Avs Acquire Defenseman Marchment

The deals continue as the NHL’s March 11 trade deadline approaches.

The Colorado Avalanche shored up their defensive corps on Saturday night, acquiring Bryan Marchment from the San Jose Sharks for two draft picks in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

Marchment, known for his physical play that borders on illegal, is most likely only being rented for the playoff run. He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“I don’t think there was any way we were going to be able to sign him (this summer), so I guess he was the classic rental player at this point,” San Jose general manager Dean Lombardi said.

This is the second major trade the Sharks have made in the last week. Captain Owen Nolan was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

San Jose is also rumored to be shopping forwards Teemu Selanne and Vincent Damphousse.

This is the fourth season in a row that Colorado general manager Pierre Lacroix has dealt for a defenseman at the trade deadline. In 2000 he acquired Ray Bourque from the Boston Bruins, in 2001 it was Rob Blake from the Los Angeles Kings, and last season he brought in Darius Kasparaitis from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Marchment has scored two goals and nine assists for eleven points this season with San Jose. He also has 108 penalty minutes in sixty-seven games.