Colorado Avalanche Trade Deadline: Analyzing Potential Moves Ahead of Deadline

The Colorado Avalanche have yet to make a move, and they certainly haven’t made a big move yet either. Will they stay quiet all deadline?

There have been some big trades already this deadline, but the Colorado Avalanche continue to remain out of the trades taking place.

Kevin Shattenkirk is without question the biggest name to get traded at this point.

However, Martin Hanzal is certainly the most important name to the Avalanche. More on that below:

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There have also been some interesting developments with teams who seem to be somewhat stockpiling assets to make moves with the Avs.

For example, the Tampa Bay Lightning have moved out two of their expiring contracts, and now have the cap space to make a trade for a top four defenseman. Tyson Barrie would be a great fit in their organization.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes have been stockpiling draft picks as well:

The Hurricanes have long been linked to the Avs because of their defensive depth, and glaring need for a top six center. Perhaps they could be working on a deal with the Avalanche for Matt Duchene.

Finally, the Avs need to figure out how to move some of their depth players like Blake Comeau, Fedor Tyutin, Francois Beauchemin, Jarome Iginla, Joe Colborne, John Mitchell and Rene Bourque.

The deadline inches closer, and it’s time for the Avs to figure out how to make some moves.

What Could Some Big Deadline Moves Look Like?

Well, at this point, I’m going to drop a few lines on what I’d love to see the Avs do, what kind of big moves I’d like to see. Eventually I’ll get to the depth players, but I detailed more on that in another post.

Here we go.

The Lightning could really use a puck-moving defenseman in their top four, even though Victor Hedman is having an incredible year.

So, I propose that the Avs dangle Tyson Barrie to the Lightning for one of their pending restricted free agents: Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, or Jonathan Drouin. Obviously if the Avs target Drouin, then they can’t ask for much in the return. I feel that’s likely a one-for-one trade.

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However, if they target someone like Palat, then they could also ask for a prospect. Said prospect I’d want would be Slater Koekkoek.

But the Avs wouldn’t stop there, they would also demand Tampa’s second round draft pick this year. Koekkoek is definitely in need of a change of scenery, and could still find his legs with the Avs. Maybe the Avs ask for a first round draft pick too instead of the second.

Moving onto to Carolina now because if the Avs trade Barrie, then they need to fill their hole on defense.

The Hurricanes have a wealth of defensemen I’m interested if I’m the Avs. However, there are only two I’m willing to trade Matt Duchene for.

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Those two defenseman are Noah Hanifin and Jaccob Slavin. Both are left-handed, and both would be incapable of filling the hole that Tyson Barrie would leave behind on the right side.

However, Nicolas Meloche is not far from playing in the NHL, and he can eventually fill Barrie’s shoes on the right side.

If the Avs have to include Chris Bigras in the deal, then that should obviously be fine with them. They should just also ask for a draft pick or two back from the ‘Canes in that case.

That’s my take on the big moves, let’s move on to the vets.

How do the Avs Deal Their Vets?

This is going to be short and simple folks. The Avs deal their vets for whatever draft picks or low-tier prospects they can get, and call it a day. They cannot afford to till around in the muck while they wait for the “perfect” deal on this front.

The Colorado Avalanche are a rebuilding team, and rebuilding teams shed salary, acquire draft picks and prepare for the summer at the deadline.

If there is a big move out there, then they make said move, but that generally doesn’t happen. Which is why what I wrote above is more of a pipe dream than anything.

The most important thing the Avs can do right now involves shedding salary. They have contracts they can’t hold onto next season, and they have depth players who might interest some other teams as well.

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Joe Colborne could make some team that is in playoff contention happy. Francois Beauchemin brings depth to any blueline, and same with Fedor Tyutin. And Jarome Iginla can still play in almost any bottom six in the league, as well as be a threat on the power play.

John Mitchell is likely a long shot, but he could be included in a deal that needs a small tip the other way on the scales. Almost every team in the league should be interested in Blake Comeau. And, Rene Bourque would definitely bring depth to a contender’s bottom six. He has nine goals on the season in just 44 games as bottom six forward.

Conclusion

The deadline is nigh and the Avs still haven’t made a move. That cannot be the case when the deadline hits tomorrow.

The team is unlikely to make any big moves, but Joe Sakic needs to be entertaining anything and everything.

Next: An Avs Guide to Surviving the NHL Trade Deadline

Even if he can’t orchestrate a big move, then he needs to find a way to deal depth and acquire some draft picks.

Time will tell what takes place, but if the deadline hits tomorrow and potential moves are announced that didn’t happen, then Joe Sakic’s leadership might come into question.

Stay tuned as the deadline news heats up.