Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins NHL Trade Rumors: Avalanche and Bruins GMs Meet in Person
While the Colorado Avalanche were busy playing the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on Monday, general manager Joe Sakic was nowhere in the vicinity. Instead of watching the Avalanche play, Sakic, assistant general manager Chris MacFarland, and scout Neil Shea were miles away watching the Boston Bruins play against the Montreal Canadiens at the TD Garden in Boston.
Their presence would already raise some eyebrows, but things got a little more interesting when Sakic was spotted speaking with Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. According to Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe, the two spent the majority of the second intermission talking. Well, they could be talking about anything under the sun, but the fact remains that the Avalanche happens to be the biggest sellers in the National Hockey League (NHL) trade market this season.
"Every player — save for Nathan MacKinnon — is for sale. Sakic is listening on everybody else, including captain Gabriel Landeskog and skilled pivot Matt Duchene. As of late last week, according to an Eastern Conference executive, Colorado's asking prices for all of its property, on expiring contracts or otherwise, were too high for anyone to take seriously," Shinzawa stated.
Shinzawa said Sakic is looking to unload Rene Bourque, Jarome Iginla, John Mitchell and Fedor Tyutin, but Sweeney prefers players who can help his team beyond this season. Bourque, Iginla, Mitchell and Tyutin have contracts that will expire after the season.
Furthermore, Landeskog has been linked to the Bruins, but the Avalanche reportedly wants rookie defenseman Brandon Carlo in return and the Bruins are reluctant to include him in any deal.
A number of pundits have also pointed out that the Bruins should not let go of Carlo since he has a bright future ahead of him.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens are reportedly interested in center Matt Duchene. No deal between the teams has materialized so far.