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NHL Trade Deadline 2025: Rantanen Traded, What’s Next? — Avalanche Trade Board 2.0

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I didn’t think this would need to be updated so quickly. But when a historic mid-season trade between two contenders (and Chicago) breaks on a Friday night, things change.



And so, too, have the Avalanche’s priorities.

Mikko Rantanen is no longer part of the Avs organization — he’s now riding shotgun with Sebastian Aho on the Carolina Hurricanes. As Nathan MacKinnon said, I never in a million years thought he would leave. And to be quite honest, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

READ MORE: Did Mikko Rantanen Force Chris MacFarland’s Hand?

For those who listen to my podcast Rinkside with Aarif Deen, you heard me reference the J.T. Miller trade speculation on a late Friday night episode. I’ve steered away from mentioning him as a possible link to the Avs because it never really made sense. But everything is on the table with Rantanen shipped out the door.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he believes the Avalanche’s final offer was an eight-year deal at $11.75 million per season, which would’ve made Rantanen the highest-paid winger and the fifth-highest salary in the NHL. Given that he was replaced by a player in Martin Necas making $6.5 million for one more season, it means the Avs now have upwards of $5 million for 2025-26 that they otherwise wouldn’t have had. And that doesn’t include the player on the current roster that would be shipped out the door, which would open more cap space.

For example, if the team decided they wanted to trade Miles Wood and Sam Malinski and replace them, that would open up $2.5 million (Wood’s deal) and $850,000 (Malinski’s deal) in addition to the $5.25 million in extra cap space from the Rantanen – Necas swap to bring in another forward and blueliner. They also got an extra forward in Jack Drury out of the trade, but even if he were to replace a league minimum player, it’s only an additional $925,000.

In short, Colorado has some flexibility to maneuver and is not done yet

With that being said, Trade Board Version 2.0 is here, 39 days ahead of the trade deadline.

(Reminder that these players are listed in no particular order)

READ MORE: The Avalanche’s Calculated but Risky Gamble in Trading Mikko Rantanen (+)

J.T. Miller, C, Vancouver Canucks

Age: 31
Contract: $8 million cap hit, UFA in 2030

I’m finally going there. Miller as a No. 2 center behind MacKinnon for the foreseeable future would bolster Colorado’s top six. This is an intense player who was made for playoff hockey. Contrary to how many might feel, I think Miller would get along with MacKinnon quite well simply because both players have a hunger to win. Throw in the likes of Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin (if he keeps himself in check), and you’ve got a top-six with at least four intense killers.

The other two pieces are Jonathan Drouin and Necas. Pretty solid core at the top of the lineup if you ask me. And if Gabriel Landeskog actually returns this season, he’d be a bonus.

Making a move for Miller would mean Casey Mittelstadt would need to be included in the trade. I don’t believe the Avs should trade him unless they’re getting a player-locked long-term or with team-controlled status.

Miller will be 32 next season with five years remaining on his deal. It’s a lot. But he’d also be the same age Kadri was following the Stanley Cup run, and the Avs were willing to offer Kadri a four-year deal. So this would only be a year longer than what they had originally wanted from their 2C in their 30s.

Seth Jones, LD, Chicago Blackhawks

Age: 30
Contract: $9.5 million cap hit, UFA in 2030.

This one is tricky because of the contract and would require salary retention. Would Chicago retain that much for that long? I’m not quite sure. But Jones is a right-shot defenseman who would slot in nicely next to Samuel Girard on the second pair and could play big minutes if you ever deal with injuries to your top three blueliners.

Maybe the Avs trade Josh Manson, or maybe he’s relegated to the third pair and stays there for one more season until his contract expires. When Colorado acquired Manson, it pushed Erik Johnson and his $6 million cap hit to the third pair for a playoff run and one more season. Perhaps the same thing happens to Manson here.

What would it take to get Jones? The Avs recouped some picks from Carolina in the Rantanen trade. They also have a select number of prospects aside from Calum Ritchie that could interest Chicago. Would they be interested in a forward too, like Ross Colton? Or Wood? I’m sure Malinski would also be an easy throw-in here as well.

Jones at $9.5 million doesn’t make sense. But what if they get him for $6 million?

Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins

Age: 36
Contract: $6.125 million cap hit, UFA in July.

The first pure rental added to the list — captain Brad Marchand is in the last year of his contract with Boston. We’ve seen Steve Stamkos move on after a lengthy tenure with Tampa Bay. We also saw Ryan O’Reilly get traded from St. Louis in his last year under contract with the Blues on the outside of the playoff picture.

Is this another example of that? Or do the Bruins see Marchand as a franchise legend who needs to finish his career with one team?

There’s no denying he’s an impactful playoff performer, even at this age.

Rasmus Ristolainen, RD, Philadelphia Flyers

Age: 32
Contract: $5.1 million cap hit, UFA in 2027.

Rasmus Ristolainen is one of those players that the analytic darlings would steer clear of. But this season his metrics look better and he’s been rewarded with a four-minute jump in average ice time per game. Ristolainen has molded over the years into a physical shutdown defenseman with a big body who plays on the PK, blocks shots, and can give you 20+ minutes per night.

Would the Avs acquire him at $5.1 million? Probably not. But a bit of retention could make him another one of those perfect fits who could alternate between the second and third pairs with Manson. It would also be the second straight season that the Avs turn to Philadelphia for a right-shot defenseman.

The Avs have a track record of developing these types of players into efficient stay-at-home defensemen. Look no further than Jack Johnson (in a lesser role), who was on the tail end of his career and had already been bought out by another team when the Avs brought him in on a PTO. They turned that player into three playoff runs.

Mikael Granlund, C, San Jose Sharks

Age: 33
Contract: $5 million cap hit, UFA in July.

