With the 2025 Trade Deadline just a few weeks away, the Colorado Avalanche have some big decisions to make. We have discussed who the Avalanche should consider taking calls on to bolster their needs, but if they want to acquire anyone, it will cost them players, picks, and potential prospects, depending on who they are looking at.
The Avalanche have a laundry list of needs before the deadline: a stronger defense, better center depth, and goal-scoring depth. With $4.6 million in cap space, management has some room to work with. But Valeri Nichushkin is expected to be taken off injury reserve when the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament finishes, which would take away a good chunk of cap space. So, who could be on the way out to make room for new acquisitions?
Main Roster Contracts
Casey Mittelstadt: Cap Hit – Three Seasons at $5.750 million
It’s rare for teams to get a chance to address important roster needs in the middle of the season, especially if they need a prominent top-six forward. J.T. Miller was traded mid-season, and Casey Mittelstadt was acquired last March but filling the second-line center position is usually an offseason move unless a team is willing to take on a rental. So, this is a big decision for general manager Chris MacFarland. On one hand, Mittelstadt could figure things out offensively and get his scoring back to where it was early in the season. However, patience has worn thin, and the front office wants to address lineup issues ahead of the postseason.
In his first 25 games of the season, Mittelstadt had seven goals and 11 assists, but he’s only scored two goals and 14 assists in his last 33 games. It’s not that the team should give up on a player they acquired less than a year ago, but it would be unreasonable to rule out the idea. His modified no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until the 2026-27 season, and the team needs a more reliable second-line center for a deep playoff run.
Unless there is a substantial offer to upgrade from Mittelstadt, I would let him finish the season with the team, then reassess in the offseason.
Ross Colton: Cap Hit – Three Seasons at $4 million
Ross Colton’s situation is similar to Mittelstadt’s – after a good start to the campaign, his production has diminished despite his significant cap hit. Though Colton has had to deal with injuries this season, he didn’t produce at the same level on his return. In his first 20 games, he scored 10 goals and 11 points, but in his last 20, he only scored three goals and five points. He is expected to do more than produce points – he is a fierce competitor who plays with a lot of energy, no matter what line he plays on – but he needs to provide more offense.
However, trading him will be tough. He has a no-trade clause, meaning he must agree to any possible deal the Avalanche put together. As the team gets healthy and players return from injury, it might be worth it for management to wait until the summer to see where things land, especially since the last two seasons of his contract have a modified no-trade clause, which will give the organization more options for moving him.
Like Mittelstadt, Colton has proven his worth to the team and can be a valuable asset when playing with Wood and Logan O’Connor on the third line. Keep him for the season, and reassess it in the offseason.
Miles Wood: Cap Hit – Four Seasons at $2.5 million
When MacFarland signed Miles Wood to a six-year contract in the summer of 2023, he added term to lower the annual average value (AAV). Given the deal’s front-loaded structure, MacFarland intended to keep Wood for two seasons or a maximum of three when his salary drops to $2.5 million and then $2 million annually. Granted, he has a modified six-team no-trade clause, which somewhat limits the team’s options, but he could still easily be moved.
There’s an issue: Wood has struggled this season and seems to get hurt whenever he gets consistent playing time. With only two goals and one assist in 23 games, the Avalanche should wonder whether they can trade him without costing them an additional asset. They might decide to hold onto him for one more season, but if 2025-26 is worse than this year, what then? If he had been healthy, they might have explored whether the Chicago Blackhawks were also interested in acquiring him and an extra asset in the three-way deal involving Mikko Rantanen.
It might take a pick and prospect, but the Avs should move Wood. He can be replaced in the lineup with players like Jerre Innala, Nikita Prishchepov, and Chris Wagner who are not on expiring contracts.
Colorado Eagle/Prospect Contracts
Jean-Luc Foudy: Cap Hit – Final Season Of ELC
At 22 years old, Jean-Luc Foudy has yet to crack the Avalanche’s lineup, despite their center depth problems. In 202 games with the Colorado Eagles, he has 30 goals and 103 points. He is in the final year of his entry-level contract (ELC), and I will be shocked if management gives him a two or three-year extension. However, I won’t be surprised if they move him to upgrade a position before the trade deadline. With the emergence of Calum Ritchie and Max Curran, he has been leap-frogged on the depth chart while being 3-4 years older than both. Drafted in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Foudy has struggled offensively and to stay healthy.
Related: Avalanche Prospect Report: Curran, Humpherys, Zellers & More
Colorado’s prospect pool might not be among the best, but it has improved in the past couple of years. However, if the Avalanche want to move out large contracts like Colton or Wood or make a big splash by moving Mittelstadt to upgrade their second-line center position, Foudy’s name would likely be in play as a sweetener on a deal. At 22 years old, a change in environment—especially on a team that isn’t focused on competing right now and is looking to build its prospect pool—could be just what is needed.
Foudy could be the sweetener in a Wood trade. Yes, it hurts, especially if the Avalanche have to add a late-round pick to get a deal done, but he should be involved in those types of trades to ensure the best cap space availability for this season and in the future.
Oskar Olausson: Cap Hit: Two Seasons Left Of ELC
Another prospect who has yet to live up to expectations is Oskar Olausson. He has also struggled with injuries and production in his time with the Eagles since he debuted during the 2022-23 season. In 147 games, he has 31 goals and 58 points. He has the potential to excel in a top-six position but isn’t consistent enough to earn the spot full-time, nor is he suited to a bottom-six role, which makes it difficult to play him. Unless he can prove that he can shift his game to fit the team, his role as a top-six scorer isn’t needed right now.
He has one more year left on his ELC. Management might want to see what they have in him, watch his progression and give him one more chance to prove himself in the final year of his contract before moving him, as they might do with Foudy. However, he was drafted 28th overall in the 2021 Entry Draft for a reason, and teams might be interested in acquiring him. Also, a change of scenery might help him break out.
Olausson has more trade value than Foudy. He is younger with another year on on his ELC. He has also shown more flashes of skill. Unless there is a big trade involving Colton, Mittelstadt, or another player to upgrade the roster significantly, I would keep Olausson and see how he develops next season.
MacFarland Must Make Intelligent Trades
The Avalanche have areas to address before the deadline but few pieces to move. Once again, the prospect pool has improved but isn’t strong, and their draft picks aren’t that valuable. They have five picks in the 2025 Draft: two second-round, two fourth-round, and one seventh-round. However, they have their first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027, but they might not be as valuable since they should land late in the first round due to the team’s regular-season success.
We have seen the Avalanche trade away first-round picks to address key player needs or to move contracts in the past, as evidenced by the Sean Walker trade last season. They need to carefully consider how to approach this season’s trade deadline and what assets will be worth moving or keeping.
