Sakic on trades: “We love the chemistry in our dressing room”

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, in the nervous hours before the NHL trade deadline passed, was prepared for a splashy addition that would signal Colorado’s postseason ambitions.

“A big piece that could help us both short term and long term,” Bednar said.

It never happened.

Instead, the Avs made a pair of deals to bolster depth at injury-riddled positions by adding Ottawa Senators forward Vladislav Namestnikov and Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson, in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round draft pick (Namestnikov) and minor-league defenseman Calle Rosen (Hutchinson). Both new Avalanche players are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer.

Colorado general manager Joe Sakic visited with reporters on Tuesday at the team’s practice facility and said he made calls all the way up until the 1 p.m. Monday deadline. He then explained why the absence of a more prominent trade was not from a lack of trying.

“If there was another deal that made sense for us, we would have looked to do that, but nothing else materialized,” Sakic said. “We love the chemistry in our dressing room and you don’t want to tinker too much with that.”

Namestnikov, 27, figures to gain the most from the Avs’ dealings as a top-six forward in light of injuries to Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri and Matt Calvert. None are expected back on the ice until at least mid-March.

Namestnikov had 25 points (13 goals) over 54 Ottawa games this year. His workload is expected to increase while in Colorado.

“We’ve really liked him for a couple of years now and we think he’ll be a good fit for our team,” Sakic said. “He plays fast, has got a great hockey IQ and can move up and down the lineup. He can play left wing, he can play center, or right wing if you need him. A very versatile player who can kill penalties. He plays with a lot of grit as well.”

Added Namestnikov: “I’m a two-way forward and I think I’m responsible in my own zone. I’ll do everything it takes to help this team.”

Hutchinson, 29, is Colorado’s de facto No. 3 goaltender behind injured starter Philipp Grubauer (lower-body) and next man up Pavel Francouz. Grubauer’s flexible return timeline might force Hutchinson into the Avalanche net should Francouz need a night off between four games over the next six days.

“We were looking for a depth goalie, to not only help us but possibly the (AHL Colorado) Eagles,” Sakic said. “We’ve had a lot of injuries in that position. We feel depth-wise, we addressed that need.”

Said Hutchinson: “I’m going to work hard, earn guys’ trust and just be positive.”