It’s time to bring some old friends back to Colorado!
After going back to the familiar faces well over the last several trade deadlines with the likes of Cal Soderberg, Patrik Nemeth, Jack Johnson and Matt Nieto as key returnees in past years, now it’s time to identify and predict the next former player targets for the Colorado Avalanche in the upcoming March 7th transactions. GM Chris MacFarland hasn’t been shy about remaking the team on the fly with new faces over the past year in particular but the safety of a known quantity always appeals on trade deadline day.
Not all listed below are great ideas or easily possible but are identified as the most likely still in the league on NHL contract former Avalanche players who could get a second, or third, or fourth tour of duty with the organization.
For this exercise, anyone who has worn burgundy and blue in the NHL is fair game with one caveat — no former rentals. Although there is one exception to that rule mentioned later.
Forwards
Matt Nieto for a third time won’t happen, right? Let’s just get that one out of the way first.
It’s easy to go back to the Stanley Cup championship 2022 squad to find returnees but those players all left for a reason, mostly due to expense. Still, with salary retention a hot topic in the rumors of a Seth Jones pursuit among others, things could get interesting if the Avalanche are looking to make such a transaction with a player on an expensive long-term contract. They would welcome real secondary offense options such as Andre Burakovsky. He’s signed for two more years at $5.5M but perhaps Seattle would be willing to facilitate a reunion especially because the winger hasn’t scored 20 goals since he was in Colorado.
Continuing to focus on the 2021-22 team, there’s also JT Compher with three years remaining at $5.1M, which isn’t very prohibitive at this point if the organization needs to get creative to fill the hole at center again. Less likely would be Nazem Kadri with five years left at $7 million on his deal but if the financials could get worked out he’d look good in an Avalanche uniform again.
Utah might be an attractive trade partner for expiring contracts and Alexander Kerfoot would be a good depth addition at center on an affordable price tag of $3.5M. Another mammoth forward, Liam O’Brien is a cult favorite in Utah but if the Avalanche want some sandpaper locked up at $1 million for the next two years he can be their guy.
Let’s pivot and go back into the time machine for some truly old friends. Chris MacFarland could hit up Barry Trotz in Nashville for a third time this season and welcome Ryan O’Reilly back to Denver. There would have to be some salary retention on his $4.5 million price tag over his final two years to make it work but while is is slowing down Radar has still produced 34 points in 52 games this season.
The one rental who could definitely come back for a second truncated tour of duty? That would be Stanley Cup champion Nico Sturm. He’s on an expiring contract again worth $2 million and Bednar already has trust in him, which seems like a likely target. Similarly, Nicolas Aube-Kubel was a little more than a rental in Colorado but departed after denting the Cup, but still could be an extra depth body especially after clearing waivers earlier this season.
Usually prospects and minor league depth don’t make a return appearance in Colorado but they’ve circled back in abundance this season, mostly for the AHL. The deadline is usually about adding reputation, experience and known role players. But if the Avalanche could welcome a former project back would they take on Kiefer Sherwood? He is enjoying an elevated role in Vancouver and scored a hat trick on the Avalanche in December, that usually that leaves an impression. Sherwood is signed at $1.5M through next season.
We can’t forget AHL help in the potential transactions either, Cal Burke is on NHL contract with Vegas and might be a cheap option to fortify the Eagles. There’s also Dominic Toninato who has been a depth player in Winnipeg for five years Colorado could try and poach.
Defense
It’s no secret the Avalanche need real help on the back end and will probably acquire a top-four defenseman as the biggest priority this deadline. What better way than to bring back the missing piece himself, Bowen Byram?
The former prospect cohort isn’t one the Avalanche tend to admit their mistakes on but a less proven option is Conor Timmins who is finally having a healthy season playing regularly in Toronto on an affordable $1.1M expiring contract. If he’s not in their future plans perhaps there could be a reunion in Colorado. Dennis Gilbert is a sneaky good candidate to return as he has become a NHL regular in recent years and also fits the big strong quota with his 50 penalty minutes this season on an affordable $825k deal.
Just like the forwards, with salary retention more options could emerge. It’s no secret that Ryan Graves hasn’t worked out in Pittsburgh but take a fraction of the $4.5M he’s owed the next four years might make a reunion or palatable especially in rebuilding the Avalanche blueline beyond this season. He fit well under Bednar in the past and Graves would be more reliable than many of the bottom pair options that have rotated through. If the retention dream could be realized on the rest of his six-year $30M contract, the GOAT himself Nikita Zadorov would be a welcome sight if the Boston Bruins choose to blow it up.
Those at the twilight of their careers could make it one last hurrah and we can’t count out the Avalanche trading for Jack Johnson a second time for a third tour of duty. Erik Johnson hasn’t even played 10 games in Philadelphia since his 1000th NHL game in November but what better way to call it a career than for a couple more games in Colorado? Likewise for Ian Cole, on an expiring $3.1M deal in Utah is one of those experienced big strong options.
Finally, the Avalanche could look through players recently on waivers to find some cheap value. We can’t rule out Tyson Barrie for one more run especially if the Avalanche trade Sam Malinski and need someone to help move the puck. Andreas Englund was a solid depth contributor for the Kings but was recently picked up on waivers by Nashville, he could get moved for the right price, too.
Goaltending
If the Avalanche still aren’t comfortable with depth in net they could add another goaltender to fortify beyond the Wood tandem and strengthen that third position they’ve been missing all year. Most former Avalanche goaltenders aren’t in the league anymore or are on hefty contracts, not much middle ground. However one former option could be available in Spencer Martin who has bounced from the NHL and AHL this season. If Tampa Bay upgrades in net perhaps Jonas Johansson could return to Colorado for a third time?
Who would you like to see return and any predictions?