Colorado Avalanche division rival gets stronger with massive trade

The Utah Mammoth, a Colorado Avalanche Central Division rival, got stronger with a massive trade late Wednesday night.

The Mammoth traded for JJ Peterka in a stunning deal with the Buffalo Sabres. The trade didn’t cost the Mammoth their fourth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, nor did it cost the team a current roster player.

That situation makes the trade a slam dunk for the Mammoth.

For the Avalanche, it means that a division rival has now moved to upgrade this offseason. It also means that there will be more competition for playoff spots in the Central.

The deal doesn’t mean that Utah will suddenly surpass the Avalanche in the Central. What it means is that the Avalanche will face stiffer competition within its own division.

The top three won’t likely change. The Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets are still solid clubs. Now, I will say that I expect both clubs to regress somewhat next season. By that, I mean Dallas will not be quite as formidable as they were this season.

Meanwhile, I don’t foresee the Winnipeg Jets repeating as Presidents’ Trophy winners. I could be wrong, naturally. But this year’s New York Rangers are a prime example that fortunes can turn on a dime from one year to the next.

That leaves the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs will practically ice the same lineup next season. There will be some changes, like all teams, but nothing earth-shattering. That situation means the top three seeds in the Central Division could be spoken for: Dallas, Winnipeg, and Colorado, regardless of the final order of seeding.

That leaves St. Louis and Minnesota, who earned wildcard spots this past season. St. Louis looks like a solid team next season while Minnesota may regress, as well.

That brings us to Utah. Utah was in the playoff hunt all season long. They faded toward the end but had an overall successful first NHL season. If they continue on their current trend, Utah could be in the mix for a playoff spot well into the final month of the season.

Should the Colorado Avalanche be worried about the Utah Mammoth?

Colorado Avalanche fans shouldn’t lose any sleep over the Mammoth becoming a powerhouse in the Western Conference. Well, at least not yet.

The situation here is that the Mammoth have a very young and extremely talented club. That combination puts the Mammoth in a position to contend as soon as next season. The team is a couple of pieces away from being a true playoff contender. Most notably, the team needs a solid starting goaltender.

But beyond that, Utah could add pressure to the scarce playoff spots in the West. The Avalanche will need to start the season strong. Another 0-4 start like this past year could derail the Avalanche’s chances at securing a playoff spot.

While no one foresees Colorado missing the playoffs, a rough start could turn a strong season into a slogfest.

The last thing the Avalanche need next season is to spend the bulk of the year catching up and fighting off other teams. Ideally, the Avalanche get off to a strong start and solidify their playoff position by the time the Olympic break rolls around.