Colorado Avalanche: For Your Trade Consideration, Here’s Mats Zuccarello

If the Colorado Avalanche want to consider a trade in the next hours, they should fight to get winger Mats Zuccarello.

The NHL trade deadline is just hours away and most teams are currently either closing some deals, scouting like they’ve never scouted before (ok, like they haven’t scouted in a year or so), or letting everyone know they have some players they are willing to let go. Others, however, are quiet… like the Colorado Avalanche.

It’s not like the Avs couldn’t benefit from a trade or two, but it seems unlikely that they will do something big (if they do anything at all). But let’s pretend for a few minutes that the Avs are silently and discreetly preparing for a big move, and let’s pretend they need some suggestions. Why, yes, I do have one, thanks for asking: Mats Zuccarello.

Zuccarello signed with the New York Rangers as an undrafted free agent back in 2010 and went back and forth between the Rangers and the Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale until 2013. His best season was in 2015-2016 with 61 points (26 goals, 35 assists) and he has made his way up to the Rangers’ top line alongside Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.

Now, scoring depth is no problem with the Colorado Avalanche, or at least not something to worry about. In 46 games played this season so far, Zuccarello has 11 goals – just one more than Matt Calvert (61 games), Alexander Kerfoot (57 games), and Colin Wilson (46 games) at the time of writing. He’s a good offensive player that can also turn to defense if needed.

Take a moment to imagine Zuccarello next to Carl Soderberg and Matt Calvert (or Mikko Rantanen, now that Bednar is playing with the lines once more). Wonderful things could happen, I’m telling you. Not to mention: he could bring more fuel to the power play unit.

But at what cost? And this is where things get messy and confusing because that’s how businesses are. Because just like in love, not all things are fair. Some players are overpriced, others are pretty much given away. In this case, the Colorado Avalanche could give either a prospect and draft picks, or a player and draft picks. Listen: it’s not like the Avs need more draft picks, let’s be honest.

Although, in all honesty, if it was on me, I would give two players in exchange for Zuccarello, namely Gabriel Bourque and Patrik Nemeth. Throw in a draft pick too, if that means we can get Mr. Mats Zuccarello. We would be getting much more than what we “lost”. Something to think about, Avs.

The NHL trade deadline madness will come on Monday, February 25. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche will continue to fight for a wildcard spot and beyond.