For the second time this season, the Avalanche has lost an enforcer to the Anaheim Ducks.
Veteran Brad May was traded by the Avs today to Anaheim, for minor-league goaltending prospect, Michael Wall.
While May is leaving town, former Avs enforcer Scott Parker is coming
back. The Avs re-acquired Parker from the San Jose Sharks for future
considerations.
Parker played parts of four seasons for the Avs, including the Stanley
Cup-winning 2000-01 season. Parker has seen little duty the last two
seasons with San Jose, playing only 21 games, partly because of
injuries.
Parker is making $575,000 this season, in the last year of a contract.
On his way to DIA to catch a flight to his new city, May said he will miss the Avs and their fans. After a turbulent start to his nearly two-year stint with the Avs, because of his involvement in the Steve Moore-Todd Bertuzzi assault incident, May said he respected Avs fans like no other.
“They really are tremendous fans, and I really loved playing here,” May said. “I can’t say enough about the Avalanche organization either.
“It is first-class all the way. I’ getting a chance to play for a Stanley Cup now, but it’s not without a lot of sadness that I’m leaving Denver.”
May, 35, played 64 games for the Avs, scoring three goals and nine points, with 90 penalty minutes. He missed much of this season because of shoulder surgery, and doctors have advised May against fighting because of the risk of re-injury.
May was with the Canucks when Moore was injured and was one of the defendants listed in Moore’s lawsuit.
Wall, 21, spent most of this season with Anaheim’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Portland (Maine) Pirates. He posted a 10-6-1 record, with a 3.13 goals-against average. He did play four games with the Ducks, going 2-2 and a 2.97 goals-against average.
“Michael Wall is a solid prospect who will help the goaltending depth in our system,” Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said.
Wall’s addition lends itself to speculation the Avs might buy out the contract of Jose Theodore this coming off-season. Theodore is slated to earn $6 million on the last year of his contract. If the Avs buy him out, $4 million would count against the team’s salary cap – which they could apply all of it toward next season or $2 million in each of the next two.