This would be another pure rental. Mikael Granlund is having a great offensive season and could provide extra offense for the Avs as a middle-six forward who can nicely step into the top six when needed.

Why would Granlund make sense? He addresses the Mittelstadt struggles without giving up on the young centerman less than a year after he was acquired from Buffalo. He’d ultimately be that Swiss army knife the team hoped Colton would be. If Mittelstadt struggles and gets kicked down the lineup, Granlund can step in as your No. 2 center.

At $5 million, you’d want San Jose to retain a bit.

Yanni Gourde, C, Seattle Kraken

Age: 33
Contract: $5.1667 million cap hit, UFA in July.

Another pure rental. Gourde is the ideal third-line center who also has experience playing on the wing. Given the recent addition of Jack Drury, the Avs could either shift Gourde to the wing or play him at center and Drury as 4C with Kelly getting moved to the king.

Gourde’s been out since Jan. 2 with a lower-body injury but is expected back soon.

He has Stanley Cup pedigree, has played with Colton, and would instantly give the Avalanche more of that tenacity on the third line that translates well in the playoffs.

I know we do this every year, but if they acquired Gourde, in a dream world, Colorado could enter the postseason with a third line consisting of Colton, Gourde, and Landeskog. And even if the captain doesn’t return, Logan O’Connor could slot in nicely in his place.

Gourde’s salary is a bit high but retention could do the trick.

Ivan Provorov, LD, Columbus Blue Jackets

Age: 27
Contract: $4.725 million cap hit, UFA in July.

This one’s a little bit more complicated. On the surface, there probably won’t be a better defenseman than Ivan Provorov who could get dealt before the deadline. Not only is he a left-shot defenseman, which the Avs already have with Devon Toews and Girard, but he’s also 27 years old and would be an outright rental.

Aside from the top three, Colorado doesn’t have much else on the blue line for future years and it makes me wonder if they’re looking for their next Manson to lock up to a multi-year deal after acquiring him. Manson still has one year remaining on his deal but if he makes it to the end of the 2025-26 season, he probably won’t remain in a top-four role.

Provorov will also likely fetch a first-round pick and more. That makes this even more complicated.

Scott Laughton, C, Philadelphia Flyers

Age: 30
Contract: $3 million cap hit, UFA in 2026.

Feels like he’s brought up every year. Scott Laughton has another year remaining on his contract at a reasonable cap hit. Acquiring him would require the extra commitment from MacFarland in the sense that there would be a commitment for him to remain in a top-nine role next season too. That means Colton or Wood probably needs to be included in a deal like this.

Laughton is a solid 35-40 point player who plays with an edge and would be a big addition to the PK.

Morgan Frost, C, Philadelphia Flyers

Age: 24
Contract: $2.1 million cap hit, RFA in July.

David Savard, RD, Montreal Canadiens

Age: 34
Contract: 3.5 million, UFA in July

Another piece of the 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning, David Savard has a Stanley Cup and is built for playoff hockey in a depth role. The biggest question with him is, does he still have it? Or would this be the defensive version of the Lars Eller trade two years ago?

Savard has seen his ice time drop to 18:07 per game with the Montreal Canadiens this year after playing at least 20 minutes per night for each of the previous five seasons.

He’s another right-shot defenseman and could slot in on the third pair and probably wouldn’t cost much.

Mario Ferraro, LD, San Jose Sharks

Age: 26
Contract: $3.25 million, UFA in 2026.

How about a longer-term pickup on the blue line? Unlike the other options, Mario Ferraro is under contract for another year after this season at a very manageable cap hit. He’s a minute-munching defenseman who plays a physical game and on the PK.

He’s also a left-shot defenseman, which like Provorov, means Girard would need to shift to the right if Ferraro was to be a part of the top four.

It would also be fun to bring him in because he played with Cale Makar on the top pair at UMass. He’s also a big personality and has the type of leadership qualities the Avs love to have.

Marcus Pettersson, LD, Pittsburgh Penguins

Age: 28
Contract: $4.025 million, UFA in July.

Another lefty who can play in the top four, Pettersson is likely going to garner a lot of attention as a rental at the trade deadline. I still struggle with whether the Avs want to go the rental route or find their next guy to lock up for a few years. Pettersson seems like the type of player who could have a great playoff and use that to cash in as a free agent.

Jake Evans, C, Montreal Canadiens

Age: 28
Contract: $1.7 million, UFA in July

The biggest issue with targeting Jake Evans is the fact that Montreal is suddenly making a push for the postseason and he’s a big reason why. Evans would be an excellent addition to the bottom six at a manageable cap hit. I’d steer clear of signing him to an extension beyond that because it seems like this season has been an outlier compared to years past. But all that matters is the playoff run for a rental and he’d be a solid addition.

Honorable Mentions

  • Mathieu Olivier, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets — The perfect fourth liner for any team that wants to play a physical brand of hockey. He’s got offensive upside too.
  • Brock Nelson, C, New York Islanders — Nelson is likely going to get dealt before the deadline and would be a great addition to any team in need of center depth. It would be the same type of role for him as Granlund.
  • Nick Bjugstad, C, Utah Hockey Club — He was an offensive force in Arizona last year but that didn’t transition with the relocation to Utah quite as well.
  • Rasmus Andersson, LD, Calgary Flames — I still don’t think Calgary ends up moving him, which is why he’s listed under this section.
  • Ian Cole, RD, Utah Hockey Club — If Utah is still in the playoff race, they probably won’t want to unload a piece like this. But Cole has been pretty solid over the past three seasons and has familiarity with the organization. I’ll always remember how the 2021 Avs never recovered from trading Cole so early in the year. He was sorely missed and later replaced by Manson.

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