Aves acquire Briere from Habs
DENVER, CO (The Spread) – The Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche made a move on Monday, sending Daniel Briere out west.
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Briere was traded to the Avalanche in exchange for P.A. Parenteau and a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Briere had just 13 goals and 25 points in 69 games for Montreal during the regular season while adding seven points in 17 playoff contests. He has just one year remaining on a two-year, $8 million contract.
Adding Briere could provide a young but talented Colorado team with more depth down the middle, which is important if Paul Stastny bolts in free agency. And based on what has occurred to this point, it appears as though Stastny will be elsewhere besides Colorado in 2014-15.
After a long, extensive negotiation period between his representatives and the team, Stastny and the Avalanche were unable to reach an agreement on a new contract on Monday. Stastny seemingly wants to test the waters as a free agent but Colorado tried to get him to stay. Seeing as how Ryan Kesler is now off the market following his trade to Anaheim, Stastny should have plenty of suitors. In fact, he could wind up heading home to St. Louis, which is in much need of another goal-scorer.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Avalanche are 18/1 to win the 2015 Stanley Cup while the Canadiens are 20/1. The Blackhawks remain favored at 7/1, while the Bruins are 17/2 and the defending Cup champion Kings are 9/1.
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