While the Colorado Avalanche season ended prematurely in the postseason, there are still some connections at the big dance. The Carolina Hurricanes wrapped up their bid for the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights, who beat the Avs in the Western Conference Final.
Colorado had some connections with the champions, both on and off the ice. Their impact made a difference for the Canes in their second Stanley Cup run in 20 years.
In the eye of the storm, a champion was crowned! #StanleyCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XKnX4ni8iB
— NHL (@NHL) June 15, 2026
Sean Walker
Sean Walker was a short-lived member of the Avalanche as a trade deadline acquisition. He joined the Avs in 2024, playing in only 18 regular-season games.
He scored four goals while tallying three assists from the blue line. However, the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars held the defender pointless in 11 postseason games.
Defensively, he recorded 45 blocks and 57 hits in all appearances with Colorado. His acquisition was hoping to get him his first Stanley Cup in the Mile High City. Instead, it has come in Carolina just a couple of years later with some brilliant play.
He may not get all the attention, but Sean Walker has been lights-out for the @Canes during the #StanleyCup Final! 🔥
📺: Game 6 of the #StanleyCup Final is TONIGHT at 8p ET on ABC, @Sportsnet, & @TVASports! https://t.co/yPFsvwCZpn pic.twitter.com/vSR63iaFev
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) June 14, 2026
The trade
Where Avalanche fans might be most familiar with connections between Raleigh and Denver comes from the trade. The trade, a three-team move involving the Avs, Canes, and Chicago Blackhawks, saw Mikko Rantanen go to Carolina alongside Taylor Hall.
Colorado acquired former Carolina forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury. While old friend Rantanen has moved on to the Dallas Stars and missed out on another Stanley Cup, several of their former teammates got one this season.
Trade call underway now. Full deal:
To #RaiseUp: Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall
To #GoAvsGo: Martin Necas, Jack Drury, 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick (all from Carolina)
To #Blackhawks: 2025 3rd Round Pick (their own returned from Carolina), 50% of Rantanen’s salary
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 25, 2025
Other unique connections
One other player has played for both Carolina and Colorado in the Hurricanes’ system: Givani Smith. Smith played only seven games in the NHL with the Avs, and only in six games for the AHL-affiliate Colorado Eagles.
Smith hasn’t even gotten on the ice for Carolina this season. He has been stuck with their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. He has only played in 25 games this season, with two goals and three assists.
Givani Smith gets a piece of Joel Nystrom’s rocket from the blue line to give Chicago the 1-0 lead.
Great pass by Smith to set Nystrom up after Skylar Brind’Amour’s faceoff win.
Faceoff support was one of the areas Smith excelled at while with GR.#gogrg #lgrw #ahl #lgw pic.twitter.com/KKSXIxka7V
— y-Elaine Shircliff (@imaraindancer) March 15, 2026
Speaking of the Eagles and the Wolves, they just played one another in their own Western Conference Final matchup. It was the first time the Eagles had made it to the final four in the AHL. Unfortunately, they blew a series lead by losing games six and seven on home ice to bow out.
Finally, shoutout to local Colorado kid Jaccob Slavin for winning his first Stanley Cup. While not an immediate connection with the Avalanche, the hometown hero is also a hero in Raleigh. Nonetheless, Carolina wrapped up this season as champions with a lot more Colorado connections than you’d think.
