Photo: Newsday
The New York Islanders announced on Monday afternoon that they traded defenseman Devon Toews to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for two second-round picks (2021, 2022). The 26-year-old is currently a restricted free agent.
Toews recorded six goals, 28 points, a +1 rating, a 49.79% Corsi-for percentage, and a 52.18% expected goals-for percentage in 68 regular-season games this past season. He added two goals, 10 points, and a +3 rating in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Islanders, who fell to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games during the Eastern Conference Final.
In 116 career NHL games, all with the Islanders, Toews has recorded 11 goals, 46 points, and a +8 rating. In 30 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, he has posted three goals, 15 points, and an even rating.
After trading defenseman Nikita Zadorov to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a deal that sent forward Brandon Saad to the Avalanche, the Avalanche plug in that hole almost immediately after dealing Zadorov to bolster one of the NHL’s deepest defenses, which allowed an average of 2.71 goals-per-game last season (sixth in the NHL).
Toews’ average of 20:31 time-on-ice per game last season was fourth on the Islanders. His average of 2:14 on the power-play led all Islanders defensemen and was fifth on the team. Toews finished the regular season with 55 hits, 75 blocked shots, 57 giveaways, and 32 takeaways.
After the Avalanche’s power-play ranked only 19th with a 19.1% power-play efficiency, Toews could get some opportunity on the man advantage even though sophomore defenseman Cale Makar will likely get first dibs.
The Islanders, who lose one of their top defensemen after finishing ninth in goals-against per game (average of 2.79) during the regular season, are reportedly close to making another move that could involve defenseman Johnny Boychuk, according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta.
The Avalanche currently have $6,797,739 remaining in cap space while the Islanders have $8,905,833.
Devon Toews, traded to COL, is an exceptional two-way defencemen who has put up absolutely elite results at both ends of the ice in top four minutes. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/GSvHk7uM2q
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 12, 2020
By Harrison Brown
