I've followed Downie from day one: lots of grit, never gives up on a play, decent hands, average skater, below-average hockey sense (still takes bad penalties at the worst possible times, easily goaded, does not always put pucks in safe areas, prone to defensive lapses).
- bmeltzer

If he was going to learn we have the forwards and the coaches to teach him better defense. O'Reilly likes teaching after practice as well.

He scored 22 goals for Tampa Bay in the 2009-10 regular season and helped the Lightning reach the Eastern Conference finals last season with 14 points in 17 playoff games.

Have to say the playoffs thing is pretty nice.

Marchand is a better skater.
- Dgrdnr

Yeah Marchand is still better but I was trying to think of a comparison that would help people who havent seen him play get a decent idea of him.

I've followed Downie from day one: lots of grit, never gives up on a play, decent hands, average skater, below-average hockey sense (still takes bad penalties at the worst possible times, easily goaded, does not always put pucks in safe areas, prone to defensive lapses).
- bmeltzer

I really like that he is still only 24, isnt too expensive and bring a much needed energy to the avs that the Young players can feed off of.

Yeah I totally see that now. With ???? McC Winnik being almost your 4th line it does not leave much room for Cody Mac..
- Steve-B

So ignoring Stastny and Jones Our top 6 looks like

Mueller Duchie Hejduk (insert future top 6 winger here, sasha?)
Lando O'reilly (______) (maybe hishon goes here) (oliver for now)

And our bottom 6

Galli JayMac Downie (love this line)
Winnik (______) (_______) Put malone on this line in the future. Mcleod maybe.

I like the way it looks a lot. Also I think Porter, and Kobes are useless. I dont think VDG will last very long either.

But the team is really shaping up.

So ignoring Stastny and Jones Our top 6 looks like

Mueller Duchie Hejduk (insert future top 6 winger here, sasha?)
Lando O'reilly (______) (maybe hishon goes here) (oliver for now)

And our bottom 6

Galli JayMac Downie (love this line)
Winnik (______) (_______) Put malone on this line in the future. Mcleod maybe.

I like the way it looks a lot. Also I think Porter, and Kobes are useless. I dont think VDG will last very long either.

But the team is really shaping up.
- Meeqsb

I still like Jones on one of the Top 6...maybe even replace Hejduk like right now. It may seem blasphemous, but i'm not really seeing what Hejduk (other than smarts and experience) is adding to our Top 6 (can't play bottom 6 game), maybe its time to give Jones a 2 month trial on a top line before deciding to cut ties with him or not.

I still like Jones on one of the Top 6...maybe even replace Hejduk like right now. It may seem blasphemous, but i'm not really seeing what Hejduk (other than smarts and experience) is adding to our Top 6 (can't play bottom 6 game), maybe its time to give Jones a 2 month trial on a top line before deciding to cut ties with him or not.
- CincyAvsFan

I dont think its like that. Hejduk is getting older but he is still our captain and will stay in the top 6 for the rest of the year. Sacco also shuffles lines so much its not really about who jones plays with.

I am just not sure how either of those 2 players fit in with this team long term

I still like Jones on one of the Top 6...maybe even replace Hejduk like right now. It may seem blasphemous, but i'm not really seeing what Hejduk (other than smarts and experience) is adding to our Top 6 (can't play bottom 6 game), maybe its time to give Jones a 2 month trial on a top line before deciding to cut ties with him or not.
- CincyAvsFan

I think for now the Jones - Stastny - Hejduk line has been playing well together. So you try Mueller - Duchene - Downie first I would imagine. See if Olver continues to play well with O'Reilly & Landy.

4th line looks like Galiardi - McC - Winnik when Gali is back.

I think for now the Jones - Stastny - Hejduk line has been playing well together. So you try Mueller - Duchene - Downie first I would imagine. See if Olver continues to play well with O'Reilly & Landy.

4th line looks like Galiardi - McC - Winnik when Gali is back.
- Steve-B

If no more moves are made, this is probably our best bet, the best part about it is no Porter and no Kobasew

I like that we added Downie, but I hope this isn't it for the push to make the playoffs - not sure what Sherman will do next -as this trade, didn't see it coming so it was a pleasant surprise

Three things:

1- I don't mind the trade at all I would have loved to see them give up Hejda instead but I am sure that wouldn't have gotten it done, still as of right now in my mind not a bad deal we had 8 nhl caliber d men now we have 7.

2- Downie is 24 yrs old and an RFA at year end look at Simmons in Philly and how well he has done if Downie can do that for the Avs its an amazing deal!

3- Interested to see what number he will wear in an Avs jersey!?

Also the fact that we were able to shed even more cap space makes me wonder what the avs will do with all of it ^^

I think for now the Jones - Stastny - Hejduk line has been playing well together. So you try Mueller - Duchene - Downie first I would imagine. See if Olver continues to play well with O'Reilly & Landy.

