Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche NHL Trade Rumors: Talks 'Essentially Stopped' Because of Avalanche's Asking Prices
The rumor mill was abuzz when Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic was spotted having a private conversation with Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney during a game at the TD Garden last week. Observers believed the two were trying to strike a deal and a blockbuster swap could happen soon. Well, that didn't happen.
According to long-time Avalanche beat reporter Adrian Dater, talks between the two teams have "essentially stopped" because the Bruins refused to meet the Avalanche's asking prices.
The Bruins were interested in forward Gabriel Landeskog, while the Avalanche have been targeting promising defenseman Brandon Carlo. Unfortunately, the Avalanche are going to have a hard time prying Carlo away from the Bruins and they are not going to accept an inferior offer for Landeskog either.
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"Carlo seems to be near "untouchable" status for the Bruins right now according to one league source. They also noted that Sweeney already said no to one deal involving Carlo earlier this year, and that was for a somewhat established young defender in the Jets' Jacob Trouba during Trouba's holdout with the Jets. And if the Bruins were not moving Carlo for Trouba, which would have been a strength for strength swap, it should almost go without saying that they won't move him for Landeskog," Bruins beat writer Ty Anderson said on his article on WEEI.com.
Landeskog would have been a nice addition to the Bruins. He could give them scoring depth on the wing. But 6-foot-5 defensemen aren't really a dime a dozen, so Carlo is staying put for now. The Bruins are not going to give up a potential star and shutdown defenseman that easily.
Sakic still has a few days to move Landeskog and Matt Duchene. The Avalanche are without a doubt the biggest sellers before the trade deadline, so they should get a deal done before the trade deadline on March 1.
