Peter Mueller is out to prove to his former Phoenix teammates that he has what it takes to produce in the NHL
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Two weeks ago today Peter Mueller came to Colorado from Phoenix and the Avalanche shipped Wojtek Wolski off to the Coyotes in return. The move was highly criticized by the Avalanche faithful, but it may have been a key move for a Colorado squad looking to make a playoff run.
At first glance, the trade for Peter Mueller didn’t make a lot of sense.
Wojtek Wolski was reportedly cast out by Colorado Head Coach Joe Sacco because of his poor work ethic. However, Wojtek had outscored Peter by a wide margin this season, and also has the benefit of two extra years playing at the NHL level. Maybe Mueller was the best the Avalanche could get for Wolski in the trade market, and so the Colorado front office pulled the trigger. Wojtek had spent a lot of time as a healthy scratch anyway, so why not grab a fellow underachiever in trade?
At second glance, the trade deadline swap looks like a wash.
Wolski is a big-game player with big potential, but he disappears for weeks at a time. Mueller had an outstanding rookie campaign, but struggled in his sophomore campaign with Phoenix. Coincidentally, the Coyotes were in desperate need of a clutch offensive playmaker, and the Avalanche were looking to balance scoring production across their top three lines. Wolski scored the game-winner in his first game with the Coyotes… against the Avalanche in Phoenix. In Mueller’s first game with Colorado he scored the crucial 3rd goal in a 4-3 win over the Ducks in Anaheim.
At third glance, unloading Wojtek Wolski was the exact right move for Colorado.
Since the trade two weeks ago, Wojtek has displayed his trademark streakiness. In six games, Wolski has 2 goals and 2 assists. In seven games with Colorado, Mueller has 4 goals and 7 assists. Peter has at least one point in every game he’s played with Colorado, and the icing on the Mueller cake was a 2 goal, 1 assist night in St Louis on Tuesday.
By trading Wojtek, the Avalanche got rid of a problem child. By receiving Peter, Colorado got another hard-working point producer at right wing. On a team full of talented left wingers and centers, Peter Mueller fills a crucial niche. (Especially with RW Brandon Yip out with an injury.) Mueller may not score a lot of game-winning goals, but the Avalanche have that in their various rookie talents. Peter gets the goals in between.
Wojtek may yet win some games for the Coyotes. He’s an exceptional talent for sure. In the meantime, Peter Mueller will be developing along with the rest of the young Avalanche forwards. He’s a much better defender than Wolski, and his addition adds depth in a game that is much more about team-wide production than individual stats.
