CarterHud

                  After exactly two months of waiting, RW Thomas Vanek has found a new home. Where? The former 40 goal scorer is going to Vancouver, after signing a one year, $2 million deal with the Canucks on Friday. Vanek last played for the Florida Panthers.

                   Vanek, Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla have created a trio of ex stars to have not signed with a team heading close to training camp. Well now, it\’s just a Jagr and Iginla duo. To get $2 million is good for him. Also, he can get a roster spot in Vancouver, something he\’s fight for somewhere else.

                    For Vancouver, Vanek is another solid vet to add to their team, even though that isn\’t a playoff team by any means. He\’s cheaper than Jagr, but better than Iginla, so he\’s in the middle between the ex-trio.

                    Vanek, 33, scored 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points in 68 games between the Detroit Red Wings and Panthers last year. In his 12 year NHL career for the Red Wings, Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres, Vanek has scored 333 goals and 364 assists for 697 points.

             With one of the worst non-expansion teams in NHL history, the Colorado Avalanche finished the 2016-17 season with just 48 points, and were 30th, or last, in the NHL. Despite rumors of trading C Matt Duchene, hall-of-fame GM Joe Sakic held on to Duchene. But, he did not hold on to some other players. Let\’s look at what Sakic did do.

               Notable additions: F Colin Wilson, F Nail Yakupov, G Jonathan Bernier, D David Worsofsky, F Alex Kerfoot.

               Notable subtractions: Mikhail Grigorenko, G Calvin Pickard, D Francois Beauchemin, D Patrick Wiercioch, F John Mitchell, D Fedor Tyutin, D Will Butcher.

            

                                 Forwards
Here are my projected forward lines.

Sven Andrighetto – Nathan MacKinnon  – Matt Duchene
Gabriel Landeskog – Tyson Jost – Mikko Rantanen
J.T. Compher – Alex Kerfoot – Nail Yakupov
Joe Colborne – Carl Soderberg – Colin Wilson.

The first line worked well together after Andrighetto was acquired at the deadline. Landeskog can work well work the other two young guys. Compher and Kerfoot are looking for a solid rookie year. Colborne and Soderberg disappointed last year, and will be moved down to the 4th line. Matt Nieto and Blake Comeau are the extra forwards.

                                  Defensemen
Here are my projected defensive pairs.

Nikita Zadorov – Tyson Barrie
Mark Barberio – Erik Johnson
Duncan Siemens – Cale Makar

Zadorov is trying to breakout, and playing with a good defenseman in Barrie helps. The second pairing is simple. Makar, the 4th overall pick, can make the team, in my opinion. David Worsofsky is the 7th defenseman.

                                  Goaltending

                                  Semyon Varlamov
                                  Jonathan Bernier

Varlamov is a solid starter, and Bernier was good last year in his first year as a backup.

                                  Prediction
The Avs are still the same team that finished under 50 points last year. There is no way that they are making the playoffs this year.  

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                  The Chicago Cubs have acquired OF Leonys Martin from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations.

                   For the Cubs, Martin is a solid 4th outfielder with speed. He can be good off the bench for them down the stretch. They don\’t really give up anything for him.

                   Martin, 29, has a .174 batting average, three homers, eight RBIs and six steals in 122 Plate Appearances this year for the Mariners. In his seven year MLB career for the Mariners and Texas Rangers, Martin has a .248 batting average, 38 homers, 175 RBIs and 114 stolen bases in 2159 Plate Appearances.

                    The Mariners recently DFA\’d Martin after a bad season. They are able to trade hi, and not lose him for nothing on waivers. It\’s good that they at least got cash for him.

                    The Texas Rangers have acquired RHP Miguel Gonzalez from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league INF Ti\’Quan Forbes.

                     The Rangers are still attempting to get into the wild card. After trading Yu Darvish to the Dodgers, they\’ve needed a starter. Gonzalez is a solid 5th starter. He\’s a pitch-to-contact guy with an ERA about  4.00, like most 5th starters. He\’s a solid add.

                     Gonzalez, 33, has a 4.31 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 85 strikeouts in 133.2 innings this year for the White Sox. In his six year MLB career for the White Sox and Baltimore Orioles, Gonzalez has a 3.88 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 597 strikeouts in 849 innings.

                      The White Sox are pure rebuilders. Gonzalez was useless for them, and useful to another team. Getting something for him is good. Forbes isn\’t the biggest prospect, but he\’s solid.

                       Forbes, 20, has a .236 batting average, 11 homers, 45 RBIs and five steals in 521 Plate Appearances for Low-A and High-A. In his minor league career, Forbes has a .246 batting average, 15 homers, 124 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 1428 Plate Appearances.

                       I think the Rangers win this trade. They get a major league starter for just a low-leveled prospect. It\’s simple: they win.

                 The Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers have made a blockbuster trade, sending RHP Justin Verlander and a player to be named later or cash to the \’Stros and RHP Franklin Perez, OF Daz Cameron and C Jake Rogers, all of which are prospects.

                  The Astros are going all out for the city of Houston, after Hurricane Harvey. To win a championship, the Astros wanted more starting pitching, since their starters have been struggling to stay healthy this year. Verlander isn\’t the pitcher he\’s been most of his career, but he\’s still having a solid season. Also, they have him for three more years after this.

                   Verlander, 34, has a 3.82 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 176 strikeouts in 172 innings for the Tigers this year. In his 13 year MLB career, all in Motorcity, Verlander has a 3.49 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 2373 strikeouts in 2511 innings. Plus, he\’s won an MVP, Cy Young, triple crown and is a six time all-star.

                    The Tigers are in a rebuild. Verlander wasn\’t needed since he\’s older, and very expensive with a $28 million contract per year. To get three good prospects for him is pretty good for GM Al Avila.
                       
                      Perez, 19, has a 3.02 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 86.1 innings for High-A and AA this year. In his minor league career, he has a 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 214 strikeouts in 203 innings.

                       Cameron, 20, has a .271 batting average, 14 homers, 73 RBIs and 32 steals in 511 Plate Appearances in Single-A this year. In his minor league career, Cameron has a .255 batting average, 16 homers, 110 RBIs and 68 stolen bases in 898 Plate Appearances.

                         Rogers, 22, has a .263 batting average, 18 homers, 70 RBIs and 14 steals in 483 Plate Appearances between Low-A and High-A this year. In his minor league career, Rogers has a .254 batting average, 21 homers, 86 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 669 Plate Appearances.

                         I think this is an even trade. The Tigers get a bunch of prospects, and the Astros get a big name starting pitcher. Everyone wins.