Avalanche adds forward Derick Brassard while playing it safe at trade deadline

Derick Brassard, who upended the Avs' Sam Girard last season, is now a forward for Colorado. (Nils Petter Nilsson/Ombrello / Getty Images)Based on the last four games, it's hard to criticize the Avalanche for doing little before Monday's NHL trade deadline. After outscoring four opponents by a combined 20-4 — including 5-0 at Nashville on Saturday — the Avs are playing their best hockey of the season and believe they have what it takes to make the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

Absolutely, this team is good enough to make the playoffs. But simply making the playoffs and making a run for the Stanley Cup are two different objectives, and clearly, Colorado isn't as Cup-focused as…