Analyzing new Colorado Avalanche acquisitions Yakov Trenin and Graham Sward

If you thought the Colorado Avalanche were going to leave the trade table after this week’s deals with Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Minnesota, think again. 

Hours after signing defenseman Jeremy Hanzel to a three-year entry-level contract, the Avalanche sent him to the Nashville Predators. In exchange for Hanzel — and a 2025 third-round draft pick — Colorado will be welcoming the powerful forward Yakov Trenin and the unsigned draft pick Graham Seward.

Trenin is a powerful penalty killer, a center known by some as “The Yak Attack.” He has played for Nashville since entering the league in 2019, and he has since become a fan favorite, and for a good reason: he’s gotten 10 goals for the Predators this season. So why would the Predators part with him? Well, the answer is simple: money. Trenin is seeking a larger contract, and Nashville general manager Barry Trotz can’t afford to keep him.

Trenin, along with the Avalanche’s other new forwards, Brandon Duhaime and Casey Mittelestadt, will add some much-needed forward depth for Colorado. So far, this trade week has been enough to transform Colorado’s offensive capabilities.

But let’s not underestimate our new unsigned draft pick, Graham Seward. Seward, who currently plays for the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild, has scored the second-highest number of points for any defenseman in the league. He’s scored 15 goals this season alone. 

Hanzel, who is off to Nashville, also plays for the WHL. Avalanche fans won’t be saying any tearful goodbyes from this trade — the Seattle Thunderbird defenseman appeared only once on Colorado ice, in a pre-season contest this fall.

It’s certainly been a busy week for the Avalanche, but it's not over yet. The team will host the Minnesota Wild in Denver this Friday, and we could see some fresh faces on the ice.