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The Colorado Avalanche invested heavily in their top-end talent, resulting in a cap crunch that presents them with challenges heading into the offseason. They are also facing challenges when it comes to draft and prospect capital, especially after trading Callum Ritchie as part of the Brock Nelson deal.
With Nelson now re-signed, an important piece of the offseason puzzle has been put in place. The Avalanche have shown a penchant for being creative, quickly turning a massive hole in net into one of the best tandems in the NHL in the middle of the season. This front office has shown a willingness to be smartly aggressive in the past. It’s also important to keep in mind that either Miles Wood or Ross Colton (or both) would need to be moved to land two of these guys, but the offseason is still young.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C, New York Islanders
The Avalanche definitely have a need for depth defensemen, but the bottom six could use a bit of help, too. Even with Nelson coming back for three seasons, the Avalanche need to get better defensively and in the faceoff circle. A full season of Charlie Coyle may help that, but he could potentially be a piece that gets moved out because of his contract (one year left at $5.25 million). In any event, the Avalanche could be looking for a versatile forward to supplement the bottom part of the lineup.
Though there is a more preferable target (mentioned later), don’t sleep on Jean-Gabriel Pageau as a potential option. He’s excellent in the faceoff circle and a strong penalty killer, which should help with some of the team defense issues that ultimately got the Avalanche bounced in the first round.
Offensively, Pageau has been a consistent 40-ish-point player, but that’s been with a milquetoast Islanders outfit. Playing 82 games with players like Gabriel Landeskog and/or Valeri Nichushkin could see him achieve a nice bump. With the Islanders rebuilding, a package featuring a B-level and a longshot prospect could be enough to land the 2026 free agent.
Eeli Tolvanen, Winger, Seattle Kraken
Remember, these are trade targets that are not only creative in terms of cost, but in terms of what it might take to acquire them. Eeli Tolvanen’s name hasn’t been shopped, but he’s entering the final year of his contract at a very manageable $3.475 million cap hit.
Most importantly, he’s coming off a career-best season in terms of goals, netting 22. The Avalanche don’t have the draft picks/prospects to take a major swing, so Tolvanen could be an excellent boost to the bottom six with enough versatility to play higher up in the lineup. It isn’t the big swing that some hope for, but not every move can be.
The Avalanche showed early in the 2024-25 season that depth scoring was an issue. With Jonathan Drouin’s future likely being elsewhere, Tolvanen could step into that role thanks to an excellent shot, great instincts, and the ability to be elusive. A mid-round pick and an intriguing prospect like Zakhar Bardakov could be enough to secure Tolvanen’s services for 2025-26.
Nicholas Robertson, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
The situation between Nicholas Robertson and the Maple Leafs bears watching as well. The 23-year-old winger expressed a desire to be traded, but nothing has come to fruition. Instead, he has been a regular healthy scratch, further adding to his frustration.
It looks clear that his future is not in Toronto, potentially opening the door for the Avalanche. In limited time, Robertson has shown the ability to be an effective scorer. His upside and low cap number could make him an attractive option for the Avalanche, especially with so few potential NHL-ready prospects in the wings.
Now that the Avalanche have Nelson under contract, finding supplemental scoring and defense will be crucial. Grabbing Robertson and plugging him into a deep, talented lineup could be the change of scenery that he has been looking for. Robertson is a restricted free agent but doesn’t have much in the way of negotiating power, so he could be had cheaply. Given his status with the Leafs, a mid-round pick and/or a prospect like Oskar Olausson could nab a young winger with big potential.
Avalanche Have to be Smart Shoppers
The Avalanche have shored up their second-line center spot with the signing of Nelson, but holes remain. They have taken calculated swings to make their roster better, though their potential assets are as limited as can be.
The Avalanche are contenders, at least on paper. They have one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, provided everyone remains healthy and in the lineup. Being able to supplement that lineup will only make them better, and any of these players would be a great fit.
