Colorado Avalanche-Ottawa Senators Swap Goaltenders Anderson, Elliott

The Craig Anderson era has officially ended in Colorado.

This morning, the Colorado Avalanche dealt the struggling Anderson to the Ottawa Senators for another struggling goaltender in Brian Elliott.

Anderson, who went 38-25-7 a season ago, wasn't able to find his game after a knee injury in late October, going 13-15-3 with a 3.28 GAA this season.

In Anderson's last 15 games, he is 3-11-0.

The Avalanche acquire a goaltender in Elliott, who has struggled just as much as Anderson, going 13-19-8 on the season with a 3.19 GAA.

Playing for a struggling Senators club, Elliott only has one win in his last 19 starts.

Trading away their starting goaltender from a season ago for a goaltender who can't reasonably be expected to carry the 14th place club into the playoffs this season, this move may be seen as the beginning of the Colorado Avalanche "blowing up" its roster.

Anderson is will be a 30-year-old unrestricted free agent in the summer. Brian Elliott, on the other hand, will only be 26 and will be a restricted free agent.

As the Avalanche fall further out of the playoffs in the coming weeks, expect similar moves.

The Avalanche may ultimately make a big splash for another team's young player, but it's most likely that they try to trade away any of the older players on the roster not signed to a contract by the NHL's trading deadline on February 28th.