3 young forwards the Colorado Avalanche must seriously consider trading for in the 2024 offseason
The Colorado Avalanche have quite a few pending free agents on the horizon, and not everyone will return, so making some trades could be the way to go.
The Colorado Avalanche were one of the NHL’s most entertaining teams at the 2024 trade deadline a few months back, and perhaps that will be the case in the offseason. While it’s true they have limited assets to move at this point, it’s still worth exploring the concept of pulling off a blockbuster or even a solid trade for high-potential youngsters.
The Avs are already deep at forward, but with a chance to further solidify the unit via trade, it could set the stage that they would be nearly impossible for anyone to stop when they have the puck. That factor alone could take this team even deeper into the playoffs next season if they add just one more puzzle piece to the mix.
So, who could make for a surprise trade acquisition to Denver this offseason? Here are three names who could be on the move in the coming months, and one may end up in the Mile High City if general manager Chris MacFarland is willing to move more future assets.
Trevor Zegras/Anaheim Ducks
It sounds farfetched that a rebuilding team like the Anaheim Ducks would even think of trading Trevor Zegras, but with so much young depth at forward among their young players and prospects, it’s more than a possibility. More likely, Anaheim would try to move Zegras to an organization richer in future assets than Colorado, but if Chris MacFarland is willing to move draft picks and a youngster or two from his own prospects pool, this trade is more than possible.
Zegras just finished an injury-riddled season, but don’t let that trick you into thinking he won’t be useful for a team like the Avalanche, who have a very young group of forwards when you think about it. If this team extends Nikolai Kovalenko and re-signs RFA Casey Mittelstadt, plus the likes of Brandon Duhaime and Yakov Trenin, Zegras would factor in as the missing piece.
He would cost a first-round pick and likely a mid-round pick, plus a high-end prospect, likely someone like Mikhail Gulyayev or Sean Behrens. Moving another high draft pick and a prospect may not sound like a great option for some, but adding someone like Zegras while making the transactions shown above would give the Avs four deep lines at forward.
Best yet, that could be the case long-term should MacFarland find a way to fit everyone into reasonable, multi-year contracts. It would be a challenge, given Zegras’ overall upside, but bright minds like MacFarland would find a way to make it work.
Shane Pinto/Ottawa Senators
If there is one organization that may sell off assets this summer, it’s the Ottawa Senators, and pending RFA Shane Pinto could see himself on the move along with the likes of Erik Brannstrom and Jakob Chychrun. But since we’re discussing forwards, let’s zero in on Pinto.
Defense was one of Colorado’s weaknesses this past season, but luckily, Pinto could give them another layer on their lower lines. He showed it in the Canadian capital (but with top-six minutes) despite Ottawa being a poor defensive team itself. His play has gotten more physical over the past season, plus the ability to wreak havoc with his stick remains a strength.
Pinto can provide more help in the faceoff circle, and he would also make for a sound supplementary scoring option. He didn’t always get to show off the latter while with the Sens, thanks to the team’s inconsistencies in the offensive zone, but in a place like Denver, Pinto could thrive if placed onto the third line.
He hit the 20-goal milestone in 2022-23, and despite scoring just nine goals and 27 overall points this past year, Pinto also played in just 41 contests. Multiply that number by two, and he was on pace for 18 goals and 54 points. Like Zegras, he won’t come cheap, but the Avs would get a ton of value if they acquired him.
Joel Farabee/Philadelphia Flyers
The trade rumors regarding the Philadelphia Flyers have yet to stop despite their hanging around the Metropolitan Division’s top-three until a late-season collapse denied them a surprise playoff appearance. Joel Farabee factored in as one of the better players, with 22 goals and 50 points, but the performance still hasn’t kept his name out of the rumor mill.
Like Pinto, Farabee can find a spot on the Avs lower lines, and he’s also someone who can fill in on the top-six if injuries strike. He’s moderately physical, and Farabee has also shown he can score, even on a so-so hockey team, so it’s easy to imagine what he can do on an organization built to put up between three and four goals per game.
The one downside with Farabee is that he’s never displayed game-changing potential, unlike talents like Zegras and, to a degree, Pinto. This does mean he could cost less from a compensation standpoint, and he may factor in as a solid depth piece in a place like Denver.
But regarding Farabee, MacFarland would also do well to ask himself if there are better options out there. Farabee is worth taking a long look at, but unlike Zegras and Pinto, he’s not worth overpaying for, even with an organization that will look to make a deeper playoff run in 2025.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)