With just hours to go before a large draft for the Colorado Avalanche, the team began making some waves.

The Avalanche announced that they traded offensive defenseman John-Michael Liles to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a second round draft pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

This move has lead many to speculate that the club is preparing to draft Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson. The trouble with a move of this magnitude is that there is no immediate return for this season as Larsson isn’t considered NHL ready.

Furthermore it places an emphasis on prospects like Stefan Elliott and Tyson Barrie, who now need to step up and fill the void left in Colorado.

The Avs are also now approximately $21 million below the newly raised salary cap floor of $48.3 million. At some point the team will need to begin spending money in order to field a team this coming season. The first move would be to start is signing the 12 free agents currently on the roster before they walk for nothing.

It would seem, for now, that the club is in no hurry to field a competitive team this season. There are 13 unsigned players and no supreme starting – or signed – goaltenders. Don’t expect this to be the end of what is starting to look like a major team overhaul.

What do you think?

Related posts:

  1. Draft Analysis: Adam Larsson
  2. Avalanche Quiet On Trade Deadline Day *Updated*
  3. Stastny, Liles Injured
  4. Avalanche Trade Colby Cohen
  5. Avalanche Sign Joakim Lindström