The last time we saw the Colorado Avalanche, they defeated the San Jose Sharks in a much needed win just before the Olympic break. As the various Avalanche members head off to represent their respective countries, the front office of the team remains in Denver with the goal of improving the roster when play resumes.
The Avalanche have the most points in the NHL, but things have been far tougher since the turn of the calendar. The Avalanche may not need to find a superstar acquisition at the trade deadline, but one of these three names could be highly beneficial.
Jason Dickinson, C, Chicago Blackhawks
A pending unrestricted free agent, Dickinson is defense-first and has shown a penchant for smothering opponents. He could make either the third or fourth line far tougher to play against and has shown his worth with a plethora of defensive zone starts for the Blackhawks.
Dickinson is the kind of rental that the Avalanche could more than afford. It wouldn’t be the flashiest move in the world, but the Avalanche are so strong that they don’t have to swing for the fences. Dickinson would come cheap, make them stronger defensively, and will come off the books in the summer.
Having Dickinson would give the Avalanche the flexibility to play Jack Drury on either the third or fourth line, and they could move Logan O’Connor to wing if they want to. That kind of versatility can become critical in the game of matchups known as the playoffs.
Bobby McMann, W, Toronto Maple Leafs
It is looking quite unlikely that the Maple Leafs find the playoffs. They have flirted with a wild card spot, but continued to lose ground going into the break. If they continue to lose ground, it could force them to become sellers at the trade deadline.
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McMann is just one of several pending unrestricted free agents. A capable, hardworking middle-six winger, McMann is a virtual lock to hit career-highs in goals, assists, and points. His name has already been linked to several teams, the Avalanche among them.
Though center may be a more pressing need, it may be more ideal to slot McMann on the third line and push Joel Kiviranta to the fourth. At worst, McMann makes the Avalanche bottom six more dangerous offensively while giving them a bit more grime and grit.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C/W, Carolina Hurricanes
Kotkaniemi is an intriguing name to consider. He’s got excellent size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and is only 25 years old. That said, he’s seemingly fallen out of favor in Carolina despite being lauded for his ability to drive play and offer a 200-foot game.
His cap hit ($4.820 million) is reasonable, but he is signed for four more seasons, which makes him a tougher sell. He has the ability to be a quality third-line center, especially surrounded by the level of talent the Avalanche possess.
This one feels like a longer shot than Dickinson or McMann unless the Avalanche can get him for a deal.
Adding Another Piece
The Avalanche are going to get better even without a trade. Gabriel Landeskog is healthy enough to play for Sweden at the Olympics and will no doubt return to the Avalanche after the break. Quality two-way center O’Connor could return as well.
Adding another piece would simply give the Avalanche more options, especially in the event of an injury. Dickinson would give them a shutdown option that could play on the penalty kill, but McMann could make them even more dangerous offensively. Any of the three would make the Avalanche all the more formidable.
