Now that NHL All-Star Weekend is over and the have and have-nots have all been established leaguewide, it's time to turn our attention to the trade market. What could it mean for the Stanley Cup or Bust Colorado Avalanche? If anything?
Elliotte Friedman touched on the 'Avs and what the trade market could bring to them.
“The thing Colorado has told other teams is that there are not many players they’re that interested in moving off the roster. You can look at teams that can win the Stanley Cup, like, the same thing with Vegas, we’re all making up trade rumors for Vegas because they have to move something off the roster to get Eichel on there. But there are not a lot of players they really want to move. I think Colorado is the same way.”
That makes sense considering the 'Avs have proven time and time again that depth is a big part of what makes this club tick. That doesn't mean a deal isn't there to be made, it just means Joe Sakic will have to be creative and I have no doubt that he will indeed do that.
Eklund believes the New Jersey Devils are interested in moving Pavel Zacha and a high draft pick might be the asking price. That could be something for Colorado to consider. The problem is... the 'Avs don't have a first or second-round pick in the upcoming draft.
And even though New Jersey may have soured on its former sixth overall pick the bottom line is he's just 24-years-old and they are not going to give him away. The way Tom Fitzgerald has been operating since he took over as NJ's GM tells us that.
Another name that we hear quite a bit is Joe Pavelski. We know at least Jared Bednar likes what he sees in
Pavs.
Pavelski is more of a traditional rental. He's in the last year of his deal with Dallas and he is a player that knows how to win and definitely has a knack for scoring big goals.
The Stars might be open for an offer... however, they are only four points out of the second Wild Card spot and trading to a division rival might not be in their best interest.
What about the "shaky" goalie situation and Carey Price and Marc-Andre Fleury? I don't think a starter is in the cards but perhaps another depth goalie in case of another late-season injury? Perhaps. Freidman seem to allude to this as well.
Per Friedman - “My real sense is for them they would prefer to keep the goaltending with Kuemper, they like Francouz as their backup. I think they would prefer something else.”
Lastly, don't expect Nazem Kadri to return to the 'Avs on a hometown discount. Sounds like he and his new agent Darren Ferris are going to try and break the bank. Why not? Kadri is having a monster season and the timing couldn't be more perfect. Chances like this don't come around often.
If I'm an NHL GM I's have some legit concerns. For one Kadri is 31 and the NHL is most definitely young man's league now. And two, how much of this offensive production is Kadri and how much is a product of the guys around him?
What do you think the trade market hold for Colorado? Do they need to do anything at all?
Thanks for reading,
Steve
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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