With the calendar turning to March, the focus now shifts squarely to the March 7 trade deadline. Like most contenders, the Colorado Avalanche will be looking to pull the trigger on any and all deals that can help the club contend for the Stanley Cup this season.
While the Avs already pulled the season’s biggest blockbuster in moving Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, one thought comes to mind: Are there any “untouchable” Colorado Avalanche players? In other words, are there any players the Avalanche simply will not entertain any sort of offer on?
Let’s answer that question by exploring three untouchable Colorado Avalanche players at this year’s trade deadline.
3 untouchable Colorado Avalanche players at 2025 trade deadline
Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnon is the clearest first choice as an untouchable player. He’s the heart and soul of the Colorado Avalanche while being a leader on the ice and in the locker room.
But beyond production and intangibles, there’s a powerful reason why the Avalanche will never trade Nathan MacKinnon: The Avs cannot hope to get the return they would like for MacKinnon. After all, what would it take to make such a trade reasonable?
Four first-round picks? Three top prospects? Another superstar player?
Unless we’re talking about a Leon Draisaitl-Nathan MacKinnon swap, this deal is pretty much off the table. Plus, MacKinnon’s $12.6 million cap hit will likely scare just about everyone off. At least contenders cannot hope to have that sort of cap space to make a deal work.
So, MacKinnon stays put in Colorado for the foreseeable future.
Cale Makar
Cale Makar is another evident name that would only be moved if there is an alien invasion and the seven plagues are unleashed.
Makar is a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. He’s just entering his prime years and could be the face of the Colorado franchise for the remainder of his career.
Like MacKinnon, anyone wanting Makar would have to make a ridiculously mind-blowing offer. But I will say that there’s a sliver of doubt surrounding Makar. Makar will be a UFA in 2027. While that may seem like it’s still a while away, it’s a situation worth looking into.
The Avalanche will likely look to get Makar signed to an extension as soon as he is eligible to do so. Otherwise, the club may entertain a trade just like it did with Rantanen.
MacKenzie Blackwood
In a short span, MacKenzie Blackwood has become the backbone of the Colorado Avalanche this season. His reliable goaltending has given the team another dimension. The Avs showed their faith in Blackwood by signing him to a five-year, $26.25 million extension.
As such, we can safely bet that the Avalanche aren’t inclined to move Blackwood. Like MacKinnon and Makar, unless the return is Igor Shesterkin or Ilya Sorokin (how about Connor Hellebuyck?), the Colorado Avalanche won’t be moving Blackwood for anything in the world.
As a final reflection, does this list above mean there’s zero chance these players get traded? No, Wayne Gretzky dispelled that myth in 1988. But the fact is that we can assume that at least this season, there are three Colorado Avalanche players that we safely say will not be on the move.
Everyone else could be on the block….
