Analysis: Why the Avalanche traded Carl Soderberg to the Coyotes

At the draft this past weekend, word started to leak out that maybe the Avalanche were offering Carl Soderberg around in trade. A few days later, gossip became fact.

The Avs traded veteran Carl Soderberg to the Arizona Coyotes this morning, for defenseman Kevin Connauton and Arizona’s third-round pick in 2020.

In a prepared release, Avs GM Joe Sakic said this as to why the deal was done: “This trade allows some of our young centermen to have a chance to play a more prominent role on our team while adding an experienced defenseman to our roster.”

Why did the Avs just add another defenseman to a roster that arguably already has 10 NHL-ready D-men already? Well, because, it turns out that both Erik Johnson and Ian Cole probably won’t be starting the season on time. Johnson we knew about, with off-season shoulder surgery. Cole, we didn’t until today. The Avs informed me and other media, when the trade went down, that Cole had recent surgery on BOTH hips. So, how long into the season he’ll be out, we don’t know yet but I’ll try to find out soon. So, the need for another guy with some proven experience on D arguably was there before this deal went down.

And, oh by the way, the deal also frees up about $3.5 million in new cap space with which to spend on a potential unrestricted free agent.

Soderberg’s cap hit was $4.75 million. He will be 34 in October and this is the final year of his contract. He had a modified no-trade clause, but obviously Arizona was not one of the teams on his no-trade list.

This deal, on the surface, looks risky. Why would the Avs let go of a guy who scored 23 goals and 49 points last season, who was a key penalty-killer and overall pretty good skater and defensive player, for a depth D-man?

Well, we all know what day July 1st is, right? So, while Sakic says that this trade was made partially to allow some of their younger centers (Jost, Kamenev, Compher) to get more of a chance, he also knows that he now has more money to spend on a potential big-fish free agent. Artemi Panarin isn’t a center, but I think the Avs think they’ll be OK going into a season with a Jost or a Compher as a potential 2C (and I know Compher has played a lot on the wing too) as long as they know they have a stud winger or two coming.

(What’s the latest on Panarin, you ask? I know the Bread Man is in Florida right now, and everybody thinks it’s a fait accompli he’s going to the Panthers. But I’m told that it’s still a fluid situation and anything is possible).

Per the Avs’ release on Connauton: “Connauton established career highs in games (73), goals (11) and points (21) with the Coyotes in 2017-18.  The 6-foot-2, 205-pound rearguard made his NHL debut with the Stars in 2013-14, dressing in 36 regular season games (1g/7a) and four playoff contests (0g/0a).  He was selected to the 2011-12 AHL All-Star Game with the Chicago Wolves in a season in which he had 33 points (13g/20a) in 73 games.  Prior to turning pro, Connauton was named to the WHL (West) First All-Star Team and Canadian Major Junior All-Rookie Team with the Vancouver Giants in 2009-10.”

Yeah, this is a depth guy, arguably on par with a Mark Barberio, but he’s got 310 games of NHL experience. He’s not a complete stiff or anything. He’s 29 and his cap hit is $1.375 million. He can be an unrestricted free agent after this coming season.

As for Carl, I’ll miss seeing him around, as I know many of you will too. He was one of the most reserved people I’ve ever covered, but that doesn’t mean he was a jerk or anything. He was and is a gentlemanly type of guy who was and is just very, very shy. He played four years with the Avs and only one of them was a dud – the disastrous 2016-17 season.

The one thing that might have soured the Avs on keeping him around for that fifth year of his contract was his play in the postseason. In 12 games, he failed to score a goal and posted two assists. He seemed to be a bit slow at times. But I just think the biggest reason he was moved was to free up more cap space for one or two or three or who knows how many new free-agent scorers.

If the Avs don’t get anything that they want on the free-agent market, dealing Tyson Barrie for a good stick remains an option. It’s going to be an interesting next few days around here, that’s for sure.