Reto Berra Traded for Rocco Grimaldi

Miami Herald reporter George Richards is reporting that the Avalanche have traded goalie Reto Berra to the Florida Panthers for forward Rocco Grimaldi.

Berra started last season as the Avs backup but lost out to Calvin Pickard after an off-ice injury took him out for several months. He then finished the season with the San Antonio Rampage where he ended up with a 7-7 record. In 3 seasons with Colorado he went 10-13 in 35 games

Grimaldi is a small (5’6” 180lb) forward with some scoring skills, though mainly at the AHL level, where he has 75 points in 116 games. He does have 27 games with the Panthers over the past 2 years, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists.

This rids the Avs of the $550k cap hit Berra would incur while in the minors next season. Now we need to look for a replacement. Spencer Martin is the goalie of the future in San Antonio but he’s not quite ready for starting duties and the Avs need someone solid for the No. 3 spot for when Varly’s groin acts up.

More on this as it becomes available.