{"id":409165,"date":"2026-01-15T16:28:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T16:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/409165\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T16:28:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T16:28:13","slug":"nhl-trade-deadline-2026-avalanche-trade-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/409165\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Trade Deadline 2026: Avalanche Trade Board"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you could believe it, the NHL Trade Deadline is just seven weeks from Friday. And with the upcoming Winter Olympics eating up three of those weeks, there are only 15 games separating the Avalanche from their first game after the deadline.<\/p>\n

There is also the added element of the Olympics trade freeze from Feb. 4-22, which could spur a spate of trades in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

The Avs are in the midst of a historic season. This Friday, they host the Nashville Predators in their 23rd home game. They have a 19-0-3 record at Ball Arena. They also have just four regulation losses in 45 games overall and are on pace to shatter franchise records in several categories.<\/p>\n

But the roster still seems incomplete in a sense.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s nowhere near as bad as it was in recent years, where the search for a second-line center was always top of mind. The team also has depth in every position this season, albeit you can still see a realistic scenario where they aggressively try to upgrade on those pieces. After all, even the best teams in the league often use the trade deadline to elevate their already strong rosters. The Avs will be no different this year.<\/p>\n

General manager Chris MacFarland has never been shy of making a splash. He\u2019s almost always in and around the biggest names on the market and will strike a deal if it makes sense. This year won\u2019t be any different. The Avs\u2019 33-4-8 record only makes it more likely that he\u2019ll be aggressive and capitalize on an opportunity to win another Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n

The only problem is, he\u2019ll have to get creative with the limited assests he has in his arsenal.<\/p>\n

With that being said, let\u2019s take a look at who could be on Colorado\u2019s radar as rumors and speculation begins to ramp up.<\/p>\n

These are listed by position, starting with wingers, centers, and finally, defensemen.<\/p>\n

Artemi Panarin, RW, New York Rangers
\nAge: 34
\nContract: $11.643 million cap hit, UFA in July<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get the biggest name out of the way first. Artemi Panarin is likely going to get traded from the Eastern Conference\u2019s worst team. I\u2019m sure he\u2019d prefer to stay in New York, but it\u2019s unlikely they\u2019re going to be able to offer him the salary he wants on a new deal.<\/p>\n

When Panarin signed with the Rangers in 2019, the biggest offer in terms of AAV came from the Avs. Joe Sakic and MacFarland tried to get Panarin on a four-year deal worth upwards of $13 million at a time when McDavid was the highest-paid player, making $12.5 million. Panarin opted for a lesser cap hit and more years to play in the Big Apple.<\/p>\n

Several insiders have already linked the Avs to Panarin again. It would be an intriguing addition given that the team already has a stacked top six. But this is also the same GM who tried to add Nikolaj Ehlers in July. MacFarland likes this player. He has for a long time. And for one playoff run, Panarin would make a ton of sense as a trade deadline rental piece.<\/p>\n

Kiefer Sherwood, RW\/LW, Vancouver Canucks
\nAge: 30
\nContract: $1.5 million cap hit, UFA in July<\/p>\n

Many have probably forgotten that Kiefer Sherwood was once a member of the Avalanche. In fact, during the 2021-22 Stanley Cup season, Sherwood dressed in 11 games for Colorado and recorded a goal and an assist. He was eventually sent back down to the Colorado Eagles and wasn\u2019t selected as a Blake Ace late in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Sherwood has since evolved into one of the NHL\u2019s most effective depth power forwards. He can chip in with 20+ goals a year and hits everything that moves. The biggest need on the Avs\u2019 roster is depth on the third line. Sherwood would provide that. Whether he slots into the Victor Olofsson role or the Ross Colton role, Sherwood, who could play both wings, would be an excellent middle-six addition for this team.<\/p>\n

And yes, the biggest need on the third line is at center. But bringing in Sherwood won\u2019t change the fact that Colorado will probably add a center, too. The front office would just need to get creative to make this much happen, given the limited assets they have to trade.<\/p>\n

Blake Coleman, LW, Calgary Flames
\nAge: 34
\nContract: $4.9 million cap hit, UFA in 2027<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure why, but a Blake Coleman addition is starting to make a lot of sense. At least to me. Simply because, if it\u2019s going to cost a first-round draft pick and another valuable piece to bring in Sherwood as a rental. Could Calgary be enticed with that package for Coleman with some salary retention? If so, that would give Colorado Coleman for two playoff runs, and his deal would expire when Cale Makar is ready to double his salary.<\/p>\n

Coleman is a proven winner. He was part of that Tampa Bay roster that won two Stanley Cups in a row. He and Colton were teammates in 2021 when they won the second Cup. Perhaps the two of them could ride shotgun as the wingers on the third line with whoever the Avs bring in to play center.<\/p>\n

Of course, this scenario would require a decent amount of cap retention. Otherwise, Colton might need to be shipped out to make room for Coleman\u2019s salary. Not that I\u2019m trying to drive Colton out of town, but Coleman at $4.9 million and Colton at $4 million on the third line just doesn\u2019t work. Especially when you add in the need for a 3C.<\/p>\n

