Avalanche Trade Rumors: 3 Forwards Named As Trade Candidates

The walking wounded—otherwise known as the Colorado Avalanche forward corps—could use a little help. Yes, Arturri Lehkonen will finally make his season debut on Tuesday after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

And Valeri Nichushkin is said to be ready to return when his six-month suspension expires on November 15th.

But that still leaves four key top-nine forwards out of the lineup, and observers have been wondering if the Avs will try to bring in a forward to help fill the void. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News has suggested three trade targets for Colorado to consider:

Brock Nelson, NY Islanders

He's been mentioned on the rumor mill more than once this season. The pending UFA would be a solid add for a number of teams. The 33-year-old has had three straight 30-goal seasons, and is off to a torrid start once again, with five markers in the first 12 games. With a 4-6-2 start for the Islanders, when would they be ready to make a big move like this?

Nick Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs

After an offseason of discontent, Robertson finally agreed to re-sign as an RFA with the Leafs, when they promised him a good opportunity to stick this season. But after just one goal in nine games, and two healthy scratches last week, the trade questions emerged once again. With a cheap $875,000 contract this season, he'd be much easier to acquire than Nelson, and a fresh start in a place like Colorado could help him reach new levels.

Michael Carcone, Utah Hockey Club

The 28-year-old forward popped 21 goals last season in just 11 minutes of ice time per night. But he's been a healthy scratch for nine straight games. Carcone, a pending UFA, is earning just $775,000 this year, and if Utah has given up on him, he could be a cheap, intriguing roll of the dice for the Avs to take a chance on.

The Avalanche rollercoaster of a season began with a four-game losing streak, followed by a five-game winning streak, and now the current three-game run back in the loss column. With the constant roster fluctuation due to injuries, it's no surprise at how volatile their season has become.

Still on the shelf are captain Gabriel Landeskog (two years and counting), Jonathan Drouin, Ross Colton, Miles Wood, and Nichushkin (for another couple of weeks).