Devan Dubnyk becomes an Av – and I’m still processing it

I’m literally at a loss for words. I knew the Colorado Avalanche would be active before the trade deadline, but I did not expect to hear “Devan Dubnyk becomes an Av” over the next few days. Yet here we are, a day out from Jonas Johansson posting his first career shutout against the Anaheim Ducks, trading defenseman Greg Pateryn and a 2021 fifth-round pick for the former Minnesota Wild goaltender.

This is the same Dubnyk who started a fight with Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog in 2016 and also was the instigator when Matt Calvert and Luke Kunin fought last year. He’s not a popular figure with Av’s fans having played six seasons with rivals the Minnesota Wild. Now those same Avalanche fans will be rooting for him? Is Hell freezing over?

Initially, I thought Joe Sakic had just forgot to hit send on April 1st and it was a late April Fools (Could it still be?) but once it became obvious it wasn’t my brain had to start processing. The cost is nothing considering Greg Pateryn was essentially an AHL defender and picks mean nothing if you don’t use these windows to win. If Dubnyk recaptures his form of a few years ago it may even be a really good deal.

DUBNYK’S RECENT WOES

The problem is he hasn’t been that Dubnyk of late. Minnesota traded him to the San Jose Sharks in the offseason after his first subpar season where he posted a below .900 SV%. He hasn’t gotten much better in the Bay Area and currently has a .898 SV% where he has been in a rotation with Martin Jones.

Luckily for the Av’s they aren’t looking for him to go into a rotation. With 16 games remaining you are asking him at the VERY MOST to perform strong in six of those. Plus he has NHL Playoff experience which none of the current healthy Avalanche goaltenders have apart from Grubauer.

The most important thing during this deadline for the Colorado Avalanche has always been to add depth for the immediate future without long-term implications. So far (Deadline is Monday) they have added defenseman Patrick Nemeth from the Detroit Red Wings and now Dubnyk. This has been done without depleting their prospect pool, while both players are UFA’s in the summer.

It’s safe to say both won’t return, but will play a big part down the stretch for an Avalanche team dreaming of Stanley Cup glory. That goal may mean cheering on a former villain as Devan Dubnyk becomes an Av. Yeah, it still doesn’t sound right.

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