Why Tomas Tatar didn't find fit with Avalanche, traded to Seattle Kraken

There are a couple possible reasons forward Tomas Tatar did not fit with the Colorado Avalanche.

The Colorado Avalanche traded forward Tomas Tatar to the Seattle Kraken for a fifth-round 2024 NHL Entry Draft pick on Friday. 

The 33-year-old Slovakian native worked hard on the ice and had some quality chances but only produced one goal and eight assists in 27 games. 

"I mean he's had a lot of chances, and just unable to finish it off. And I'm really happy for him that he got that and hopefully that gives him a little life," head coach Jared Bednar said after the win against the Calgary Flames on Monday about Tatar's goal. "We know he has the ability to be able to chip in offensively more than he has. He understands that — hopefully that gives him a little bit of life just like the rest of our team."

Tatar signed a one-year contract with the Avalanche on Sept. 12. He was previously with the New Jersey Devils last season with Avs forward Miles Wood. 

Tatar showed spurts of chemistry but struggled to adjust to the Avalanche's systems and find his spot in the lineup. He was scratched a couple of games to give other players a chance to produce as he was not doing so. 

The 5-foot-10 forward was the smaller guy on a bigger team. His speed was comparable to his teammates but he wasn't able to produce consistent scoring chances. He also struggled on the defensive side of the game, which the team as a whole has struggled with in games this season. 

"Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. Tom was a great teammate, great guy, veteran guy. Attitudinally, he fit in great with our team and all of our guys enjoyed him," Bednar told media after morning skate in Winnipeg on Saturday. "Little bit of a slow start to the season, was snake bit a little bit, started to play better and the pace of his game was starting to improve — a little bit of production was starting to come but yeah, I don't know, the decision is made. I don't know what the long-term plan is there."

He has been a bit of a journeyman having played for the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights and was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. Hopefully he'll find a fit with the Kraken and their organization. 

The Avs freed up $1.5 million by moving him — nearly $5 million total in cap space — which could be a precedent to another move by team management. 

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