Aaron Musick: Why the Erik Johnson trade was necessary
It had to be done

I said it when the trade happened and I'll say it again. This is a trade where both teams can win.

I still think Colorado won that trade. IMO Shat and Stewart aren't core players. Johnson is.

I still think Colorado won that trade. IMO Shat and Stewart aren't core players. Johnson is.
- Boinker

I agree completely that Stewart isn't a core player, but Shattenkirk is. He is equal to Elliott so unless Elliott isn't a core piece, I don't think it can be said Shattenkirk isn't. I think this trade will come down to who is the better player and fit for their franchise between Rattie and Siemens.

After a season and a quarter, I feel the trade is a wash to this point. I'm still glad we made it. I do wish that we could have swapped 2nd rd picks in last year's draft or given them a third instead of not having the choice they took Rattie with.

On another note, I'm curious as to when we find out what Washington is going to do with the 2nd round pick we have that was originally Boston's; use it or take our 2nd next year. Personally I would rather them take it next year so that way we have the two 2nd round picks this year which slightly makes up for not having the first. Then in 2013 we would have a first round pick at least to make up for not having the second.

I have always though the avs won this deal. The blues got shatty who has been great for them, however EJ is still the better Dman. Stewart showed that he was just on a hot streak when he was traded, still shows no work ethic and is continually scratched ever since he got to the Blue and who knows if they will even resign him. Seimens is still an 11th overall pick and talented rugged dmen dont grow on tree's. Finally the addiction of JayMc took our PK from the worst in the league to (i believe) 15th.
Finally, rattie puts up crazy numbers and is very good offensively, however he is very small. Its hard to tell how his transition will go and he could just turn out to be a fringe 2nd liner. With the blues already having the insane Tarensenko (sp) and perron, ect, who knows where he will fit.

EJ> Shatty
Seimens>(maybe)>Stewart
Jaymc ??? Rattie

I agree completely that Stewart isn't a core player, but Shattenkirk is. He is equal to Elliott so unless Elliott isn't a core piece, I don't think it can be said Shattenkirk isn't. I think this trade will come down to who is the better player and fit for their franchise between Rattie and Siemens.

After a season and a quarter, I feel the trade is a wash to this point. I'm still glad we made it. I do wish that we could have swapped 2nd rd picks in last year's draft or given them a third instead of not having the choice they took Rattie with.

On another note, I'm curious as to when we find out what Washington is going to do with the 2nd round pick we have that was originally Boston's; use it or take our 2nd next year. Personally I would rather them take it next year so that way we have the two 2nd round picks this year which slightly makes up for not having the first. Then in 2013 we would have a first round pick at least to make up for not having the second.
- stlavsfan

IMO every team should have a core of three forwards, two defenseman and a goalie who are unmovable. I don't see Shattenkirk as a top 2 defenseman.... yet. For instance the Canucks have Sedins, Kesler, Edler, Hamhuis and Schneider. The rest of the players are interchangeable.

IMO every team should have a core of three forwards, two defenseman and a goalie who are unmovable. I don't see Shattenkirk as a top 2 defenseman.... yet. For instance the Canucks have Sedins, Kesler, Edler, Hamhuis and Schneider. The rest of the players are interchangeable.
- Boinker

Sorry to bust your bubble but all the players you named above are very interchangeable!...especialy after this playoffs early exit.

Johnson had a rough first half of the season but his second half gave the fans a reason to hope he could become the player the Avs needed.

Change the word "Avs" to "Blues" and you have a statement true of any of Johnson's seasons. It would be great for the Avs if he did... but there is really no indication he will be any different next season than he was this season, or any of the previous ones.

Change the word "Avs" to "Blues" and you have a statement true of any of Johnson's seasons. It would be great for the Avs if he did... but there is really no indication he will be any different next season than he was this season, or any of the previous ones.
- Antilles

The truth is noboby in this trade (from both teams) is very impressive so far!...

Shatty has been the best player in this trade so far!

Johnson has times we he is great but there are times i wish he was in the minors! I dont think he is a top pair dman yet, if he can put a full season together where he plays like he can sure, but he has been in the nhl for 4 season and has yet to show it.

same with Stewart, i think the trade really affected him in a negative way and he would be far better if he was in Colorado. when he is hot he is untouchable but he just gets lazy!

Jay Mac was great this year, but he was ugly last season. but i think the trade affected him to like stewy.

its up the the prospects to see who won! i personally think they could of got more for Stewart, Shatty, and a 2nd (at that time) then what they got!

its just my opinion of course!

I said it when the trade happened and I'll say it again. This is a trade where both teams can win.
- Lahey

I was just going to say something similar. I mean, can't both teams be winners? They both got something they needed. But Stewart probably needs to go to an Eastern team...somewhere he won't be forced to play a defense first system.

I still say he'd be a 40g a year guy on the right team.

Sorry to bust your bubble but all the players you named above are very interchangeable!...especialy after this playoffs early exit.
- Dekker

Ummmm.... ya a couple of hart and ted lindsay award winners and a selke winner are easy to find.... Hamhuis is one of the most underrated defenseman in the league and Edler..... is the total package. Watch out for Schneider next year.

