Avalanche bring back Alex Tanguay in four-player trade with Flames

Patrick Roy and Alex Tanguay were teammates on the Avs' last Stanley Cup winner. (Elsa/Getty Images)

The first big deal by Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and new head coach Patrick Roy is bringing an Avs legend back to Colorado.

The Flames announced a four-player trade with the Avalanche Thursday, involving longtime Avs left wing Alex Tanguay. The Flames also send defenseman Cory Sarich to the Avs for right wing David Jones and defenseman Shane O'Brien.

Sakic, Roy and Tanguay were teammates when Tanguay scored the championship-winning goal in Game Seven of the Avs' 2001 Stanley Cup triumph. Tanguay, 33, had 11 goals and 16 assists in 40 games for the Flames last season. He was originally drafted 12th overall by the Avs in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

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Sarich, 34, had two assists in 28 games for the Flames this year.

Jones, 28, saw his production drop from 2o-goal seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12 to three goals last season with the Avs.

O'Brien, 29, had four assists and 60 penalty minutes in 28 games last season for the Avs.

From the Flames' website:

“This trade adds needed size up front and grit on the back end while also allowing us to get younger.” said Flames General Manager Jay Feaster. “We like the fact that Jones plays a north-south game, drives hard to the net, kills penalties and is a right hand shot. O’Brien is a hard guy to play against, knows how to get under the skin of the opposition and stands up for his teammates. We are pleased to add both of these players to our organization.”