The Colorado Avalanche believe they are a better team than they are. They are desperate to make moves in order to make the playoffs again. They are exactly the kind of team you want to do business with. They aren't big on analytics and they believe their roster needs a "shakeup".
Be the team that calls them first and helps out with their "shakeup".
Dreger: "I think that Joe Sakic has a strong appetite to get something done and really shake up the core of the Colorado Avalanche." #Avs
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) June 23, 2016
The following idea is something I would definitely try. Will it work? I don't know. It is really tough to predict the things that poorly run organizations will go for.
Pittsburgh isn't really loaded at the right defense position. Tyson Barrie plays right defense for Colorado. Barrie's name has popped up in trade discussion constantly the past few months. Should his name be out there? No, absolutely not, he is part of Colorado's solution not their problem. But again, the Avalanche aren't the best run organization.
Tyson Barrie is tailor-made for the Penguins style of play. His underlying numbers are also great.
Tyson Barrie is currently an RFA and will probably be looking at a deal in that 6.0M range.
So how does Pittsburgh go about this?
From all accounts the Avalanche want to be tough to play against. They want players with a high "compete level". They want players who will go to the "tough areas". Pittsburgh has a guy just like that. His name is Patric Hornqvist. He does all those things. Colorado is the kind of team that would overvalue all of that. Hornqvist has done a good job for the Penguins, but in a situation like this I believe his perceived value to the Avalanche outweighs that actual value to the Penguins. Players are assets in a salary cap league and maximizing their value is the name of the game. This is why I would considering offering up Hornqvist. Also Hornqvist will be hitting the 30 year old mark this next season and his style of play doesn't scream longevity.
How would the Penguins replace the hole that Hornqvist leaves behind? I wrote earlier in the week about a Marc-Andre Fleury for Michael Frolik swap. Similar money and Frolik would fit in well with the Penguins style of play. I also mentioned Nail Yakupov earlier today. Pittsburgh could go after either one or potentially both.
Derrick Pouliot is stuck behind two other left defensemen on the Penguins. He is not going to overtake Brian Dumoulin or Olli Maatta anytime soon. I believe he is going to be a good player in the NHL. His underlying numbers are very good and I think the good things he does greatly outweigh some of the visceral mistakes he makes with the puck. In a shocking concept players who handle the puck more often will probably make some mistakes from time to time. If the Penguins aren't going to give him ice time at the NHL level they might as well use him in a deal to land a guy they will use.
Eric Fehr is a useful depth player that can play center or wing. Including him here is strictly a cap dump for Pittsburgh in order to make Barrie's future cap hit fit. It isn't like Colorado couldn't use a player like Fehr.
So the initial offer would be Tyson Barrie going to Pittsburgh for Patrick Hornqvist, Derrick Pouliot, and Eric Fehr.
Like I said, no idea if Colorado would jump at something like this but I definitely think the Penguins should try. The Ryan O'Reilly trade Colorado made with Buffalo is evidence enough you have to at least attempt.
You don't want to be the team that watches somebody else take advantage of the Avalanche. Get on that phone and try to get lucky.
Thanks for reading!