Fair article, nice job.

I think the trade is slightly in the Blues favor, especially with Rattie's season. It could definitely change or show to be different with time.

As already stated above, what you are describing with Johnson's play is every single season he had with the Blues. It's why management shipped him out. He may pan out but it's a gamble. If it wasn't a gamble and he was a sure fire number 1 defenseman, the Blues would not have traded him. Management had doubts.

Stewart had a rough year, no one can claim otherwise. Other exceptional players have had rough years (Lucic for instance). Stewart was excellent in game 3 against the Kings. I don't think he isn't trying, he just has no confidence.

Also, I agree with the person who said Shattenkirk was the best player so far. The Canucks fan claiming everyone in the trade has been mediocre has no idea what he's talking about. Kid has had back to back 43 point seasons with only 2 years in the league at age 23. Who else has put up those kind of numbers?

Is Shattenkirk a number 1? Probably not, but he's at worse a number 3 and probably a number 2 Dman who is money on the Powerplay.

Here's a question for you. How many points has Johnson amassed in 298 games? 127. .42 points a game.

How many has Shattenkirk put up in 153? 86. That's .56 points a game.

Shattenkirk doesn't have the physical frame to be what Johnson is, but thus far Shattenkirk has shown MUCH more than Johnson (particularly when considering their experience).

Fair article, nice job.

I think the trade is slightly in the Blues favor, especially with Rattie's season. It could definitely change or show to be different with time.

As already stated above, what you are describing with Johnson's play is every single season he had with the Blues. It's why management shipped him out. He may pan out but it's a gamble. If it wasn't a gamble and he was a sure fire number 1 defenseman, the Blues would not have traded him. Management had doubts.

Stewart had a rough year, no one can claim otherwise. Other exceptional players have had rough years (Lucic for instance). Stewart was excellent in game 3 against the Kings. I don't think he isn't trying, he just has no confidence.

Also, I agree with the person who said Shattenkirk was the best player so far. The Canucks fan claiming everyone in the trade has been mediocre has no idea what he's talking about. Kid has had back to back 43 point seasons with only 2 years in the league at age 23. Who else has put up those kind of numbers?

Is Shattenkirk a number 1? Probably not, but he's at worse a number 3 and probably a number 2 Dman who is money on the Powerplay.

Here's a question for you. How many points has Johnson amassed in 298 games? 127. .42 points a game.

How many has Shattenkirk put up in 153? 86. That's .56 points a game.

Shattenkirk doesn't have the physical frame to be what Johnson is, but thus far Shattenkirk has shown MUCH more than Johnson (particularly when considering their experience).
- charlest

Its always tough to rate D-Man, especially on just points alone. Both are young and need to mature and come into their own game. EJ is getting meaner, and a better shut down style bruising dman, which this team has missed since rob blake.
I love shattys game, he could be a carbon copy of Rafalski.

I dont know what Stewarts deal is, we were used to him disappearing for a few game stretches, but not like this year for you guys, its like he wasnt mentally checked in for the season when it started.

Whats the word on Rattie? I hope he didnt get a concussion like those reports were saying.

Good season by you guys anyways, Way to show us with proper coaching you could win games with Elliot. Damn you Sacco, Damn you

After this season I don't think any Avs fan is really that worried about EJ not developing into a No. 1.

It looks as if he is becoming more of a shutdown No. 1 than anything instead of putting up serious points but if he continues to grow like he has this season the points will come. There were more games than not this season he showed what he is capable of. Quite a few games in fact that he was able to take over the game completely.

Next up will be a partner for him to play with and better wingers to fill out the team.

Its always tough to rate D-Man, especially on just points alone. Both are young and need to mature and come into their own game. EJ is getting meaner, and a better shut down style bruising dman, which this team has missed since rob blake.
I love shattys game, he could be a carbon copy of Rafalski.

I dont know what Stewarts deal is, we were used to him disappearing for a few game stretches, but not like this year for you guys, its like he wasnt mentally checked in for the season when it started.

Whats the word on Rattie? I hope he didnt get a concussion like those reports were saying.

Good season by you guys anyways, Way to show us with proper coaching you could win games with Elliot. Damn you Sacco, Damn you
- DDM-Coga

You're absolutely right, I'm not trying to say Shattenkirk is and willbe positively better overall than EJ will be. So far I think Shattenkirk has an edge but it's hard to tell. I think EJ has had dominant games and when he'd played at his best he is much more valuable than Shatty. I just think Shattenkirk has been consistently excellent and hasn't really disappeared - except for the playoffs this year. I'm not worried about Shattenkirk's post-season play as he's still so in-experienced.

I think Stewart blew it in the offseason. I think he didn't take his conditioning seriously and didn't come prepared for a grinding style. I think his success immediately after the trade led him to believe he didn't need to put in as much work. I expect a bounce back year from him next year and hope management doesn't trade him.

I'm not sure what the deal with Rattie is. We have way too many players with concussion problems already (Mcdonald, Perron, Steen, Russell, Cole) and I hope that's not what it is.

