Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are still kicking the tires on adding more depth at forward and defense even after two trades over the past three months.
Colorado acquired defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Jimmy Vesey from the New York Rangers on Saturday. The deal came after the Avalanche traded forward Mikko Rantanen as part of a three-team deal with the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 24, receiving forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury, along with two draft picks.
“I think the trades were just moves that we’ve [needed],” GM Chris MacFarland said Monday. “It’s just one of those years where we felt we had to tweak some things, and certainly not something you go in every year hoping that you have to make a multitude of trades, but it’s just one of those years.
“We’ll see if we have one more in us this week or not. But again, it’s all done in light of improving our situation.”
The Avalanche (35-24-2), who have won their past two games, hold the second wild card in the West and are two points behind the Wild for third place in the Central.
Colorado hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, ALT, SNE, TVAS).
“I think there’s a lot of good hockey teams on both sides, the Eastern and the Western Conference, and I think we’re one of those teams,” MacFarland said. “I think any given night where, if we play our A-game, we’re dangerous.
“I think it’s no secret that we had to try and get deeper, both up front and on the back end. I don’t think we’re totally satisfied. If we can still find a way to improve the team, we’ll try. How? I don’t know. We’ve obviously used some draft capital and things of that sort, but I think we’re deeper.”
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