Deen’s Daily: Trades Trickle in Before Holiday Freeze; Former Avalanche Defenseman Dealt; Remaking the Avs’ Bottom Six

Three NHL trades trickled in a day before the holiday freeze. Five defensemen were dealt, one of which is a former notable Avs defenseman. Speaking of blueliners, the Red Wings lost a crucial piece of their D core to injury. There was an epic fight during that same game in Detroit. But you might be shocked to learn who was involved.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — December 19.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avalanche’s bottom six needs help. Last year’s “Roaring 20s” line consisting of Logan O’Connor, Miles Wood, and Ross Colton have all been split apart. One is injured and was struggling before that. The other is healthy but struggling on the third line. And the center? He’s no longer playing that position. In fact, he’s having a great season as a winger in the top six.

What are some of the ways general manager Chris MacFarland can fix the bottom six? Read my piece here — covering viable internal and external options to help remake the depth of a currently top-heavy team.

Catch the latest episode of my podcast, Rinkside with Aarif Deen presented by Mile High Sports. On Wednesday’s recording, I covered Mackenzie Blackwood’s first two starts with the Avalanche. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show!

Around the NHL

Montreal Hockey Now: The Montreal Canadiens swapped blueliners with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. Coming to Montreal is 28-year-old Quebec native Alexandre Carrier. The former Preds blueliner had an excellent rookie season in 2021-22. He was on my ballot for the All-Rookie team back then. Going the other way was a former Avalanche defenseman — a player who, before being dealt, was supposed to be a crucial piece of the Avs’ future.

Safe to say Colorado is very okay with how that deal went. I wonder if trading him ends up working out for Montreal, too.

Beat writer Marc Dupont also wrote an analysis piece on Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, and more.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The second trade that broke on Wednesday involved another defenseman. The Penguins re-acquired a blueliner from St. Louis, who played for them for four seasons before joining the Blues over the offseason. The recent acquisition of Cam Fowler rendered him expendable, and St. Louis offloaded him back to Pittsburgh for future considerations.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The third trade was the most notable. The Devils weren’t involved but our beat writer in New Jersey, James Nichols, did a great job covering the deal, which involves (surprise!) the New York Rangers.

New York shipped Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken just two days after the 2019 No. 2 overall pick openly spoke about his disdain for the coaching staff after being healthy scratched in the last Rangers game. New York went on to lose 2-0 to the last-place Nashville Predators. General Manager Chris Drury acquired two draft picks and a defenseman in the deal. Is he done yet? Methinks the answer is no.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 on Wednesday but lost a crucial piece of their blueline in the process.

As for that fight at Little Caesars Arena? Read all about it here. It was truly… Epic. Patrick Kane and Derek Lalonde agree with that sentiment.

Philadelphia Hockey Now: Catch the Flyers’ angle of the loss here, courtesy of our latest edition to the NHN Network, William James.

San Jose Hockey Now: Goaltender Vitek Vanecek is out week-to-week, which makes it all the more likely that Alexandar Georgiev is set to face the Colorado Avalanche later this evening.