Regardless of how long Joe Sakic stays in the general manager seat for the Avalanche, he\u2019ll be responsible for steering the franchise through the most important part of the offseason.<\/p>\n
Sakic is set to be the GM through at least July 1, the start of the league year. Historically, all of the Avalanche\u2019s significant offseason moves are completed by July 5, with only minor tweaks after that. That could change this summer with the salary cap exploding and a weak free agent crop potentially leading to a different trade market, but it appears Sakic will be the man responsible for how the Avalanche will look to start next season.<\/p>\n
Most teams that put up 121 points aren\u2019t looking to make big changes. The Avalanche fall in that boat. But with less than $3 million in salary cap space and important roster spots to fill, they won\u2019t have much of a choice. Returning with the same team will be impossible, and some players who were playing for the Avalanche just 10 days ago won\u2019t be there in October.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP25346132224302.jpg\")
Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and member of team that won the Stanley Cup in 1996, is introduced during a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of the win before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n
The window to win is still open for the Avalanche. It\u2019s fair to question how long it will stay open, though. The moves made over the next month could extend that window if Sakic plays his cards right, while still making sure the Avalanche are formidable heading into next season. Yes, even a team that racked up 121 points has needs to address, with one that truly sticks out.<\/p>\n
They need another top-four, left-handed defenseman.<\/p>\n
Until this is addressed, it will remain the most glaring hole on the roster. The Avalanche are set on the right side with Cale Makar, Sam Malinski and Josh Manson, but not so much on the left.<\/p>\n
Brett Kulak was a great fit down the stretch for Colorado. He\u2019s also a pending unrestricted free agent who, with a sub-par free agent class, could land a big payday the Avalanche won\u2019t be able to match. In an ideal world, Kulak is playing on the bottom pair, but he showed he can fill in higher on the depth chart if needed. Even if he\u2019s brought back, he\u2019s not a long-term fit in the top four at the age of 32.<\/p>\n
No one knows Brent Burns\u2019 plans for next season. Will the 41-year-old play another year in his pursuit of the iron man record or will he call it a career? The Avalanche could bring him back on another incentive-laden contract. But at this stage in his career, he should not be viewed as a sure-fire top-four defenseman.<\/p>\n
The ideal fix for this spot would come from outside the organization, likely in the form of a trade. A few years ago, this wasn\u2019t a glaring need, but a lot has changed since then. Sam Girard\u2019s game regressed to the point he was dealt for Kulak. Bowen Byram, who would look awfully good on this defense right now, was dealt for Casey Mittelstadt two seasons ago, a trade that looks worse with each passing day. With those two gone and former first-round pick Mikhail Gulyayev staying overseas for at least two more years, there aren\u2019t internal options available to fill the hole \u2014 unless a Sean Behrens or Alex Gagne takes a massive leap in their development.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26135029862663.jpg\")
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram, center, and Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) battle for position during the second period in Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo\/Jeffrey T. Barnes)<\/p>\n
Right now there is one left-handed NHL defenseman under contract: Devon Toews. For as good as Toews has been since arriving in Colorado in 2020, there have been signs of decline over the past two seasons. His underlying metrics have dipped and his production dropped off in a big way this season. His play post-Olympics break was encouraging, as he looked more like the Toews that Avalanche fans had become accustomed to in previous years. But he will turn 33 toward the end of next season. Father Time waits for no one, and the Avalanche don\u2019t have depth behind him for when that time comes.<\/p>\n
Finding such a defenseman is easier said than done. The list of teams looking to deal away top-four defensemen, particularly ones that are still relatively young, isn\u2019t long. And the Avalanche don\u2019t have many trade assets. If Gulyayev isn\u2019t going to come over soon, it would make sense to use him as trade bait. But seeing as how he had a down year in Russia and won\u2019t arrive in North America until 2028, his value has taken a large hit. Colorado doesn\u2019t have a first-round pick until 2029, which makes it even more difficult.<\/p>\n
That means if the Avalanche make a deal like this, it would have to involve someone off the roster going the other way. Valeri Nichushkin is the obvious name that sticks out. He\u2019s a top-six forward whose contract looks reasonable with the cap consistently going up, but there\u2019s no telling how teams around the NHL view him with his past. Ross Colton isn\u2019t going to bring back a defenseman like that on his own. If the Avalanche tested the waters to see what Artturi Lehkonen could return, they\u2019d probably find a lot of suitors, but the odds of that happening seem low.<\/p>\n
Could Jack Drury be their most valuable trade asset? He\u2019s still young at 26. He\u2019s under team control as a restricted free agent, and he plays a premier position at center. The Avalanche like Drury and what he brings, but his next contract could be too expensive for the. And they now have options down the middle with the additions of Nazem Kadri and Nicolas Roy.<\/p>\n
Once you figure out what can be dealt, you have to find a suitor. Anaheim was rumored to be shopping 22-year-old Pavel Mintyukov earlier in the season. The former top-10 pick seemed to find his footing down the stretch, so that may have changed. He would be more of a project, but it\u2019s the type of swing you might need to take if you seek a longer-term fit. Los Angeles would be foolish to trade Mikey Anderson. The Kings also made some very questionable moves recently, so maybe they\u2019re just foolish enough.<\/p>\n
Pickings are slim, so Sakic would have to get creative to fill that hole. He\u2019s done it in the past, so you can\u2019t put it past him. It\u2019s a hole that must be filled. If he can, this team will be in significantly better shape moving forward.<\/p>\n
What I\u2019m hearing<\/p>\n
Chris MacFarland got emotional talking about his time in Colorado, speaking about all the coaches, front office staff and players with whom he worked. \u201cI love them,\u201d he said while trying to hold back tears.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s my understanding Dave Hakstol was brought on to the Avalanche staff last summer on a one-year deal as the assistant coach. He may be back, but I don\u2019t believe they made a long-term commitment and it leaves the door open for more change.<\/p>\n
What I\u2019m seeing<\/p>\n
With MacFarland in Nashville, it will be interesting to see if he tears it all down. He has no loyalty to some of their veterans and talked about avoiding the \u201cmushy middle\u201d during his introductory press conference. Barry Trotz treating Ryan O\u2019Reilly like he had a no-move clause even though he didn\u2019t was bizarre and not in the best interest of the franchise. Nashville is one of the few teams that is paying top dollar for its starting goaltender, something the Avalanche did not do in MacFarland\u2019s time in Colorado. Could they move out Juuse Saros?<\/p>\n
Speaking of goalies, Sergei Bobrovsky might exit Florida in search of a long-term contract. That term holds different meaning for someone who will be 38 in September, but does Edmonton come calling?<\/p>\n
What I\u2019m thinking<\/p>\n
Patrick Roy to the Toronto Maple Leafs? Apparently, it\u2019s a possibility. That sure would be fun.<\/p>\n
Sounds like Dallas must pony up if it wants to keep Jason Robertson. Reports are that he\u2019s looking for $14 million per year. Players often ask for a lot of money and sign for less, but his next deal is going to significantly impact Dallas\u2019 salary cap structure.<\/p>\n
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