4th line looks like Galiardi - McC - Winnik when Gali is back.
- Steve-B

much like i was thinking i like the toughness and grinder with duchene and mueller.

If no more moves are made, this is probably our best bet, the best part about it is no Porter and no Kobasew
- CincyAvsFan

This so fricken this.. There has been speculation that the Avs like Matt Carle and he is a UFA. Could replace Quincey. There is a few options expected to be in the UFA market as far as D goes. Maybe we see a D and a Forward picked up in the off season.

Good trade for the AV's but a Bad trade for the Bolts. Holy crap is that a terrible trade for the Bolts. That first is gonna be a low pick.

I like the trade. Hope we re-sign him. Decent work by Sherman imo.

I like the trade. Hope we re-sign him. Decent work by Sherman imo.
- aschuter82

He is an RFA so the avs will. I also would love to see Carle from philly play for the avs

Can anyone with access to the rumor chart tell me what it says about the avs?

Can anyone with access to the rumor chart tell me what it says about the avs?
- Meeqsb

Gimme a min..

We went from 40% to 15% for Kostitsyn.. Still 5% for Semin.. And the retarded 10% for Parros and 20% for Roy.

We were in on Kubina apparently but really low.. like 10% That is gone.. Matt Carle is not on there and probably would not happen until the off season. (You probably know that though.)

Btw.. Of course Downie was no where on anyone's radar for being traded.

Downie gives the Avs some snark and pushback. Need that in the West.

Gimme a min..

We went from 40% to 15% for Kostitsyn.. Still 5% for Semin.. And the retarded 10% for Parros and 20% for Roy.

We were in on Kubina apparently but really low.. like 10% That is gone.. Matt Carle is not on there and probably would not happen until the off season. (You probably know that though.)

Btw.. Of course Downie was no where on anyone's radar for being traded.
- Steve-B

Ya I can see that. The avs are the most secretive organization in the NHL

Ya I can see that. The avs are the most secretive organization in the NHL
- Meeqsb

Actually.. Quincey had been very lightly discussed as well. Really only Aaron, Dater, and some of us on MHH and here were talking about Quincey being traded.

Ek.. Did not have him on his rumor chart.. I don't believe TFP did.. TSN had not said poop about him except maybe one sentence in passing. (Surprised me a little after Gleason was dealt even then no one mentioned Quincey)

Basically no one except a few of us bloggers and Dater were talking about Quincey. Even Dater mentioned him mostly in passing when talking about Shane Obrien and Jones.

Actually.. Quincey had been very lightly discussed as well. Really only Aaron, Dater, and some of us on MHH and here were talking about Quincey being traded.

Ek.. Did not have him on his rumor chart.. I don't believe TFP did.. TSN had not said poop about him except maybe one sentence in passing. (Surprised me a little after Gleason was dealt even then no one mentioned Quincey)

Basically no one except a few of us bloggers and Dater were talking about Quincey. Even Dater mentioned him mostly in passing when talking about Shane Obrien and Jones.
- Steve-B

Thats because people like Dreger and Eklund just report what their sources from the league say where as DAter and MHM just state their opinion by pointing out players who are UFA's and could fetch a decent return. NO ONE in the avs says a word

This strikes me a lot like adding O'Brien in the offseason. Grit, work ethic, and maybe a little more finish with Downie.

I just want Downie to stand up to people like Lapierre, Torres and Clutterbuck.

He'll be a third liner in the future and might make a good line with O'Reilly and Landeskog this year.

It will be fun to watch his first game tomorrow live.

Last, this doesn't replace Cody McLeod, makes him expendable. Does everything McLeod does but better.

This strikes me a lot like adding O'Brien in the offseason. Grit, work ethic, and maybe a little more finish with Downie.

I just want Downie to stand up to people like Lapierre, Torres and Clutterbuck.

He'll be a third liner in the future and might make a good line with O'Reilly and Landeskog this year.

It will be fun to watch his first game tomorrow live.

Last, this doesn't replace Cody McLeod, makes him expendable. Does everything McLeod does but better.
- martok2309

Yeah I like that we are about to add an entire top 6 line to our team and got meaner right before playing LA. (If Meuller plays I am assuming?)

Oh it's not like Downie is unfamiliar playing with VERY good players either. I guess he played with Stamkos quite a bit during times when guys were injured on that line and worked quite well.

This strikes me a lot like adding O'Brien in the offseason. Grit, work ethic, and maybe a little more finish with Downie.

I just want Downie to stand up to people like Lapierre, Torres and Clutterbuck.

He'll be a third liner in the future and might make a good line with O'Reilly and Landeskog this year.

It will be fun to watch his first game tomorrow live.

Last, this doesn't replace Cody McLeod, makes him expendable. Does everything McLeod does but better.
- martok2309

Aaron, what do you suppose the lines will look like once Mueller and Galiardi get back? Also, who do you send down when they get back (Porter and??)