Avs trade team captain

WASILLA — The Alaska Avalanche have traded captain J.C. Richardson to Marquette for future considerations. The move was announced Friday on the North American Hockey League’s Web site.

With his team on a holiday break, Avalanche head coach Jamie Smith said Saturday said it “was time” for Richardson to move on.

“We weren’t getting a lot of production out of him,” Smith said.

In his two seasons with Alaska, the Fort Collins, Colo. defenseman was a steady presence on Alaska’s blue line, skating in more games (92) than any other Alaska player during that span. Richardson played in all 62 games last season and missed only one contest this year.

But the stay-at-home defenseman scored just four points in that time, and his plus/minus rating this season had dropped to minus-13 — tied for worst on the team.

Smith said he has a player in mind to replace Richardson as the team captain, but won’t announce the decision until the team returns to practice later this week.

The coach also hinted that the team will be on the lookout for defensive help to replace the departing Richardson.  

The Avalanche begin an 11-game road trip Friday with a visit to Fairbanks before leaving the state for a swing through Texas and Kansas that Smith called “make or break” for his fourth-place team.

The top four teams in each division reach the NAHL playoffs. Alaska is currently eight points in front of Kenai River for the final playoff spot in the South Division. Sixth-place Texas is 11 points back, but Smith noted that the Frisco-based team has made several moves in recent days to bolster its roster.

Alaska will face Texas three times during the upcoming road trip.

The Avs are set to return to Wasilla Feb. 13 for a 12-game homestand.