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Ryan Smith News & Rumors

Avs shed Smyth's hefty contract in Kings trade
"Since finishing last in the West with a high payroll, there has been a mandate from Avalanche ownership: Get younger, get cheaper and rebuild. Part of that mandate was filled Friday night when the Avs traded left wing Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings for two young defensemen - Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing - and a fifth-round draft pick in 2010. The trade will not become official until the players pass a physical. It may come as a shock to some Avs fans that the team would trade the former all-star, but it has been a poorly guarded secret for a while now that the Avs were trying to trade him. When he signed a five-year, $31.25 million free-agent deal in 2007 that included a no-trade"
Avalanche trade star Ryan Smyth
"The Avalanche tonight traded veteran left wing Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings for defensemen Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey and the Kings' 5th round selection in next year's draft. Smyth, 33, had been on the trade block for a while, as the Avs wanted to rid themselves of his five-year, $31.25 million contract. Smyth last season compiled 26 goals and 33 assists in 77 games. His 59 points were tied for the team lead with Milan Hejduk. Quincey in 72 games last season had four goals and 34 assists. Preissing, a former Hobey Baker finalist at Colorado College, played in 22 games last year, with three goals and four assists."