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.

Jan 26, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) controls the puck ahead of Colorado Avalanche center Alex Newhook (18) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) controls the puck ahead of Colorado Avalanche center Alex Newhook (18) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports | Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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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. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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