We talked recently about how the Colorado Avalanche could move a defenseman for forward help, but what if they wanted to actually go out and add a defenseman via trade?
Now, keep in mind, it’s that time of the year where every team is linked to every player possible, and this might be no different. Nevertheless, it’s out there, so it’s worth talking about.
Yvon Pedneault of Le Journal de Montréal has listed the Avalanche as one of the teams interested in the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce.
The 28 year old defenseman has been rumored to be on the trade block this summer, as he’s just one year from unrestricted free agency. The Hurricanes are still working to extend him, but if they aren’t able to, a trade might be on the table.
He comes with a cap hit of $4,025,000 for the next year, and any team looking to trade for him might want to know what it costs to extend him.
On the surface, a trade for Pesce doesn’t necessarily make a ton of sense, and it’s the first I’ve heard his name connected to Colorado, publicly or privately. While he’s a very good right-shot defenseman who would add size to their blueline, Colorado is already paying a lot for defensemen, and that number is only going to go up. Bowen Byram needs a new contract this summer, and the Devon Toews extension looms large.
The only way something like this makes sense, at least in my opinion, is if Colorado did move a defenseman out. Beyond that, it’s a little confusing. Pesce is very good at what he does, but is another defenseman looking for (and deserving of) a pay raise. You can only allocate so much money to that one part of your team, especially with some big holes up front.
I have no doubt the Avalanche will look to add a defenseman or two this summer, especially with uncertainty around the futures of Jack and Erik Johnson, but I’m thinking depth defensemen. Pesce is a few notches above that, and would not come cheap. For a team with limited assets and an already solid blueline, this one doesn’t necessarily add up at the moment.
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