Gratton an Av..Morris a Dog

[Lord Stanley]

Avs acqurie Gratton and Vaananen


TSN.ca Staff




3/9/2004

The Colorado Avalanche have traded defenceman Derek Morris and a prospect to the Phoenix Coyotes for defenceman Ossi Vaananen and centre Chris Gratton.





In 69 games with the Avalanche this season, Morris has six goals and 22 assists. He has 51 goals and 188 assists in 486 career NHL games with the Avalanche and Calgary Flames.



Gratton has 11 goals and 18 assists in 68 games with the Coyotes this season. He has played in 838 career NHL games with the Coyotes, Sabres, Lightning and Flyers and has career totals of 172 goals and 295 assists. Vaananen has two goals and four assists in 67 games with the Coyotes this season. In 291 career NHL games (all with the Coyotes) he has 10 goals and 35 assists
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Wow..I guess Morris' value tanked the last year..for Gratton..come on!!!!!

Nice trade for Phoenix

Lord S.

[Rimmer]

a good trade for the Avs short term but also a good trade fro Phoenix both short and, more importantly, long term. Avs have just become much grittier and more physical. even with the absence of Boughner their D looks really good with Blake, Skrastins, Sauer, Vaananen, Foote and Liles. and with the recent acquisitions of Gratton and Barnaby and previously of Konowalchuk and Worrell, their forward group also has enough grit and toughness for the playoffs. I think they overpaid when they included Ballard in the trade if all the reports I read about him were true.

oh, and they also traded for Salo who should be decent back up to Aebischer.

R.

[franko]

Rimmer said:

a good trade for the Avs short term

I think this trade is a dog for the Avs -- it isn't going to push them over the top (nor is Salo).

[Rimmer]

franko said:

I think this trade is a dog for the Avs -- it isn't going to push them over the top (nor is Salo).

well, there are never any guarantees (remember the season they got Bourque?) but it gives them two players in the line up with size and grit and someone who can give Aebischer a rest for a few games before the playoffs. there's little doubt in my mind they are better at this moment than before this trade.

R.

[AH]

This cements Pierre Lacroix place in history as one of the WORST GMs EVER.

The guy inherited a dynasty and proceeded to blow it all away... A meagre 2 Cups in 10 years. He should have won 8.

[AH]

OMG !!! Lacroix also sent Keith Ballard to Phoenix in the deal. Ballard is the same level prospect as a Ron Hainsey was when he first came out of college.

Lacroix is an idiot.

Since when do you trade a top 4 defenseman + top prospect for a 3rd line center and a 5th defenseman.

Am I missing something here ?

[Rimmer]

from what I've read, Morris hasn't made a big impression on the Avs management and Vaananen is better than a 5th dman. he's a 23 years old, 6-4/215 defensive dman and his TSN profile says:

Assets -> Has prototypical NHL size and loves to bang bodies. Moves the puck well and is defensively responsible.

Flaws -> Needs more work on his coordination and lateral mobility. Has limited offensive upside. Must stay away from the penalty box because he's needed on the ice.

Career potential -> Stalwart defensive defenseman.

EDIT: re Ballard, I agree that throwing Ballard in turns this trade in Phoenix favour

R.