Eurolanche

Avalanche acquires Berra from Flames

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired goaltender Reto Berra from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft.

Berra, 27, has appeared in 29 games for the Flames this year, posting a 9-17-2 record with a 2.95 goals-against average.  He began the year with Abbotsford of the American Hockey League, compiling a 4-3-1 record with a 2.66 GAA and a .908 save percentage in nine games.  Recalled by Calgary on Nov. 2, Berra stopped 42 shots in a 3-2 OT victory over the Blackhawks in his NHL debut on Nov. 3 at Chicago.

The Bulach, Switzerland native represented his country at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia last month, posting a 0-1 record with a 1.02 GAA in one start for the Swiss.  He stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 1-0 loss to Sweden on Feb. 14.

“With this acquisition we feel we have further solidified our goaltending situation, for the present and future,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic.  “He has already shown he can be successful at the NHL level, and we are excited about what he can bring to our team.”

Selected by St. Louis in the fourth round (106th overall) in the 2006 Entry Draft, Berra was acquired by Calgary on April 1, 2013.  The 6-foot-4, 194-pound netminder had spent his entire career in Switzerland prior to this year.

In addition to the Berra acquisition, the Avalanche also announced today that the club has signed defenseman Cody Corbett to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Corbett, 20, has recorded 56 points (16g/40a) in 58 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League this season. His 56 points lead all Edmonton defensemen and tie him for fifth among league blueliners. 

A native of Lakeland, Minn., the 6-foot-1, 194-pound defenseman is in his third season with Edmonton, where he has 124 points (29g/95a) in 183 career games.

-- Colorado Avalanche Press Release --