The Colorado Avalanche clearly came out ahead in trade with the New York Islanders
Photo credit: Colorado Hockey Now
The New York Islanders dealt defenceman Devon Toews to the Colorado Avalanche during the 2020 offseason in exchange for second-round picks in the 2021 and 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
At the time, the trade didn't seem like a bad move for the Islanders and appeared to position them well for the future. Years later, and a Stanley Cup in between, the trade stands out as one of former Islanders' general manager Lou Lamoriello's most regrettable moves in team history.
The Colorado Avalanche came out on top in biggest trade with the New York Islanders.
Mike Fink from The Hockey Writers writes reports that the move was made to help the Islanders stay under the salary cap, and initially, the Toews trade didn't appear to be a setback for their blue line. After all, they were legitimate Cup contenders in the 2020-21 Covid season, taking the Tampa Bay Lightning to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
"Toews has been remarkable with the Avalanche, rounding out the unit as the team's top left-side defenceman. Cale Makar, a perennial Norris Trophy finalist who won the award in 2022, grabs the spotlight as arguably the best defenceman in the NHL. However, Toews has also added a two-way presence, and his skills on the defensive end of the ice have notably turned the unit into one of the best in the league." -Fink
Toews was a key contributor to Colorado's Stanley Cup winning team in 2022.The Avalanche dominated opponents not just with their explosive scoring, but with their ability to launch quick transitions through sharp outlet passes, clean zone entries, and consistent offensive pressure from the blue line, all areas where Toews excelled.
"Every team wants to have an elite defenceman, but having a second one goes a long way. The Avalanche already had Makar on their roster, and it appeared they didn't need another two-way defenceman who could play the same role. However, adding Toews put the unit over the top and made the team as a whole one of the best in the NHL. The Avalanche paid a hefty price to not only acquire Toews but also keep him on the roster, notably signing him to a seven-year contract at the start of the 2022-23 season, but it's worthwhile considering the impact he has." -Fink
The saying "defence wins championships" may be a cliche, but the Avalanche are a prime example of why it hold true, a strong defensive unit that impacts the game at both ends of the ice is crucial to winning it all.
Devon Toews does it all for the Avalanche, and every team needs a defenceman like him. Thanks, New York!
| POLL | ||
MAI 24 | 41 ANSWERS The Colorado Avalanche clearly came out ahead in trade with the New York Islanders Do you think the Avalanche came out on top when trading for Devon Toews with the New York Islanders? | ||
| yes | 38 | 92.7 % |
| no | 3 | 7.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
