The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
While all eyes were on the Denver Nuggets and Carmelo Anthony this weekend, the other professional sports team that calls the Pepsi Center home was busy making moves. The Colorado Avalanche traded Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk, and a second-round draft pick to the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Erik Johnson, center Jay McClement, and a future first-round pick, giving up on two of the Avs’ brightest young stars. The move came just a few days after Colorado swapped goalies with the Ottawa Senators.
The Denver Post writes that the Avs are in “Rebuild 2.0,” a reference to the next step in the process of starting over after the retirement of Joe Sakic. Mile High Hockey agrees: “Colorado is now officially in rebuilding mode [as evidenced by] the fact that the [general manager] so casually traded away [Stewart], who was supposed to be our leading scorer in our playoff run.” And why not try something new? The Avs lost their 10th-straight game (4-0 against San Jose) Saturday night and are 14th in the NHL’s Western Conference, all but assuring they’ll miss the playoffs this year.