Colorado Avalanche: Ranking How Likely Players are to be Traded

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TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 14: Colorado Avalanche Center Carl Soderberg (34) celebrates after scoring a hat trick into the empty net with Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Ian Cole (28) during the third period of the NHL regular season game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 14, 2019, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Will Want Decent Return

Looking at that previous slide, it’s depressing to see how little of value the Colorado Avalanche have to offer. However, they do have a few nice pieces that Sakic would be willing to part with if he had to re-tool the team somewhat.

Colorado’s two summer acquisitions, Ian Cole and Matt Calvert, fall into this category. So, too, does recent wunderkind Carl Soderberg. I don’t want to throw shade onto any of these players. It’s just that they’re not central to the makeup of the Avs.

I think Sakic would be delighted to get a decent return for Semyon Varlamov. If the net minder could get his bionic groin to mind, he’d be a huge asset to a team looking to make a deep Cup run.

If Joe Sakic could get a late-round pick and a prospect, or a mid-round pick for any of those guys, he’d probably account the trade a good one.

I’d think Sheldon Dries, Logan O’Connor, Mark Alt, and Ryan Graves would be candidates for an AHL-level trade. They’re all good players, so Sakic might try hard-balling for a GM to include a late prospect in addition to a career AHLer.

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