The Olympics have come and gone, the trade freeze was lifted at 9:59 p.m. MT, and the Avalanche are back in action this week. It’s going to be quite the sprint to the finish line of the regular season, with Colorado scheduled to play 27 games in 51 days, including five in seven starting on Wednesday.
Mix in the fact that the trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and we’re setting up for a newsworthy few weeks around the league.
The Avs didn’t have all that great a time leading up to the break. Lengthy injuries to Devon Toews and Gabe Landeskog led to their first tough stretch all year. Toews returned, but Martin Necas ended up on the injured list for the last three games.
Landeskog and Necas are both healthy now. They played for their nations at the Olympics and were key players on their squads, despite neither finishing with a medal.
But the Avalanche’s stretch leading up to the break was a reminder that the roster isn’t yet complete. Depth is still very much an issue, as is adding physicality on the blueline. And of course, a third-line center.
With that being said, let’s take a look at who could be on Colorado’s radar as the trade deadline inches closer.
These are listed by position, starting with centers, wingers, and finally, defensemen.
Ryan O’Reilly, C, Nashville Predators
Age: 34
Contract: $4.5 million cap hit, UFA in 2027
The Nashville Predators, playing as well as they’ve been since struggling early, have calmed the waters on a Ryan O’Reilly trade. And even if he hit the market, the Avs would have to outbid several others for his services.
O’Reilly is Nashville’s No. 1 center. He would be a good addition for many of the teams looking to shore up their 2C position. He would be an absolute luxury — a gem of a 3C for Colorado, if they managed to pull off a trade.
Perhaps the Preds’ most recent 3-4-3 stretch that has them outside of the playoff picture will reignite the trade speculation. They are four points back of the second wildcard position in the Western Conference, and they’ve played more games than the three teams around them in the standings.
Mix in the recent news that general manager Barry Trotz is stepping away as soon as the franchise finds his replacement, and you’ve got yourself quite the intrigue.
O’Reilly has one year remaining after this season at a manageable $4.5 million.
Erik Haula, C, Nashville Predators
Age: 34
Contract: $3.15 million cap hit, UFA in July
What if the answer for the 3C hole is with the Nashville Predators, but what if it’s not O’Reilly?
Erik Haula is on an expiring deal, making just $3.15 million against the cap. He had recently been elevated to the 2C position on the Preds and put up points in his last four games. He’s obviously not cut out to be in the top six, but he would be a solid 3C.
Haula was Finland’s 4C at the Olympics, playing behind Roope Hintz, Sebastian Aho, and Anton Lundell. He scored a shorthanded goal against Team Canada in the semifinals and added the game-winner in the bronze medal game against Slovakia before tacking on an empty netter.
Though he isn’t as big as the Avs might prefer for a 3C, he still plays with a lot of energy and isn’t afraid to get in the dirty areas and take a hit.
He likely wouldn’t cost nearly as much as O’Reilly, either.
Nicolas Roy, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 29
Contract: $3 million cap hit, UFA in 2027
I wrote about why Nic Roy would be a great fit for the Avalanche; you can read about it here.
But in short, he’s a proven Stanley Cup winner, has been an offensive producer in depth roles in the past, is a big body listed at 6’4, 201 lbs, and he’s on a very manageable deal with another year remaining while still in the prime of his career.
It all adds up to precisely what Colorado needs. The question is, will the Maple Leafs be sellers? And if so, are they willing to trade a piece like Roy, who isn’t on an expiring deal?
Scott Laughton, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 31
Contract: $1.5 million cap hit, UFA in July
Like the Predators, the Maple Leafs also have two intriguing pieces that can solve Colorado’s 3C need.
If not Roy, then what about Laughton? The key difference here is that Laughton is a pending UFA and is likely to be seeking a raise from the $3 million he’s making this season. Philadelphia retained 50% of his contract before shipping him to Toronto last year, so he’s available at $1.5 million, with the possibility of more being retained.
Laughton hasn’t had the best season with the Leafs, but he’s come on in recent weeks. He’s also not being utilized nearly as much as he was in Philadelphia, or he likely would be if the Avs made him a 3C.
Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 32
Contract: $3.75 million, UFA in July
Almost a decade ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets dangled Boone Jenner as one of the key pieces to try to acquire Matt Duchene from the Avs. Jenner has been the heartbeat of that franchise since he broke into the league. He even played with Duchene in 2019 when they swept the 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
The Blue Jackets have been red hot since Rick Bowness became their head coach. Will that shift their plans from being sellers at the deadline? Maybe. But if not, he can certainly fill the 3C role on the Avs as a rental piece.
His history of injury issues probably pushes him further down the list.
Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames
Age: 35
Contract: 7 million, UFA in 2029
This should probably be in my honorable mentions section, but Nazem Kadri is willing to accept a trade to a contender, and well, the Avs are that.
How do they make the salary work for the next 3 years? How much does Calgary need to retain? What are you trading to bring him in at less than $7 million? Those are difficult questions to answer, and they’re all reasons why this likely won’t happen.
