No Deal! Avalanche Deny Blake Coleman Trade

Someone may have been too quick. French TV reporter Renaud Lavoie touched off excitement in Denver when he reported the Colorado Avalanche trade for New Jersey Devils winger Blake Coleman. However, it appears the reporter was premature. Multiple outlets and reporters, including Pierre LeBrun of TSN quickly followed to report there was no deal between the Avalanche and New Jersey.

For a moment, it appeared the Avalanche added forward depth, strong legs and some scoring pop for the grueling Western Conference playoff push, in one move. However, as of publishing, there is no deal.

Renaud Lavoie first reported the deal at 2:30 p.m, MST via Twitter, just as some fans were finally getting home from the Stadium Series game on Saturday night. The Avalanche were outscored 3-1 by LA Kings trade bait Tyler Toffoli during the game on Saturday at the Air Force Academy.

Colorado Hockey Now Editor-in-Chief Adrian Dater will have the full details of the story shortly.

Blake Coleman is in his fourth professional season and third full season in the NHL. He has 31 points, including 21 goals in 57 games. He had 22 goals last season. The 5-foot-11 200-pound winger has 57 goals and 94 points in 237 career goals.

Coleman is a scratch on Sunday night and has reportedly left the Prudential Center ahead of the New Jersey game against Columbus.

From our colleague Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now, who is familiar with Coleman’s game from the Pittsburgh, New Jersey Metro Division battles:

“Coleman can take some dumb penalties, but he as great puck possession skills and can be a bull when he gets his nose over the puck. He has a knack for scoring big goals in tight games and physical battles with Pittsburgh and Washington. He’s the kind of player who should thrive in the playoffs,” Kingerski told CHN.

The NHL confirmed one trade on Sunday. New Jersey GM Tom Fitzgerald dealt captain Andy Greene to the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon. New Jersey received prospect David Quenneville and a second-round pick.