Ryan O\u2019Reilly, C, Nashville Predators
\nAge: 34
\nContract: $4.5 million cap hit, UFA in 2027<\/p>\n

Speaking of that 3C, how about a reunion with Ryan O\u2019Reilly? He was on my trade board last year as a potential second-line center before the Avs opted to acquire Brock Nelson instead.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Reilly would be an ideal fit. Like the three wingers on this list, any trade for O\u2019Reilly would cost a lot. But the Avs can get creative and make it all work. Both in terms of assets on the move, and making the salary fit. O\u2019Reilly is a smart two-way center who can win faceoffs, play on the PK and PP, and has the ability to easily work into the top six when needed. Even if a winger goes down, O\u2019Reilly has played on the wing before in Colorado and could slot into that role, too.<\/p>\n

His cap hit is high, especially with another year attached to it. But if you can clear up space elsewhere, you can fit this in and benefit from the player.<\/p>\n

Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
\nAge: 32
\nContract: $3.75 million, UFA in July.<\/p>\n

Almost a decade ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets dangled Boone Jenner as one of the key pieces to try to acquire Matt Duchene from the Avs. Jenner has been the heartbeat of that franchise since he broke into the league. He even played with Duchene in 2019 when they swept the 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.<\/p>\n

But the Jackets are struggling. If they don\u2019t get a bump from new head coach Rick Bowness, they\u2019re going to be sellers. And Jenner, who is finally entering unrestricted agent status, is an obvious piece to move.<\/p>\n

He can fill the 3C role on the Avs.<\/p>\n

Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames
\nAge: 35
\nContract: 7 million, UFA in 2029<\/p>\n

This should probably be in my honorable mentions section, but Nazem Kadri is willing to accept a trade to a contender, and well, the Avs are that.<\/p>\n

How do they make the salary work for another three years? How much does Calgary need to retain? What are you trading to bring him in at less than $7 million? Those are difficult questions to answer and are all reasons why this likely won\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n

Logan Stanley, LD, Winnipeg Jets
\nAge: 27
\nContract: $1.25 million, UFA in July<\/p>\n

The Avs have a strong top six on the blueline. But it still feels like they could change a thing or two to really take that next step. Does that mean finally trading Samuel Girard and opening a spot on the left side for a physical defenseman? Maybe.<\/p>\n

If so, a bigger body like Stanley could be the type of piece the Avs add.<\/p>\n

Jamie Oleksiak, LD, Seattle Kraken
\nAge: 33
\nContract: $4.6 million, UFA in July<\/p>\n

Listed at 6\u20197, Jamie Oleksiak is the same type of towering defenseman as Stanley, but with more veteran experience. He was a key piece of the 2023 Kraken team that defeated the Avalanche in the first round. But his role and ice time have since diminished.<\/p>\n

As a third-pair guy, perhaps alongside Sam Malinski, Oleksiak could beef up Colorado\u2019s defense core. That\u2019s if the Kraken fall out of playoff contention, which currently isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

Mario Ferraro, LD, San Jose Sharks
\nAge: 27
\nContract: $3.25 million, UFA in July.<\/p>\n

Mario Ferraro was on every trade board I\u2019ve written over the last two years. He felt like a reasonable addition in 2024. Even more so in 2025. But in 2026? It feels less likely. For many reasons.<\/p>\n

For starters, the Avs would no longer benefit from his reasonable cap hit for multiple years as Ferraro is a pending unrestricted free agent and will likely get a pay raise this summer. Also, like Seattle, the San Jose Sharks are well in the thick of a playoff race. In fact, they could even be Colorado\u2019s first-round opponent come April.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also sounding like the Sharks and Ferraro might come to terms on a new deal instead. We\u2019ll have to see how the next seven weeks shake out.<\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions<\/p>\n

Scott Laughton, C, Toronto Maple Leafs \u2014 Scott Laughton would\u2019ve felt way more realistic as an addition three weeks ago. But the Leafs are back in the playoff race now and want to extend him.
\nJ.G. Pageau, C, New York Islanders \u2014 If the Islanders weren\u2019t having as good a season as they\u2019ve had, Jean-Gabriel Pageau would\u2019ve been the top centerman on my list.
\nBrett Kulak, LD, Pittsburgh Penguins \u2014 Brett Kulak is definitely available and likely will be dealt. But outside of trading him for a mid-round pick to be a No. 7 defenseman, I don\u2019t see him as an improvement on what Colorado already has.
\nCarson Soucy, LD, New York Rangers \u2014 If the Rangers move pieces, Carson Soucy could be an intriguing pick-up for Colorado. He was a +5 for Seattle in seven games when they defeated the Avs three years ago.
\nPavel Mintyukov, LD, Anaheim Ducks \u2014 Anaheim\u2019s season has completely spiraled and Pat Verbeek might try to shake things up. Acquiring a 21-year-old defenseman who already plays 20+ minutes per night would be ideal. I just don\u2019t think this is anywhere near Colorado\u2019s priority as a midseason move.<\/p>\n


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