Early Saturday morning, the Colorado Avalanche completed a trade that sent forward Chris Stewart, defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk and a second round draft pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenceman Erik Johnson, forward Jay McClement and a first round pick.
While the Avalanche are pleased with the return they received in the deal, one former member of the organization does not share those feelings.
NHL Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played the first ten years of his career with the Quebec Nordiques and is also the father of current Avalanche forward Paul Stastny, had some harsh words for the new direction of the Colorado organization.
"This young team was ready to challenge, almost, for a Stanley Cup this season," Peter Stastny told KMOX radio in St. Louis on Tuesday. "They were so good. All they needed was some more chemistry and some synergies. Instead, they destroyed the team."
Stastny went on to express his regrets with making the comments but continued to voice his displeasure to the St. Louis radio station.
"I should not have said this, but I'm so, so mad with what they've done to this team," Stastny told the radio station. "They've moved the team about two to three years back."
The comments came on the same day the two teams met for the first time following the trade.
Johnson, who had his own harsh words for the Blues organization after being shipped out in the deal, scored in his first game against his former team.
Stewart also scored against his previous employer.
