I'm like everybody else, haven't thought for quite some time that the Avalanche would be able to grab that second wild-card spot in the West. There are too many teams to beat out, not enough games remaining, and these guys haven't won as many as three in a row since early January.
If anything, the Avalanche will be sellers before Monday's NHL trading deadline, not that there is much of value to sell, assuming it makes no sense to deal a core player if there's no realistic chance to make the postseason.
It's been reported that the Avalanche will attempt to re-sign center Ryan O'Reilly to a long-term contract before the June draft, which makes all the sense in the world to me. If Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy can't convince him to stay beyond next season -- O'Reilly's agent will have plenty of influence -- then by all means make the best trade they can. No more Paul Stastny scenarios.
As for guys like Marc-Andre Cliche, Nate Guenin and Nick Holden, c'mon. Would you trade for any of these guys? And remember, Holden's three-year extension kicks in next season. Daniel Briere might have some value because he's had playoff success with 116 points in 124 games.
Jan Hejda, as a depth defenseman, and John Mitchell and Max Talbot as depth forwards, might fetch mid- to late-round draft picks.
We will have a better idea as to the team's thinking this weekend when Sakic is expected to discuss the deadline.
He'll have a better handle on how to move forward after this weekend's back-to-back games in Dallas on Friday and at home against Minnesota on Saturday.
Regulation wins in both games -- the Avalanche are 4-0 against the Stars and they have yet to score against the Wild in three games -- would move them within striking distance of the last playoff spot, but how realistic is that?
Not very, unfortunately.