Avs make AHL deal: swap Cliche for Beck

In a last minute move before the NHL Trade Deadline the Colorado Avalanche have acquired forward Taylor Beck from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Marc-Andre Cliche.

Taylor Beck, 24, is a 6’2″ 203 pound right-handed shot who plays on both wings. This season Beck has played 46 games with Bridgeport Sound Tigers registering 16 goals and 33 points. Beck is primarily an AHL forward but has played in 87 NHL games, recording 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in that time. Beck was a 3rd round pick by the Nashville Predators in 2009.

Beck is on a one-year, one-way $875,000 deal that expires this summer, when Beck will be a restricted free agent.

Similar to last year’s Karl Stollery for Freddie Hamilton trade the Avalanche get younger at the AHL level and trade a player they did not intend on re-signing for one the might keep. While this deal is most likely to effect the Avalanche organization at an AHL level, Beck did play a full NHL season last year, and his 23 points in 87 games are a definite improvement over Marc-Andre Cliche’s three goals and 11 assists in 150 games played with the Avalanche.