Colorado Avalanche Make a Trade on the Eve of Free Agency

The Colorado Avalanche made a trade today on the eve of the opening of free agency. The trade will bring in another center to give them a little depth, as Paul Stastny will become an unrestricted free agent Tuesday morning.

The Avalanche send P.A. Parenteau and a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft to the Montreal Canadiens for center Daniel Briere. The 36-year-old Briere had 13 goals and 25 points in 69 games last season and has one year left on his two year deal.

Parenteau finished with 14 goals and 33 points in 55 games and has two years left on his four year deal. Both players make about $4 millions a year so this is a pretty even trade as far as the dollars are considered but the age is a different story.

Briere is 36 as I said but Parenteau is just 31 and has a few more years he can play. I really do think this an effort to stock up on centers as free agency will open in the morning and I don’t think the Avalanche will be able to sign Stastny again.

Stastny is only 28 and when the bidding wars begin in the morning he will have a ton of GM’s knocking on the door. I’m sure the Avalanche would love to keep him but when you look a the amount of young talent they have at some point they will have to sign those players to big long term contracts. So I think Joe Sakic is just getting ready for what could happen.