Previous trades with the Calgary Flames have not gone very well for the Avalanche. Time will tell if the big deal made today by the Avs and Flames works out well for Colorado.
Alex Tanguay, the Avs’ second-leading scorer last season and a member of the organization since 1999, was traded to the Flames for defenseman Jordan Leopold, a second-round pick in today’s NHL draft and a conditional future draft pick.
Money likely was a factor in Tanguay’s exit from the Avs. The left wing, who made $3.5 million last season in the last year of a contract, was looking for a salary closer to the $5 million range on his next deal. The Avs felt the price was too high.
Leopold is coming off a disappointing 2005-06 season in which he scored only two goals and 20 points in 74 games. He came to the Flames billed as an offensive defenseman, but his career statistics have not reflected that yet.
Tanguay scored 29 goals and 78 points in 71 games for Colorado last season. He was a member of the Avs’ 2001 Stanley Cup winning team, emerging as the hero in Game 7 of the Finals with two goals and an assist in the 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Tanguay is still only 26. He could be prone to slumps at times, which affected his confidence level. And he suffered several nagging injuries over the years.
But Tanguay’s patience with the puck and skill level are considered near the top of the NHL level.
The Tanguay trade to Calgary marks the third significant deal with the
Flames by the Avs since 1999. That year, Colorado traded three players
for Theo Fleury and Chris Dingman. One of the players the Avs gave up,
Robyn Regehr, remains an NHL star for Calgary.
In 2004, Colorado made a disastrous deal with Calgary, sending Chris
Drury and Stephane Yelle in return for Derek Morris, Jeff Shantz and
Dean McAmmond. None of the three players is with the Avs anymore,
while Drury and Yelle have played on teams deep in the Stanley Cup
playoffs the last two seasons.
