After injuries to their top two goaltenders derailed the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs final 365 days, they’re loading up on depth in obtain in hopes of making a deep bustle this season.
Colorado got historic goaltender Devan Dubynk from the San Jose Sharks on Saturday in commerce for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a fifth-spherical absorb the 2021 draft. Dubnyk and March commerce pickup Jonas Johansson give the NHL-leading Avalanche some insurance in obtain at the abet of starter Philipp Grubauer, with their sights space on the Stanley Cup.
“We seen final 365 days how main goalie depth is in the playoffs,” coach Jared Bednar acknowledged. “So as to present the two guys that we’ve came just currently, I mediate it factual makes our team deeper and stronger.”
Dubnyk, 34, has 26 video games of Stanley Cup playoff journey for the length of his profession, all with Minnesota. This season, he has a 3.18 targets-in opposition to moderate and .898 build percentage for struggling San Jose.
“Devan brought the ingredient of consummate professionalism and class to our dressing room in what has been an extremely outlandish and stressful season,” Sharks celebrated manager Doug Wilson acknowledged. “He match seamlessly inner our community and helped mentor rather a pair of our youthful gamers. We thank him for his contributions to our membership on and off the ice this season and prefer him the correct in Colorado.”
Dubnyk and Pateryn are space to modified into free brokers after this season. Colorado got Pateryn earlier this season in a salary-shedding deal that despatched defenseman Ian Cole to Minnesota.
The Avalanche have faith made two trades in two days after acquiring defenseman Patrik Nemeth from Detroit for a fourth-spherical take on Friday. Nemeth spent two seasons with Colorado from 2017-19 and gives some defensive journey with Erik Johnson injured and expected to scamper away out the comfort of the neatly-liked season.
“To have faith that defender is huge main,” acknowledged captain Gabriel Landeskog, who conducted formative years hockey with Nemeth abet dwelling in Sweden. “He’s going to be substantial for us. He’s continuously correct at blocking shots and big on the (penalty homicide), so he’ll be effectively-got abet in the locker room.”
The Avalanche’s 58 choices thru 40 video games are essentially the most in the league and have faith them four up on Vegas for first space in the West Division.
Grubauer has been at the center of that success. He leads the league with 24 victories and has a 1.87 GAA and .922 build percentage in 33 video games however has by no manner conducted in extra than 37 video games for the length of a neatly-liked season in his NHL profession.
“We know that we are searching to present Grubi some leisure,” Bednar acknowledged. “For the stretch bustle and heading into the playoffs, we are searching to manufacture definite he’s rested and healthy. He’s clearly our No. 1, and the goalie depth is precise main.”
Colorado GM Joe Sakic may well also just now now not be carried out dealing. With Johnson and goalie Pavel Francouz on long-duration of time injured reserve and even with out San Jose conserving any of Dubnyk’s salary, the Avalanche have faith $4.4 million extra in dwelling to make utilize of sooner than the time limit Monday afternoon.
“I mediate it’s main that our guys scrutinize that the group is supporting them,” Bednar acknowledged. “We acknowledge that the guys have faith had an actual correct 365 days right here. We’re in an actual correct jam for the stretch bustle, and if we are able to manufacture some provides that will support us long duration of time, whether or now now not substantial or tiny, we’re open to doing that.”
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Follow AP Hockey Creator Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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