The Avalanche Sunday acquired center Shawn Matthias, 28, from the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving up center Colin Smith — who was with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL — and a fourth-round draft choice this year.
Matthias, 28, has 75 goals and 73 assists in 459 NHL games with Florida, Vancouver and Toronto.
He is making $2.3 million this season and could be an unrestricted free agent July 1, so this potentially falls under the heading of a "rental" deal for the Avalanche stretch run.
The native of Mississauga, Ontario was a second-round Detroit draft choice in 2006, after his second of four seasons in major junior with the Belleville Bulls.