It doesn't look like the Avalanche will make a major move before Monday's NHL trading deadline -- they shouldn't -- and they might not do anything at all.
I won't have a problem if general manager Joe Sakic winds up standing pat, and he told the Denver Post that just might be the case.
Despite a disappointing 5-8-2 stretch since their 10-game winning streak, the Avalanche have made remarkable progress this season even with as many as seven rookies in the lineup.
They've had a number of significant injuries, especially lately with regular defensemen Mark Barberio, Erik Johnson and Anton Lindholm out, along with goalie Jonathan Bernier, yet still have a chance of making the playoffs with 21 games remaining.
The Avalanche began Sunday four points behind Anaheim for the second wild card in the Western Conference. For now, they'll also need to climb past Los Angeles and fast-fading St. Louis.
I'm doubtful they can do it, but even if the Avalanche accomplish the feat, they are not close to being a Stanley Cup contender, and it isn't worth trading a draft pick or prospect for a player who might (or might not) help them land a playoff spot for a likely quick exit.
I mean, if they can acquire a decent draft pick for a role player like Blake Comeau or Colin Wilson, go for it.
But that's about it.
The Avalanche play 12 of the final 21 games at the Pepsi Center after having completed a difficult 16-game stretch in which they played 13 games on the road; they went 2-1-0 at home and 4-7-2 on the road.
They've gone 20-8-1 at the Pepsi Center and open a four-game homestand Monday against Vancouver. They'll also play Calgary, Minnesota and Nashville before hitting the road again. As well as they've played on home ice, they're a combined 2-4-2 against these opponents.
Sakic is building with youth, has stockpiled some very nice draft picks and prospects, and he told the Denver Post he'll continue with the strategy.
“We’re staying the course," he told the paper. "We have a plan going forward. If there’s something that makes sense down the line, we’ll look, like we always do. Other than that, we’re not going to get in the rental market.
"We’re not going to give up picks or prospects. We’re going to stay the course. We have a great group here that’s learning, and we want to let them continue to learn.
“We’ll see what our options are," Sakic said. "But like I said, we’re not going to enter the rental market for this year. We have a plan going forward and we want to build this. The guys work hard. We have a great group.
"And like I said at the start of the year, we’re going to build for the future. This team’s going in the right direction. They’ve hung in there, and I expect they’ll continue to hang in (the playoff race)."