Wheels Up in Denver

On Wednsday the Colorado Avalanche traded roster players Patrick Marleau and Ryan Hartman along with prospects Calen Addison, Scott Perunovich and Brett Howden in exchange for one of the best playmakers the EHE has to offer in the form of Blake Wheeler.

“We’ve struggled as a group this year, but we still have an incredible core of players here that have accomplished an awful lot together. I owe it to them to offer them the best chance to win night in and night out” said general manager Kirklan Lycar, who vowed to make a few changes to his roster following a disappointing start to their Stanley Cup defense campaign.

“We can’t hide from this, we need to attack it head on and start playing Avalanche hockey. Acquiring Blake is a step in the right direction” said rookie head coach Jared Bednar.

When asked about the departing players Lycar thanked Marleau and Hartman for their time as Colorado Avalanche and would go onto say “It’s nothing personal, this game is actually more of a business than a game; we’re in the business of winning hockey games and I think this move will help get us to where we want to be.” As for the prospects, Lycar would go onto explain that as much as it sucks to lose assets like that, getting a player of Blake Wheeler’s stature makes it that much easier.

Rumors linking the Avalanche to Blake Wheeler have been circling since last years trade deadline, and only intensified when the Jets made it known to the EHE that the veteran forward was available.

In the locker room players were thrilled upon the news breaking. One player in particular; Mark Scheifele who Avalanche fans have voiced slight concerns towards his play over the early part of the season. “Coach Bednar told me right away that they plan to put Blake on my wing, I’m pretty excited to get to play next to a player like that.” Scheifele would go onto say that he feels as though him and Wheeler will have really good chemistry together, though he couldn’t put his finger on why that was “just a hunch I guess” grinned # 55.