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TODAY'S BEST
Pierre LeBrun Reveals Details on Rangers' Potential Artemi Panarin Decision
The New York Rangers have stumbled out of the gate under new head coach Mike Sullivan, opening the season 5-5-2 and struggling to find consistency on offense. The slow start has renewed speculation around the futures of several veterans, including star winger Artemi Panarin. According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Rangers have not begun formal negotiations on a contract extension for Panarin, who is in the final season of his seven-year, $81.5 million deal and eligible for unrestricted free agency next July. LeBrun reported that while the Rangers have “a ton of respect and appreciation” for what Panarin has done, the front office plans to wait before engaging in serious talks. “For the moment, my sense of the situation is that it’s very early in the season,” LeBrun wrote. “The Rangers want to see how things go and therefore are not in a hurry to get going more seriously on talks to extend the pending UFA winger.” According to LeBrun, the term of Panarin's next contract is expected to be a key factor in talks for an extension, as Panarin is unlikely to consider a short-term deal, while the Rangers would prefer a shorter commitment because of his age. "If and when those talks get going again in a meaningful way, term may be the issue. Panarin turned 34 on Thursday,” LeBrun wrote. “I don’t think he’ll be open to a short-term deal, which would probably be the Rangers’ preference." Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has also discussed Panarin’s situation of late, noting that his performance this season will likely determine his chances of staying in New York. “If he’s gonna stay in New York, at what he wants, he’s gonna have to have the kind of year that makes them say we got to do this,” Friedman said. Through 12 games, Panarin has scored two goals and assisted on five more for seven total points, and it looks like his production and the Rangers’ results could shape whether the two sides explore an extension or part ways before free agency.
Charles Barkley knows the real problem with LeBron James
LeBron James may be out due to sciatica, but Charles Barkley is not buying it. He thinks he knows what is really going on with the Los Angeles Lakers star. Barkley was goofing around during “Inside the NBA” on ESPN Wednesday and talked about the Lakers, who had several players out for their game at the Minnesota Timberwolves. James was listed as out due to sciatica, which is a nerve issue. Barkley thinks the sciatica injury is a cover for something else. “First of all, LeBron doesn’t have a sciatica. They just put ‘old.’ O-L-D, with an extra ‘D,’ too,” Barkley joked. An update on James’ condition came out this week, saying that the Lakers forward could return in a few weeks. The Lakers have seemed to suggest that there is no urgency to rush James into action. However, Luka Doncic also getting hurt recently may have changed things for the team. For now, the Lakers are 3-2 and have been relying on Austin Reaves to do plenty of scoring. He is averaging 34.2 points per game this season. James is 40 years old and entering his 23rd NBA season. He’s allowed to have “old” or sciatica as an injury issue. As Barkley knows and often says, Father Time is undefeated.
Cowboys WR George Pickens has telling response to question about contract
George Pickens is having an outstanding first season with the Dallas Cowboys, and the career-best pace has come at a time when he is preparing for potential free agency. Is it possible the star wide receiver could sign an extension before he gets to that point? Pickens says that is up to his boss. Pickens, who was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, is in the final season of his rookie contract. He was asked on Thursday if he would consider signing a new deal with the Cowboys before he becomes a free agent after the season. He had a noteworthy response. "That’s kinda up to what (Jerry Jones) wants to do. All I can do is perform at my best," Pickens said. George Pickens has earned No. 1 wideout money Pickens has 685 receiving yards through the first eight weeks of the season, which ranks third in the NFL. His six touchdown catches are already the most of his four-year career. CeeDee Lamb missed several games this season with an ankle injury, and Pickens showed during that time that he is more than capable of being the featured wideout in a quality offense. That should go a long way toward setting his market, whether he re-signs with the Cowboys or becomes a free agent. With Lamb making an average of $34M per year, the Cowboys probably cannot afford to keep Pickens. For now, the 24-year-old is at least giving off the impression that he is open to the possibility. He also suggested recently that money is not the most important thing to him with his next contract, which could keep Dallas in the running.
Bengals' Joe Flacco gives promising injury update ahead of Bears game
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