FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Colorado Avalanche acquired the rights to pending unrestricted free-agent center Carl Soderberg on Thursday, and it makes you wonder, if they can sign him, is it a precursor to dealing away Ryan O'Reilly?

At least insurance, anyway.

"O’Reilly is in play, but they’ll want a boat load for him," said one rival NHL executive on Thursday evening.

Plus, you can’t imagine any team paying a boat load for O’Reilly unless they can sign him to a contract extension first. O’Reilly has one year left on his deal.

The Avs, meanwhile, didn’t waste any time trying to get Soderberg signed after acquiring his rights for a sixth-round pick from the Bruins, immediately commencing contract talks with agent J.P. Barry.

I doubt Soderberg is the last pending UFA to get dealt this weekend. Might as well get at least something for a player who's walking away next week.

The Anaheim Ducks no question are thinking about doing the same thing with pending UFA winger Matt Beleskey after their last contract offer was rejected last week. It’s believed the Ducks offered a four-year deal but the Beleskey camp wanted a longer-term contract.

In other rumblings: