Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks give prospects fresh start

The Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks partnered up once again on Friday in a relatively minor prospect swap.

The Avalanche sent forward Okay Olausson to the Sharks in exchange for RFA winger Danil Gushchin.

All right, so it’s fair if you’re not familiar with either of these players.

Olausson was Colorado’s first-round pick in the 2021 draft. The Avs took him 28th overall, which is essentially a second-round pick.

He’s played in parts of three seasons with the Avalanche, totaling four games. He spent last season with the Colorado Eagles, playing 61 games and scoring 11 goals. His 26 points were respectable, but nothing that would turn heads.

Considering that Olausson was a first-round pick, his AHL numbers are certainly underwhelming. He’s entering the final year of his entry-level deal, suggesting to me that the Avalanche have given up on him.

So, instead of having some RFA drama next season, the Avalanche allowed Olausson to get a fresh start elsewhere. Olausson didn’t have a realistic shot at cracking the lineup this season. That’s why shipping him to San Jose could be just what the doctor ordered.

As for Gushchin, the Avalanche get a former third-round pick from the 2020 NHL Draft who looks a lot more NHL-ready.

He’s coming off a one-year $775K deal. He’s an RFA at the moment and could be due to sign a new contract any day now.

Gushchin is an intriguing choice here. He’s got solid AHL numbers, suggesting he could be in the mix for a bottom-six role. Perhaps Gushchin could be a Joel Kiviranta replacement if Kiviranta pushes for a deal beyond league minimum.

This past season, Guschchin got into 12 NHL games, registering one assist. He played 56 games for the San Jose Barracuda, scoring 28 goals and 23 assists for 51 points. Moreover, Guschin scored 20 goals and 34 assists for 54 in 56 games in 2023-24. That’s fantastic production. As such, it seems that Gushchin could fit into the Avalanche’s lineup very nicely.

Colorado Avalanche could use Gushchin in their bottom six

In my estimation, Danil Gushchin projects as a bottom-six forward. He should get a look in training camp this fall. It would be surprising if the Colorado Avalanche sent him directly to the Eagles.

While it’s likely he starts the season with the Eagles, Gushchin could be the first man up in case of injuries.

Gushchin is a winger, something that sets him apart from Olausson. Olausson is listed as a center. And, it wasn’t as if Olausson was going to dethrone Jack Drury as the team’s fourth-line center.

In fact, I could see Gushchin hitting the left side on the fourth line with Drury down the middle and Parker Kelly on the right.

It’s also worth pointing out that Logan O’Connor will start the season on LTIR. That also means the Avs will need more bodies in that bottom six to support a top-heavy scoring structure.

One last thing: Gushchin provides the Avalanche with flexibility. He can play either wing despite being a left-shot. So, he could potentially move around the bottom six as needs dictate.

Overall, this was a great deal for all parties. Oskar Olausson gets a fresh start, Danil Gushchin gets a shot at the NHL, and both teams get players they could use.