Insider: Expect Another “Bold” Trade Move From Avalanche

1 day ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors

The Colorado Avalanche pulled off a shocking move in trading superstar Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. They got back a very nice player in Martin Necas. But are they done making moves before the trade deadline? Don't bet on it. TSN insider Craig Button said on the Donnie & Dhali podcast that we shouldn't take our eyes off the Avalanche and GM Chris MacFarland just yet. One thing Chris MacFarland has shown is he'll be bold... I don't think that (he) is done. I think that anybody that wants to speculate on trades... you better have a spotlight on Colorado. Because MacFarland has shown two things: he's gonna be bold, and he's gonna be stealth.Just in the past year, MacFarland has traded the former 4th overall pick Bowen Byram to the Buffalo Sabres in return for second-line center Casey Mittelstadt at last season's deadline, and this year has completely changed out his goaltending tandem, and now the Rantanen blockbuster. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News has already suggested three areas the Avs need to address with trades before the March 7th deadline:Center depthThird-pairing defensemanConsolidate draft picks into first-rounderThey acquired bottom-six defensive pivot Jack Drury as part of the Rantanen deal, but really, after Nathan MacKinnon and the aforementioned Mittelstadt (who isn't having a great year, by any means), they need some added depth there. Could some big-name trade candidates like Brock Nelson or Ryan O'Reilly be on MacFarland's "bold move" radar? There are plenty of names out there who could add some much-needed help to the third defense pairing; Proteau lists the likes of David Savard, Zac Jones or Ryan Lindgren. None of those would be in the category of "bold" moves, but would be good adds, nonetheless.As for their draft pick situation, the Avs don't have a first-rounder this year, but Proteau wonders if they could combine some of their extra later-round picks into a first. Photo: © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images...

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