Avs make Bruins fork over Bourque/ Deadline deal fills a hole in

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 7, 2000 | by Lee Jenkins

The Colorado Avalanche needed a defenseman. The team may have landed the best one of all time.

Ray Bourque had played his entire career in Boston. He had won five Norris Trophies. Scored more goals than any defenseman in history. Went to 18 All-Star Games. Did everything but order the limo for his Hall of Fame induction.

But he wanted a Stanley Cup. And he will come to Colorado to try and find it.

The Avalanche and Bruins pulled a six-player trade Monday that sent Bourque and forward Dave Andreychuk to Colorado for forward Brian Rolston, minor-league defenseman Martin Grenier, center Sami Pahlsson and Boston's choice of a first-round pick in either 2000 or 2001.

"The main focus, though, was Ray Bourque," said Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix.

For the second straight year, Lacroix has plucked the prize of the trading season. With the deadline only one week away, the Avs have already won the NHL auction by beating out Philadelphia and Western Conference contenders Dallas, Detroit and St. Louis for the jewel.

Lacroix was on top of Boston from the beginning. Even before he knew Bourque was willing to be traded, Lacroix was badgering Bruins general manager Harry Sinden.

"He was kind of reluctant," Lacroix said. "He was like, 'I haven't discussed it with Ray. I don't want him to feel like he's being pushed out.' But Ray wanted the chance to win the ultimate. And I believe we can offer that."

Never mind that the Avs aren't even a first-place team in the Northwest Division. With Bourque, they are an immediate contender. A Stanley Cup contender.

Bourque is a hard-to-find combination of reliable defender and scoring threat. He has 395 career goals and 1,111 assists and is an annual threat in the NHL skills competition, thanks mostly to a deadly accurate shot.

"He brings a presence," Lacroix said. "A charisma, a winning attitude. He's going to improve our offense and will add to the power play. This is a great thing."

For today. With this trade, the Avs mortgaged a piece of their future for a shot at their present. The 39-year-old Bourque has hinted that he may retire at season's end. Colorado is taking the risk that he'll pay dividends now.

Unlike many teams, the Avalanche can afford such gambles. The Avs can use a laden farm system to deal unproven talent for proven winners.

"With the nucleus of our team, we knew we could use our other assets to acquire the right pieces of the puzzle," Lacroix said. "Not many teams have the depth and ability to help a team rebuild."

That's why Colorado pulled the deal that other NHL elites couldn't. Even if the Avs don't have the strongest shot at the Cup, they arguably have the strongest organization.

That wound up being more of a factor than the team's unsettled ownership situation. Since the beginning of the season, Lacroix was told by Ascent - and now Liberty Entertainment Group - that he could do business the way he wanted.

That meant sucking up the $1 million that Colorado will owe Bourque, which could be a real bargain. For every home playoff game, teams make about $1 million. Bourque could end up paying for himself.

"It's going to smell very good at the doorstep of the playoffs," Lacroix said. "I'm pretty sure the team is going to feel the same way."

Not only will the Avs get a living legend, they'll get him quickly. Bourque and Andreychuk are hopping a chartered plane this morning for Calgary and will eat lunch with the team at noon.

Bourque is ready to go on a Cup-quest. When he first spoke with Lacroix on Monday night, Bourque was "very emotional" about leaving the town where he's played his entire professional life.

"But he became more excited as the conversation went on," Lacroix said, "more enthusiastic."

That means he was a fraction as fired up as Colorado.

- Edited by Geoff Grant. Headline by Larry McFarland

The deal

WHO: The Avs acquire Ray Bourque and Dave Andreychuk for Brian Rolston, prospects Sami Pahlsson and Martin Grenier plus a future No. 1 draft pick. The new Avalanche players will be in Calgary for Colorado's game tonight, but it is uncertain if the two will play against the Flames.

Boston bound

Bios of the players the Colorado Avalanche traded to Boston:

Martin Grenier

A 6-foot-4, 230-pound defenseman, Grenier was the Avs' second- round draft pick (No. 45 overall) in 1999 NHL entry draft. A rugged defender, he was considered the top prospect in the highly regarded Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Sami Pahlson

The Swedish center was a 10th-round pack in the 1996 draft. The 5- 11, 170-pounder decided to play another year with a club team in his home country, despite the protest of Avs coach Bob Hartley. He thought Pahlson was ready to play in the NHL.

Brian Rolston

Acquired in a Nov. 11, 1999 trade with New Jersey for Claude Lemieux and a No. 2 draft pick in the 2000 NHL entry draft. Rolston was considered the fastest skater on the Avs and has scored 11 goals with 11 assists this season. He scored 24 goals with 33 assists in 1999.