Colorado Avalanche’s plans include no major trades, per Sportsnet’s Elliot Friedman. The issue with the Avalanche this year is that they do not have any room to make moves. It is not a bad thing. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is healthy for the first time in three years. But this creates no cap space for them to work with. Monday’s update shows Colorado with $1.2 million in cap space. So if they want to make a move, someone has to go. Who will that be? Which unrestricted free agents might they pursue?

Who Can Go?

Someone who has not really lived up to his contract and was an overpay to start with is Miles Wood. At just eight points this last season, he has become an issue. Wood worked his way into the dog house late in the year, becoming a healthy scratch and playing only one game in the playoffs. During that playoff game, he had a crucial turnover during overtime that led to the Dallas Stars’ winning goal. By trading Wood, the Avalanche could get draft picks back. Colorado has no picks in the first three rounds for the next two years. The main issue is that Wood has been open about a back injury to the media, so this may close the door to trade options.

Who Can Stay?

The Avalanche might keep Jonathan Drouin provided they trade Wood. When Drouin is healthy, he can produce a lot of points. His first season with the Avalanche, he had a career high 56 points. Injuries hampered his production last season, allowing him to play only 43 games. But Drouin tallied 37 points. A year filled with chronic injuries would give the Avalanche leverage at the negotiating table. Drouin’s salary will probably remain near $2.5 million; perhaps it will increase slightly.

Who Can The Avs Pick Up?

Colorado could go after forward Jack Roslovic. He’s a healthy center and right wing player for the last two years. Roslovic can win a faceoff, which is what the Avalanche struggle with. Last season through 81 games, he had a 54.1 win percentage. Adding this to Landeskog’s career 53.3 percent, which will be returning to the team, will be beneficial. Roslovic had 39 points last season, this well surpasses the eight that Wood had. This Ohio native’s experience with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ power play might land him a spot on the Avalanche’s second unit.


This year, the Avalanche require improved value from their resources. Wood may not be the solution this season and he could gain draft capital back for Colorado. Signing Drouin or Roslovic would not cost too much more and make the team that much deeper.