Examining the trade deadline center market for the Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche have started to lose their grip on the top spot in the league. Injuries to key players such as captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Devon Toews have set the team back a bit. Toews returned this past Monday against the Detroit Red Wings and Landeskog is on track to be ready for the Olympic Games. When this roster is at full strength, it's one of the strongest and deepest in the league.

Most insiders in the hockey world are in agreement that general manager Chris MacFarland is looking to target a third-line center to improve scoring depth. Jack Drury has had a respectable season manning the 3C role, but there is definitely reason to upgrade. With Ross Colton and Victor Olofsson struggling to score consistently, someone who can bring some scoring touch to the Avs' third line would be a high quality move for MacFarland and the Avs.

The luxury tier

To start, I'll go ahead and address the Nazem Kadri and Ryan O'Reilly rumors, as those have been running rampant for a couple of months now. I think both would actually fit as they both can get it done when it matters most. The issue is age and cost here. Kadri's $7 million cap hit is a bit much unless Calgary retains salary. He's also on the books for three more years and he's already 35. Will he really be worth that kind of money a couple years from now?

O'Reilly, however, might actually be the best fit for what the Avalanche need for the playoffs. He's a former Conn Smythe winner who brings that playoff grit and tenacity that the Avalanche have lacked the past few years. He's one of the better defensive centers in the league and he's excellent in the faceoff dot. I think the $4.5 million cap hit is reasonable along with only having one more year on his contract. O'Reilly has shown signs of decline over the past few years, but he can still get it done, especially working in a third line role instead of the top line.

The change of scenery tier

First up is Ryan Strome. He's a veteran center at 32, who's been pushed down the lineup because of the emergence of young guys like Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish. He's a similar player to O'Reilly, competent in the faceoff circle and effective at both ends of the ice. He's even more expensive than O'Reilly at $5 million AAV, but he's also a free agent after this season. I don't envision that Anaheim wants to retain salary, as they will probably look to be buyers at the deadline, as well as in the offseason. Another caveat to Strome is that Carlsson is currently injured and having Strome for depth makes sense for the Ducks.

The next player I think the Avs should target is Jesperi Kotkaniemi. This is an interesting case. He hasn't quite fit in to the Hurricanes system like they'd hoped, but he's also got term with a pretty friendly salary at five years and $4.82 million. I think Kotkaniemi would fit in well on a line with Ross Colton, Parker Kelly, or Olofsson. I believe he's better than his stats in Carolina show, as I think he's one of those offensive players being hindered by the defensive system the Hurricanes deploy.

The cost-effective tier

This is where I'd prefer the Avalanche operate in the trade market, as these players have a cap hit under $4 million. The Avs will likely have to move a player for any one of these players and they'll likely gain cap space by buying on someone below that cap hit. This would allow them to make another move, possibly trading for a bottom-end defenseman as well.

Boone Jenner comes in at $3.75 million and is a free agent in the offseason. This means the asking price should be reasonable. Jenner has been a heart and soul guy for the Blue Jackets for a long time and is a fan favorite. Columbus is actively trying to work a new deal with him, but if they can't, he'd be a valuable addition to the Avs forward group. His presence in the locker room along with his playmaking abilities will help the Avs' bottom-six greatly. I think he's another one of those players that will break out in a more open system like the Avs run.

Scott Laughton feels like the kind of low-key trade that teams make that can push them further into as Stanley Cup favorites. Think the Blake Coleman or Barclay Goodrow trades that Tampa Bay made their championship seasons. Laughton is one of those grit and sandpaper kind of guys who are great at grinding out strong shifts. While he may not have the scoring touch he once had, he should be able to produce enough as a third-line center. If he can help the bottom-six swing momentum during the playoffs, I'd say he's worth it.

The Avs keep their roster decisions close to the vest, so we won't know much until something actually happens. The team is all-in this year's Stanley Cup run and an upgrade at 3C is a move they should definitely make.