Sakic explains reasoning behind blockbuster Kadri/Barrie trade

In case you missed it, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche hooked up on a blockbuster deal yesterday with Nazem Kadri heading to Colorado and Tyson Barrie heading to Toronto.

Check it out:

.@Sportchek Player Alert: The @MapleLeafs have acquired defenceman Tyson Barrie, forward Alex Kerfoot and a 2020 sixth-round pick (COL) in exchange for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and a 2020 third-round pick (TOR).

Details >> https://t.co/nNIaK7oMEI #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/LTirJUG2fg
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 1, 2019

The full details of the deal:

Heading to TOR:
- Tyson Barrie
- Alex Kerfoot
- 6th round pick in 2020

Heading to COL:

- Nazem Kadri
- Calle Rosen
- 3rd round pick in 2020

In the words of the immortal Bob Cole, “Ooooooooh, baby!” That’s a big time deal.

After months of speculation the Avs FINALLY trade Barrie. Due to hit the free agent market next offseason, it was always believed that Avs GM Joe Sakic would eventually move Barrie. From Sakic’s point of view, yesterday’s move wasn’t only about adding Kadri, it was also about securing the team’s flexibility in the future. Check out these comments from Sakic, courtesy of Ava insider Ryan Clark of The Athletic:

#Avs GM Joe Sakic's statement on moving on from Tyson Barrie: "With the arrival and emergence of Samuel Girard and Cale Makar, as well as the recent draft pick of Bowen Byram, we felt it was time to move in this direction with Tyson’s contract expiring next summer."
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) July 1, 2019

Joe Sakic on Nazem Kadri: "Nazem is a proven goal scorer and a fierce competitor who plays in all situations. He is under contract for the next three seasons and will immediately fit right in as our second-line center and improve our scoring depth." #Avs
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) July 1, 2019

Shrewd, Mr. Sakic… oh and these lines don’t look so shabby:

#Avs projected lines:
Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Jost-Kadri-Burakovsky
Donskoi-Compher-Wilson
Calvert-Bellemare-Nieto
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) July 1, 2019

Sakic explains reasoning behind blockbuster Kadri/Barrie trade

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