Sheldon Souray the Solution to the Colorado Avalanche's Woes?

In a recent blog by Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, the beat writer emphatically suggests the Avalanche should try to acquire defenseman Sheldon Souray from the Edmonton Oilers.

He argues that Souray's potent slapshot from the blue line could help the Avalanche's mediocre 14th ranked power play, and basically leaves it at that. He acknowledges that Souray is getting up there in age, is slow, doesn't make a great first pass out of his zone, and makes an exorbitant $5.4 million in salary annually.

One negative he fails to mention is Souray's ability to stay healthy is about as good as Tiger Woods ability to stay faithful to his spouse.

In addition, defensemen are the only strength of Colorado's prospect pool, with Boston University stud Kevin Shattenkirk and Norwegian diamond in the rough Jonas Holos chomping at the bit to play in the NHL next season.

Those seem like a boat full of reasons as to why the Avalanche should steer clear, but the reality is that he's still a big upgrade on the Avalanche's blue line.

Souray's better in his own zone than current defensemen like Liles, Clark, and Cumiskey, and his booming slapshot can't be overstated enough. Even if he's in a goal scoring slump, opposing penalty kills have to respect it. No one respects the shot if Liles.

If the Avalanche were to acquire the pricey blue liner, John-Michael Liles and his equally unwarranted $4.2 million contract would have to go the other way.

Dater suggests Avalanche GM Greg Sherman should offer him straight up for Souray, but that just isn't realistic. Liles would have to be packaged with a pick and/or prospect for the Oilers to even consider taking his contract on. Liles also has a limited no-trade clause (who wants to bet the Oilers aren't on it?), and would have to agree to a trade to the dead last team in the NHL. 

The idea of acquiring Souray is a decent—but not well thought out—one by Dater. Some colossal risks come with the trade, but after watching yet another game of John-Michael Liles classic "fake the shot, pass it to the half boards" routine, it might be worth it.