Instead of waiting for the NHL trade deadline to start making upgrades to their roster, the Colorado Avalanche pounced a week early as they announced a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs that sees them acquire forward Shawn Matthias in exchange for prospect Colin Smith and a fourth round pick in 2016.
Matthias, 28, has put up 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in his 51 games for the Maple Leafs in his first season with the club after signing a one-year deal over the summer. He was considered one of the summer’s better low-risk signings because of his strong two-way play and ability to score goals in limited ice time.