How Sakic Duped Other General Managers: poaching restricted free agents

Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty ImagesAfter watching the team he built ascend to the Stanley Cup Final, Joe Sakic should be at least in the running for General Manger of the year, if not the favorite. From hiring and retaining head coach Jared Bednar to the fruitful Matt Duchene trade to drafting the league’s best defenseman in Cale Makar a lot has gone right for the Avalanche to get to this point.

What stands out the most in acquiring the players needed to fill out the roster, not just for depth but in key roles, has been the use of savvy trades. One such move was turning the last year of Tyson Barrie’s contract for three years of Nazem Kadri. With that, even more impact has been made…