:

Wojtek Wolski, Marek Svatos and Brett Clark for Kari Lehtonen and a late round pick

The thrashers get a first line center, a second line scoring right wing and a capable defenseman. The Avs get a goalie and another pick to further our rebuild.

2. Scott Clemmensen- The savior of the New Jersey Devils' season just might be the savior of the Avs. He is just about as solid as they come. He has great size and is very mobile. However, it might be harder to wrench him from the Devils. I don't know what it would take but it will be really hard to pull off.

3. J.S. Giguere- Not my ideal choice but it is a choice nonetheless. He's a proven goalie, can win in the playoffs and steal games. He's had a tough year but that's never stopped the Avs before (Roy, Theodore, Raycroft). I'd rate our chances of getting him as "good."

Trade would probably involve Wolski, Svatos and a pick for him. I wouldn't be overjoyed if we acquired him but I wouldn't be pissed.

4. Jaroslav Halak- The Avs might just be really inclined to trade for him. There were rumors swirling through last season that we might be putting a trade together for him but nothing happened. He's small, about the size of Jose Theodore but plays the angles well and is quick to recover, allowing him to make spectacular saves. A trade for him would have to include a defenseman, Wolski and another winger.

As you can see, Wolski is going to have to be a key piece to any trade. Yes, I know that he is valuable but he is also expendable. Looking at the draft, the chances are good we are going to draft Matt Duchene who would be able to step in and play on the second line. If he can't we still have T.J. Galiardi who showed considerable prowess at both facets of the game.

For certain, a large part of me wants the Avs to keep Wolski but a larger part still wants the Avs to have reliable goaltending. To get B, I realize that we much sacrifice A.

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