3 Colorado Avalanche Trade Candidates Following Rantanen Blockbuster

The Colorado Avalanche sent shockwaves throughout the NHL on Friday night, shipping Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team blockbuster. So, where do they go from here?

The Avalanche have $5.6 million in deadline cap space to work with. They're comfortably in the first wild-card spot, and GM Chris MacFarland will continue to be aggressive ahead of the March 7 trade deadline, looking to upgrade his roster. Here's three Avs assets who could be moved before the deadline:

Ross Colton

Colton's been close to be moving in the past, and is certainly a trade candidate for the Avs this season. The versatile forward has recorded 13 goals and just three assists, for 16 points in 33 games. Colton is playing 16:28 per game, with over two minutes on the power play. He holds a full no-trade clause this season, which changes to a modified clause next season. There's been rumblings Colton was in play earlier this season while the Avalanche were struggling, let's see if MacFarland tries to get out of his contract before March 7.

Casey Mittelstadt

By moving Rantanen, MacFarland showed he's not shy to shake up the core of his roster. Mittelstadt is one of the few Avs' forwards without trade protection, and has recorded nine goals, and 30 points in 50 games this season. Mittelstadt's trade value is solid right now, so there's a chance Colorado could involve him in trade talks to see how much they could cash in, and try and upgrade their top six.

2025 second-round pick

If Gabriel Landeskog makes his return after the 4 Nations Face Off, the Avalanche will have to figure out their roster, as cap space will certainly become a premium. The team doesn't have their first-rounder, and have two second round picks this spring. If MacFarland just wants to pick off the edges of his team in trade talks before March 7, adding a 2025 second-round pick could help boost the return. The Avs don't own a 2025 first-rounder, 2026 second rounder, and no third-round picks until 2028.