Anderson for ... Elliot???

So today the Avalanche organization confused everyone again by trading last year's hero Craig Anderson for Brian Elliot of the Senators.  I'll admit that Anderson has looked horrible, but Elliot doesn't bring much to the team either so I have to ask "what gives?".

First off, it makes one think back to when Anderson returned to Denver for "personal reasons".  Some say that he quit on the team, and perhaps that is so.  It might explain this move in part if Anderson has stated that he no longer wanted to be in Denver.  It certainly makes one think of his leaving the team all over again.  It also explains in part why Budaj has gotten so much more playing time than Anderson of late.

Even so I don't know that I get this move.  I could understand bringing back picks, or a prospect, but you don't gain much with bringing in a backup.  Budaj already serves that role and if the organization has accepted they aren't making the playoffs this year why bring in someone when a call up could handle backup duties while Budaj started.  It could be that was the best return they could find.  Anderson has certainly been bad this year and wouldn't bring back much of a return.

It could also be that the Avalanche are looking at perhaps a new backup next year.  Elliot hasn't been horrible, though this year he hasn't been good either, so while not being a starter he may not be a bad backup.  He's young at 25 and a RFA this season and should be cheap.  Then again Budaj wasn't old nor expensive either.  It could very well be a case of split playing time the remainder of this season and the "winner" gets the job next season while the Avalanche go after a #1 guy in free agency.  There are a couple of people that could fit that bill, Bryzgalov (who likely will be re-signed in Phoenix) and Voukon come to mind.

It will be interesting to see not only how the rest of this year plays out but also how the Avalanche goalie situation plays out for next year over this offseason as well.  I still don't know how I feel about this trade.  At first I hated it, but with the way Anderson has played he wasn't going to bring back much and with the Avalanche play of late they can afford to be sellers as they aren't going to climb back into the playoffs.  Then add the speculation that Anderson was unhappy, may have asked to be traded, and may have quit on the team.  This if true is certainly not the type of player to have on a team.  I thought last year Anderson was going to be the goalie of the Avalanche future, but through this year he hasn't been good and obviously wasn't going to be the direction the Avs would go next year.

Best of luck Elliot and welcome to the team.  Enjoy the lack of defense the rest of the season and I hope you play well despite it.