Blake Coleman, LW, Calgary Flames
Age: 34
Contract: $4.9 million cap hit, UFA in 2027
I’m not sure why, but a Blake Coleman addition makes a lot of sense. At least to me. Simply because, if it’s going to cost a first-round draft pick and another valuable piece to bring in Sherwood as a rental. Could Calgary be enticed with that package for Coleman with some salary retention? If so, that would give Colorado Coleman for two playoff runs, and his deal would expire when Cale Makar is ready to basically double his salary.
Coleman is a proven winner. He was part of that Tampa Bay roster that won two Stanley Cups in a row. He and Colton were teammates in 2021 when they won the second Cup. Perhaps the two of them could ride shotgun as the wingers on the third line with whoever the Avs bring in to play center.
Of course, this scenario would require a decent amount of cap retention. Otherwise, Colton might need to be shipped out to make room for Coleman’s salary, whether in the same deal or another one. Not that I’m trying to drive Colton out of town, but Coleman at $4.9 million and Colton at $4 million on the third line just doesn’t work. Especially when you add in the need for a 3C.
Michael Bunting, LW/RW, Nashville Predators
Age: 30
Contract: $4.5 million cap hit, UFA in July
The Predators also have a winger who would be a solid addition to the Avs’ bottom six. Michael Bunting is an energy player with a reputation as a pest. But his teammates everywhere have loved having him.
In 2024, he was traded from Carolina to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline for Jake Guentzel. Last year, the Pens shipped him to Nashville. Now, he’s on an expiring deal and could be a solid addition to the third line if the trade involved maximum salary retention.
It’s worth noting that the Preds have just one more salary retention slot to use at this year’s trade deadline. The two players occupying the other slots (Mattias Ekholm and Colton Sissons) both fall off this summer.
Michael McCarron, C/RW, Nashville Predators
Age: 30
Contract: $900,000 cap hit, UFA in July
Michael McCarron is currently the 3C on the Predators behind O’Reilly and Haula. He makes just $900,000 against the cap on an expiring deal. But I’m not necessarily suggesting he plays that same role in Colorado.
If the Avs are looking for depth options in the bottom six, he would be a reasonable option. It’s similar to what they had in Nico Sturm in 2022. In fact, if Haula, O’Reilly, or Bunting are actual targets for Colorado, you might be able to finagle McCarron out of Nashville in the same deal.
McCarron has experience on the wing and could provide that as a low-cost acquisition. Or, if the Avs decide not to acquire a 3C and instead load up with stronger third-line wingers, McCarron could fill in as 4C behind Jack Drury. But again, the priority is likely to have Drury be the 4C.
Logan Stanley, LD, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 27
Contract: $1.25 million, UFA in July
The Avs have a strong top six on the blueline. But it still feels like they could make a few changes to really take that next step. Does that mean finally trading Samuel Girard and opening a spot on the left side for a physical defenseman? Maybe.
If so, a bigger body like Stanley could be the type of piece the Avs add.
Jamie Oleksiak, LD, Seattle Kraken
Age: 33
Contract: $4.6 million, UFA in July
Listed at 6’7, Jamie Oleksiak is the same type of towering defenseman as Stanley, but with more veteran experience. He was a key piece of the 2023 Kraken team that defeated the Avalanche in the first round. But his role and ice time have since diminished.
As a third-pair guy, perhaps alongside Sam Malinski, Oleksiak could beef up Colorado’s defense core. That’s if the Kraken fall out of playoff contention, which currently isn’t the case.
Mario Ferraro, LD, San Jose Sharks
Age: 27
Contract: $3.25 million, UFA in July.
Mario Ferraro was on every trade board I’ve written over the last two years. He felt like a reasonable addition in 2024. Even more so in 2025. But in 2026? It feels less likely. For many reasons.
For starters, the Avs would no longer benefit from his reasonable cap hit for multiple years as Ferraro is a pending unrestricted free agent and will likely get a pay raise this summer. Also, like the Seattle Kraken, the San Jose Sharks are well in the thick of a playoff race. They could even be Colorado’s first-round opponent come April.
But they’re getting close to shifting towards selling. San Jose lost three straight games heading into the Olympic break.
Honorable Mentions
- J.G. Pageau, C, New York Islanders — If the Islanders weren’t having as good a season as they’ve had, Jean-Gabriel Pageau would’ve been the top centerman on my list.
- Brett Kulak, LD, Pittsburgh Penguins — Brett Kulak is definitely available and likely will be dealt. But outside of trading him for a mid-round pick to be a No. 7 defenseman, I don’t see him as an improvement on what Colorado already has.
- Pavel Mintyukov, LD, Anaheim Ducks — The Ducks are playing well again and back in the playoff picture. It’s unlikely they’ll want to rush into trading a 21-year-old unless they absolutely have to.
Previously On The List
- Artemi Panarin (traded to the Los Angeles Kings)
- Kiefer Sherwood (traded to the San Jose Sharks)
- Carson Soucy (traded to the New York Islanders)
