NHL Rumors: Jets and Avalanche Emerging as Trade Partners

The Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche are central division rivals who could end up doing business together before the March 21 trade deadline. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet the Avalanche are likely to target Jets forward Andrew Copp.

Cont'd:

It's kind of the thing I can see Colorado trying to do cause I think he could help them for this year and potentially in the future, so I am kind of wondering about that one.

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 5, 2022

Copp is a pending free agent making $3.64 million against the salary cap this season. So far in 49 games this season the 27-year-old has recorded 31 points and is on pace to set career highs in goals, assists and points. He's been a depth forward in the past in Winnipeg and has slowly moved his way up the depth chart.

The Avalanche are looking for some depth up front and are believed to prefer a right-handed forward but as Friedman points out, Copp is someone who Colorado could keep around as a security blanket in case center Nazem Kadri decides to walk in free agent. Judging by the career season Kadri is enjoying and the wide range of interest expected this offseason, it's likely Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic decides to let him walk as the price could become too much to handle.

As for Copp, the Avalanche won't be the only ones interested. He's 54% in the faceoff circle, plays in all situations including averaging over two minutes on the power play and penalty kill. Sakic will have his work cut out for him as anytime there's a deal within a division the price goes up. Colorado won't be the only ones interested and any trade involving Copp will likely have to include a top prospect and at least a second-round pick heading the other way.

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