The Colorado Avalanche, not happy with their fourth line through the early part of the season, are making another change. After placing Lukas Sedlak on waivers and sending Ben Meyers to the minor leagues, the team has now recalled Anton Blidh from the AHL.
Blidh, 27, has played 70 NHL games in his career, including 32 last season with the Boston Bruins. The Swedish winger scored two goals and nine points in those games, while also racking up 82 hits. Signed to a one-year, two-way contract in August, his recall should be a wake-up call for players like Meyers and Sedlak who haven’t been effective enough through the first few games.
Unlike Martin Kaut, who was also recalled yesterday, Blidh isn’t a high draft pick or a top college free agent like Meyers. Instead, he’s a player who has several seasons of minor league experience under his belt, and is used to playing a limited role in the NHL. With a roster that hasn’t really found its identity yet – Evan Rodrigues and Alex Newhook have combined for zero points through the first three games – slotting in a player like this could shake things up.
After being one of the deepest forward groups in the NHL last season, the Avalanche have their work cut out for them this time around. Finding a successful mix for the bottom six will be crucial to maintaining the level of excellence they have set.