Eric Gelinas traded to Avalanche, escapes Devils doghouse

Eric Gelinas has spent more time in the doghouse for the New Jersey Devils than on the blueline. And now he’s a member of the Colorado Avalanche. 

The Avs traded a 2017 third-round pick for Gelinas, a 24-year-old defenseman with a booming shot but some defensive deficiencies. His high-water mark was in 2013-14, when Gelinas tallied 29 points in 60 games, with 17 of them coming on the power play.

This season, he’s played in just 34 games, and sounded off about it last week. Like Pete DeBoer before him, John Hynes was down on him.  Gelinas signed a 2-year deal last summer for $3.15 million, and suddenly found himself buried on the depth chart.

Can he help the Avalanche? Sure. While Tyson Barrie has 19 points on (3 goals, 16 assists) on the power play, the next highest scorer on defense with the man advantage is Francois Beachemin (2 goals, 8 assists). Gelinas might be a one-trick pony, but that trick is having a cannon from the blueline.

So, with all of that, how does this rank on the Milbury Scale?

TWO MILBURYS. Maybe the change in scenery turns Gelinas into the defenseman many felt he could be in New Jersey. Or he’s exactly what DeBoer and Hynes thought he was.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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