The Colorado Avalanche are having an excellent season. With another Stanley Cup run in mind, the Avalanche are expected to be active ahead of the March trade deadline as they look to strengthen their roster. One $18 million All-Star has now been labeled as a perfect fit for their championship push.
Could an $18M All-Star Boost the Avalanche’s Cup Hopes?
The Avalanche sit first in the NHL with a 36-8-9 record and are coming off a dominant 5-0 shutout win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.
NHL analyst Jesse Granger believes Colorado’s biggest need is at third-line center. Jack Drury has been reliable, but with just 18 points in 52 games, the Avalanche could upgrade that spot. Ross Colton has dealt with injuries and hasn’t been as effective at center when healthy, making the position a likely target, much like last season’s deadline.
“I’ve mentioned Ryan O’Reilly before and still think he’s a perfect fit,” Granger said. “Assuming Nashville will trade him now that it’s climbed to within striking range of a wild-card spot.”
O’Reilly, a three-time NHL All-Star, is in the third year of his four-year, $18 million contract and is having a strong season. He leads the Predators with 51 points in 54 games.
He recently made his presence felt against Colorado, scoring a hat trick and adding an assist in Nashville’s 7-3 win.
The Predators currently sit just three points out of the second Western Conference wild-card spot, keeping them firmly in the playoff race. That positioning could make Nashville hesitant to sell at the deadline, which complicates any potential deal involving O’Reilly.
Artemi Panarin Also on Colorado’s Radar
Another name linked to the Avalanche is New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin. The winger has been scratched in recent games as trade speculation continues to swirl.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman on the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Colorado is one of the teams Panarin would be open to joining, along with the Dallas Stars.
However, adding Panarin would come with challenges. Friedman noted that the Avalanche is not in a position to offer Panarin a contract extension. As a result, any trade would make him a rental. Panarin, meanwhile, is reportedly seeking a new deal worth around $50 million spread over several years.
For Colorado, committing major future dollars may not align with its current cap structure, making a Panarin trade far more complicated than it appears on the surface.
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For now, the Avalanche shift their attention back to game action, with another matchup against the Red Wings coming up on Monday.
