Wіll Avаlаncһe Be Bіg Plаyerѕ At Tһіѕ Yeаr'ѕ Trаde Deаdlіne?

As the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off comes to an end, focus is shifting to who will be big movers and shakers at this season's trade deadline. Will the Avalanche be one of them?

The NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament is nearinng an end, so focus is shifting to which teams will be movers and shakers at the league's March 7 trade deadline. And the question is, will the Avalanche be a buyer?

The Avs currently have $4.76-million in salary cap space to use, a decent amount of money to bring in some depth and perhaps, an above-average player. They don't need help in goal, but depth on their third defensive pairing, as well as help at forward would be the areas Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland probably wants to address via trades. 

There are forwards and blueliners who could definitely help Colorado, but in what is shaping up to be a seller's market, the Avs would have to pay a significant price to outbid other teams in the hunt for help by the deadline. That said, MacFarland has shown he's willing and able to swing for the fences in trades. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for him to do so again.

Some will say the Avalanche have already made their big move with the blockbuster trade of Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, but MacFarland could decide he needs to make significant moves and surprise people with more big deals. Colorado's Central Division rivals in Dallas, Winnipeg and Minnesota all could make major trades, so MacFarland needs to keep up with the Joneses and stock up his lineup in anticipation of a deep playoff run. 

Depth is always important to deal with injuries that will occur the rest of the regular season and post-season, so the Avs need to accrue as much talent as possible. And from this writer's perspective, it wouldn't be surprising at all to see Colorado strike again on the trade front. 

It's a highly-competitive world out there, and all NHL teams will be looking for some kind of help one way or another. We're not suggesting the Avalanche are a lock to be buyers at the deadline, but it should shock no one if the Avalanche prove to be front and center as they do their best to acquire as much talent as possible.