Mile High Sticking
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Colorado Avalanche: Ranking How Likely Players are to be Traded

By Nadia Archuleta

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 14: Colorado Avalanche Left Wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) celebrates his goal with Right Wing Mikko Rantanen (96), Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Defenceman Tyson Barrie (4) during the second 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)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 14: Colorado Avalanche Left Wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) celebrates his goal with Right Wing Mikko Rantanen (96), Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Defenceman Tyson Barrie (4) during the second 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) /
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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 19: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche skates prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Pepsi Center on January 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Kings 7-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Hard to Pry Away

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There are certain players who are core to who the Colorado Avalanche are. However, if the return is really solid, Sakic would likely consider trading them. Such a solid return would probably be the usual pick, prospect, NHL player model.

Number-one on that list is Erik Johnson. I know a lot of Avs fans have looked askance at his play this season. However, he’s one of those integral character players — get rid of Johnson, and you may severely damage the fabric of the team. Plus, he’s the only two-way player we’ve got.

Though Eliotte Friedman recently tried to start rumors about him, Nikita Zadorov is at this level. He’s young and big and has a lot of talent. Zadorov is the next closest thing Colorado has to a two-way player. Indeed, he’s the heir-apparent to Johnson.

I’m going to put Tyson Jost in this section. I know many Avs fans consider Jost a bust and want to trade him away for a bag of pucks. Well, you’re wrong. He’s 20 years old and has a high ceiling. What’s more, he was all but untouchable last year — no way he’s on the trade line for little return.

Plus, he has a year left on his contract after this season. Colorado has time with him.

Last year’s first rounder, Martin Kaut, will also be at this level. The Colorado Avalanche will want to keep him around for the future.

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