As the Colorado Avalanche look ahead to the 2025 NHL offseason, one thing is clear — tough decisions must be made to balance their roster and manage a tight salary cap. With key contracts expiring and younger talents waiting in the wings, Colorado must explore trade options to stay competitive. Here are 3 players the Avalanche must trade in the 2025 offseason to maintain a healthy roster structure and future flexibility.
1. Charlie Coyle — A Veteran With Diminishing Returns
Why trade him?
Acquired to add depth down the middle, Charlie Coyle is entering the final year of a $5.25 million contract after posting his lowest full-season point total since 2018-19. Despite his leadership and experience, the Avalanche could move him while there’s still trade value.
Key benefit:
By trading Coyle, Colorado can free up salary space and promote a younger center like Jack Drury or Parker Kelly to step into his role at a fraction of the cost.
2. Mackenzie Blackwood — Surplus in Goal
Why trade him?
With a $5.25 million cap hit and Scott Wedgewood proving to be a steady option between the pipes at a much lower cost, Mackenzie Blackwood is an obvious trade candidate. The emergence of prospect Ilya Nabokov also means the team can look long-term at its goaltending picture without a big-money veteran.
Key benefit:
Moving Blackwood frees up valuable cap space that can be reinvested into other key roster areas and lets the team lean into a younger goalie tandem built around Wedgewood.
3. Martin Necas — Valuable Trade Chip with Big Paydays Ahead
Why trade him?
Martin Necas is an exciting top-six winger, but he’s due for a significant raise as a pending free agent, and the Avs simply can’t afford him long-term. Trading him before his price skyrockets would help recoup valuable assets — draft picks and prospects — while avoiding a costly extension.
The Bottom Line: Trading for Flexibility and Future Success
By moving Coyle, Blackwood, and Necas this offseason, the Avalanche can improve their salary-cap health and reset the roster with a better balance of youth and veteran talent. The result? Greater flexibility to make strategic moves and sustained competitiveness well into the 2025-26 NHL season and beyond.
Why This Offseason Is Critical
With an estimated $2 million in projected cap space and multiple key prospects knocking on the door, Colorado must act now. If managed properly, these trades will position the Avalanche as a perennial contender — all while maintaining one of the most balanced, dynamic rosters in the NHL.
Stay tuned this offseason as the Avalanche navigate these pivotal decisions that could shape the future of their franchise.
