TRADE: Avalanche Acquire Defenseman Sean Walker; Johansen Headed The Other Way

Just a week after the Colorado Avalanche missed out on Chris Tanev, they’ve gone and acquired a different right-shot defenseman.

Sean Walker, who has had a tremendous season with the Philadelphia Flyers, is headed to the Avalanche. Colorado will also received a 2026 fifth round pick in the trade.

In return, the Avalanche are sending their 2025 first round pick to the Flyers, as well as Ryan Johansen.

Yes, you read that correct. The Ryan Johansen era in Colorado is officially over after just 63 games and 23 points. The cost to get rid of his contract was a first round pick, but that was to be expected with his contract.

The Johansen move makes total sense. He was never a fit in Colorado’s system, so they had to find a way to move him. As I wrote just a few weeks ago, his addition has been a total failure, but at least they found a way out of that contract for next year.

Walker is a pending unrestricted free agent who currently has six goals and 22 points on the year. Will Colorado be able to re-sign him? That remains to be seen, but for now, he’s a perfect fit for how they like to play. He can get up and down the ice really well, and likes to jump into the play. Walker is a right shot defenseman, so it may help ease some of the minutes Cale Makar has played this season.

Walker only makes $2,650,000 this year, so the Avalanche will have wiggle room to do more, if they choose to.

It’s unknown if Walker will be able to get to Colorado in time for tonight’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

I had a feeling a move like this was going to lead to something else, and it sure did. More on that soon.

We’ll have a lot more on this move in the next day or two, including a film room on Sean Walker. Look for that if you have a CHN+ subscription.