The Colorado Avalanche won their third Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2022, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in a true clash of the titans to complete the 2021-22 NHL season. The Avs are looking to defend their title and bounce back like the Lightning did in 2020 and 2021, and to do that they’ll need to make some important moves at the NHL trade deadline, like trading Bo Horvat. Colorado faces an uphill battle to achieve what the 21st Century Lightning, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins have accomplished.
After a tumultuous first half of the season, Colorado is without all of its top players heading into the All-Star break. Cale Makar, Nathan McKinnon, Gabriel Landskog and Valeri Nichushkin have all missed time this campaign as well as important defenders in Bowen Byram and Josh Manson.
The number one thing the Avs need to do if they want to repeat as NHL champions is to stay healthy, but they are missing a game-breaking second-line center like last year with Nazem Kadri, and could use a deeper defenseman. Often to strengthen the damaged core. There’s a center who looks good in a Colorado Avalanche jersey and a few defensemen who will move the team’s needle heading into the postseason.
Trade for C Bo Horvat
The Vancouver Canucks and star forward Bo Horvat simply couldn’t get on the same page on a contract extension, resulting in one of the most coveted players on this year’s NHL trade deadline slate. He is a solid two-line forward who can kill free throws, win face-offs and most importantly, score goals. With 31 goals in just 49 games, he is on pace for the best goalscoring season of his career. There is a good chance he will have 50 if not 55 by the end of the season.
The Avalanche got significant contributions from Nazeem Kadri in the 2C role last season, but they simply don’t have that kind of player after Kadri signed with the Calgary Flames during the playoffs. A good but not great replacement for JT Comper at his key position, Horvat is a fan favorite for his hard-working nature and has emerged as a truly elite scorer in the NHL. Even if the Avalanche don’t want to trade the farm for a second-line center, general manager Chris McFarland should definitely get involved. This is especially true with team captain Landskog reportedly nowhere near match form after undergoing knee surgery during the game.
A trade for the Avalanche could involve snagging a player like Jean-Luc Foudy, a 2020 third-rounder who was named an AHL All-Star, or their 2021 first-round pick in Oscar Olausson along with one or two. Try getting Horvat to the Mile High City. A healthy top six, boasting McKinnon, Rantannen and Landskog on the first line, will be electric to go along with Horvat, Nichushkin and 2022 NHL Finalist Artturi Lehkonen, and put the Avs back where they need to be in terms of Stanley Cup aspirations. .
Bring a deep defender to Denver
In addition to their need for a second-line center, the Avalanche D-core simply cannot stay healthy. That’s one of the highest rates in the entire league since last year’s playoffs. The McCarthy-Devon Toews pairing is one of the best in the league, with Josh Manson and Bowen Byram outstanding on the second pairing, while Samuel Girard and Eric Johnson round out the top 6. But neither Biram nor Manson are healthy, and the Avalanche could trade for a seventh defenseman to stretch the blue line.
Enter a player like Canucks puck-moving defenseman Luke Shane, who is a team-friendly deal and adds hustle and intensity to the bottom of the lineup. Or someone like Columbus Blue Jackets D-man Vladislav Gavrikov who can play a lot of minutes, plays well and can handle pressure up front. Even a bottom pair and minute-dunk like Joel Edmondson of the Montreal Canadiens could be a good fit here.
The Avalanche have a strong defensive team when healthy, but realistically, they need to trade for one or two full-time blueliners during the playoffs. If they can get guys like Schenn, Gavrikov or Edmondson, they’ll be in a better position if the injury bug hits them again in the playoffs.
But if they can get a player like Bo Horvat to make it six at the NHL trade deadline, they’ll be in an incredible position to make another deep run in 2023.