I'm not sure Elliot could do what he did this year on another team. I think the fresh start helped him, the system here helped him, and he got a little bit of luck early which fed into confidence. I still consider Halak our number 1 but Elliot has been fantastic this year.

You're absolutely right, I'm not trying to say Shattenkirk is and willbe positively better overall than EJ will be. So far I think Shattenkirk has an edge but it's hard to tell. I think EJ has had dominant games and when he'd played at his best he is much more valuable than Shatty. I just think Shattenkirk has been consistently excellent and hasn't really disappeared - except for the playoffs this year. I'm not worried about Shattenkirk's post-season play as he's still so in-experienced.

I think Stewart blew it in the offseason. I think he didn't take his conditioning seriously and didn't come prepared for a grinding style. I think his success immediately after the trade led him to believe he didn't need to put in as much work. I expect a bounce back year from him next year and hope management doesn't trade him.

I'm not sure what the deal with Rattie is. We have way too many players with concussion problems already (Mcdonald, Perron, Steen, Russell, Cole) and I hope that's not what it is.

I'm not sure Elliot could do what he did this year on another team. I think the fresh start helped him, the system here helped him, and he got a little bit of luck early which fed into confidence. I still consider Halak our number 1 but Elliot has been fantastic this year.
- charlest

I think Shatty really benefited for playing for his whole eligibility at Boston University, just a nice slow growth and progression in his game, and he is benefiting from that now.

I think Stewart trains with his brother in the offseason, my guess is that doesn't have the most positive effect on him.

I think how well EJ played Defensively during the last half of the year is way underrated. The reason why I love EJ is that he can help us in our defensive zone in a way Shatty never could. I do miss shatty though, brilliant player.

Stewy was really only good right before we traded him, in the years before he was just a prospect with potential.

Rattie has been amazing, but his size still worries me.

After this season I don't think any Avs fan is really that worried about EJ not developing into a No. 1.

It looks as if he is becoming more of a shutdown No. 1 than anything instead of putting up serious points but if he continues to grow like he has this season the points will come. There were more games than not this season he showed what he is capable of. Quite a few games in fact that he was able to take over the game completely.

Next up will be a partner for him to play with and better wingers to fill out the team.
- Steve-B

When the Blues drafted him, us fans had visions of Chris Pronger 2.0 dancing in our heads. Now I wonder if he's not more of an Adam Foote type, assuming he can maintain a mean streak, though I would have to take your word for it - the games I saw of him as an Av were early on and he looked much like he did here - tentative and playing small.

I hope that he starts to mature and come out of that mold we saw here, even if he isn't as great as he was supposed to be. He was a good kid for the most part around town, and had completely unrealistic expectations heaped upon him.

I think Shatty really benefited for playing for his whole eligibility at Boston University, just a nice slow growth and progression in his game, and he is benefiting from that now.

I think Stewart trains with his brother in the offseason, my guess is that doesn't have the most positive effect on him.
- DDM-Coga

Shattenkirk only played three years in college but its confusing cause he graduated in the three years he was there.

Sorry to bust your bubble but all the players you named above are very interchangeable!...especialy after this playoffs early exit.
- Dekker

He said unmovable. A recent hart winner, recent lindsay winner (and hart runner-up), recent Selke winner, and a young defenseman with a very bright future are all very unmovable when they are the core of the team.

Not sure what the early exit has to do with their value to Canucks. The team as a whole wasn't quite good enough, but that doesn't mean these players are dispensable, or that the Canucks could just trade them for other players that would instantly make them a stanley cup team.

If you hadn't noticed, the team that they lost to just swept the #2 seed, as well. The LA Kings are very good.

I think how well EJ played Defensively during the last half of the year is way underrated. The reason why I love EJ is that he can help us in our defensive zone in a way Shatty never could. I do miss shatty though, brilliant player.

Stewy was really only good right before we traded him, in the years before he was just a prospect with potential.
Rattie has been amazing, but his size still worries me.
- Meeqsb

2009-2010 77GP 28G 36A - 64P
2010-2011 30GP 13G 17A - 30P

his last year and a half he was getting to play big min with the avs and found great chemistry with Stastny. He didnt want to play anywhere else and that is one problem him. Maybe if the avs miss out on Parise, Semin they should give him a 1 year deal and try him and see! Granted i think he is a RFA

Interesting to read some of the comments now that some time has passed.

There's a bit of revisionism going-on since most posters were very adamant in declaring that the Avs got robbed when the trade occurred.

Interesting to read some of the comments now that some time has passed.

There's a bit of revisionism going-on since most posters were very adamant in declaring that the Avs got robbed when the trade occurred.
- dawgzhouse

This.

I've always declared the Avs the winner of the trade since they got the best player out of it. People used to call me crazy!


P.S. They still do, but for different reasons.

This.

I've always declared the Avs the winner of the trade since they got the best player out of it. People used to call me crazy!


P.S. They still do, but for different reasons.
- Scabeh

In my experience, if people call you crazy, you're doing something right.