With four countries firmly fighting in the rearview mirrors, the Colorado Avalanche must shift its attention to the 2025 trade deadline, which is less than two weeks (March 7). The teams fell behind the first two games in the standings from the team behind, and if they were to lock in the playoff location, they needed inspiration and reinforcements.
Currently, the Avalanche occupies the first wildcard seat in the Western Conference, with a record of 33-24-2 to 59 games (68 points). They were five points ahead of the Vancouver Carnacs, their second wildcard position, six points ahead of the Fire on Calgary, but the two teams had two and three games in Colorado respectively . They currently have an advantage, but this slender lead can slip through the blink of an eye and therefore action is needed.
Related: NHL Trade Bait List for 2025 Trade Deadline
In particular, the avalanche should be upgraded on the blue line. Head coach Jared Bednar can count on Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Samuel Girard as his top trio , but Josh Manson, Calvin de Haan, Sam Malinski, Oliver Kylington and Keaton Mee Keaton Middleton’s revolving door struggled four to two-quarters. Six spots on the back end.
thw Colleague Stefano Rubino puts some high-profile top four trade targets that will require avalanche to acquire important assets, but there are other players who can bargain with more Price obtained. Let’s look at three achievable goals, each of which lists its remaining contract terms, including this season.
Daniil Miromanov, Calgary Flame
Contract: Two years, with an average annual value of US$1.25 million (AAV)
The first target of the avalanche is Daniil Miromanov, a 27-year-old right-handed, 6-foot-4 defender from the Flames. He served as a member of Vegas Golden Knights in the 2021-22 season, made his debut in the NHL and flashed some offensive potential in 85 professional NHL games (21 points in 85 NHL games, and 95 professional American Hockey League (AHL) ) scored 68 points in the game to match his huge frame.
Milomanov is currently on the verge of the lineup, with an average of 18:31 minutes per game in 36 games this season. When he played, he saw the top four in five (fourth among the flame defenders on average on ice), but it seemed a bit too much to match in this role. The flames account for 50.3% of the shots, but only 47.1% of the chance to score. It is reasonable to think that if he takes the third pair and has better players in the avalanche system, his number of people may see an increase.
Miromanov has little experience with free throw kills, but his body and long-term influence may be popular with the avalanche kills, which is most of the season (currently 79.9% of 13 ). This may give Bednar some rest for Devon Toews and Cale Makar (first and second in just a short ice time) and maybe put it Manson knocked down.
The Avalanche earned just $1.25 million and had only one extra season, and performed much worse in the trade market than Miromanov. The flames have Jupiter on the blue line, making the Russian defender a possible trade candidate.
Juuso Valimaki, Utah Hockey Club
Contract: Two years, $2 million AAV
The second target is 26-year-old defensive player Juuso Valimaki, who was recently abandoned by the Utah Hockey Club and had not won the championship before being assigned to the AHL’s Tucson passerby. Given his newly discovered ability without having to pass a 30-day waiver, he is probably one of Utah’s most likely trade candidates.
While this may indicate that the avalanche should be away, Valimaki is a large body (6-foot-2, 201 pounds) representing Finland in 4 countries in person (but healthy) and recorded 34 points in 2022 -One season of 23 season. He scored just two goals and five points in 43 games this season and was pushed to the edge of the roster, but he was one of the most important players for the Arizona Coyotes last season.
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Valimaki ranked second in average ice time, five-on-five, while also achieving considerable results for the middle coyotes last season. He has led the lead with 52.2% expected goals and 52.3% high-crisis chances over the past three seasons and is second among the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Hockey Club leaders.
The risk of the avalanche is that Valimach is more of a player of his season than a reliable presence in the past few years, and his contract has another year and it doesn’t matter with a $20 million AAV. If he was more of the former, it was a home run and the bottom layer was urgently needed to be strengthened. If not, it’s just another headache on the cover paper.
Brian Dumoulin, Anaheim Ducks
Contract: One year, $3.15 million AAV
If the Avalanche is looking for a reliable veteran with a valuable Stanley Cup experience, they don’t look more than 33-year-old Brian Dumoulin of the Anaheim Ducks. The defender has 763 NHL regular season and playoff games, and he is the main defensive gear for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He is no longer the second place player in both playoff games, only Kris Letang is in ice time, but his defensive awareness and positioning can still make Stanley Cup contenders Benefit from the bottom to the role.
In all cases, Dumolin ranked third in average ice time, five-on-five, the team’s highest killing defensive player. He has been the top three defenders (41% of the Ducks’ scoring chances on the ice), but he won’t be in that role in the avalanche.
Since the 2017-18 season, the Ducks have scored 0.500 or above, with the Ducks scoring a season, some of which can be attributed to Dumoulin’s stable veterans. No doubt his score should improve in the asylum role behind some of the best defenders in the league and Makar, although he needs to be with the back of the hockey (Girard or Mariinsky, maybe ? ) pairing to make up for his flaws in making up for the puck.
Avalanche needs to be upgraded on the blue line
While the avalanche may require some manipulation around the hat, they have the ability to use a sudden shaking blue line and an unparalleled but stable upgrade.
With the cap on salary cap rising to $95.5 million in the 2025-26 season, there will be more hat room in the front desk, but that doesn’t mean they should let Nathan Mackinnon/Makar’s other ERA pass without trying Win the Stanley Cup again. The championship window usually closes suddenly and no one is immune.
Data are provided by evolving hockey, natural statistics skills and the NHL.
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