Garrioch discusses Avs' struggles, possible GM's meetings trade talk

The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch discusses the outline for the NHL's general managers' meetings in Toronto on Tuesday and issues several trade rumors, but the thrust of his column involves the Colorado Avalanche's struggles:

The honeymoon is over for Patrick Roy in Denver. After an avalanche of success in his first season as head coach, Colorado has taken a step backwards and you have to think if his name wasn't Patrick Roy he would be getting a lot more heat.
Five points out of a playoff spot and sitting at No. 13 in the West, the tension is starting to grow after a horrible start by the Avs.
Last year, they averaged 16,295 at 41 home games. This year, the Avalanche rank No. 24 in the league at 15,088 through eight home games. Some believe the players are starting to squeeze their sticks.
NHL executives are waiting with baited breath to see if general manager Joe Sakic and Roy (who has a say in every move) get antsy and want to start dealing young players in an attempt to get immediate help.
They'd better be careful.

Garrioch also believes that the NHL's GM's meetings might lay the groundwork for trades in the case that the salary cap remains steady or goes down:

The NHL's 30 GMs gather Tuesday in Toronto and there could be talk about money. As reported last week, the dwindling Canadian dollar -- which has dipped as low as 87 cents -- has many concerned about the salary cap. There is speculation it could be around $70.5 million. Right now, it's $69.3 million. That could leave teams like Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, N.Y. Rangers, and Pittsburgh having to shed salary and unable to take part in the free-agent sweepstakes on July 1. Many felt with rising revenues the cap could hit $73 to $75 million. The Hawks signed Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to extensions that kick in next season. The question is: When does the salary shedding begin? Do teams starting moving bodies at the March 2 trade deadline or do they wait until the summer just before the entry draft?
...
GM's will also discuss the usual topics. Expect to see the mind-numbing dry scrape killed off while 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 OT, along with the coaches' challenge, will get discussed. They are using 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 in the AHL this season, but GMs are widely divided on the shootout. The coaches' challenge is coming, the league is just trying to refine the how it is be used .

And he continues...

Garrioch discusses Avs' struggles, possible GM's meetings trade talk

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