This exercise was way more fun to do than I’m willing to admit. I will say, the Ryan Lindgren deal being announced about 30 minutes after asking for mock trades made this a little bit tricky.
Men's College Basketball Top 8 Power Rankings – Week 17 Breakdown!
Playback speedNormal
Quality-
Playback speed
0.25
0.5
0.75
Normal
1.25
1.5
1.75
2
Unmute
00:00
/
02:15
I filtered out most trades for a left-shot defenseman and I also got rid of any deal involving Seth Jones since he was dealt to Florida hours later. Here’s what’s left.
Let me know what you think about some of these offers. Which do you like the most? Which of my thoughts do you agree or disagree with?
Mock Trade from Brandon
Avalanche receive: Brandon Tanev (50% retained)
Seattle receives: Miles Wood, 2026 second-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
This is the type of move it would take to offload the Wood contract, but it’s got to be a team that feels like he could be valuable to them. I’m not sure Seattle is that team. I do like the route this offer is going, even if it would take an extra mid-level pick to get it done.
It reminds me of attaching Ryan Johansen to a first-round pick to get Sean Walker — a player who probably would’ve netted a lesser pick had it not been for the Johansen addition. The difference is that Wood is still an everyday player with some value.
Seattle could get that type of draft compensation without attaching Wood to the deal, though.
Who Says No: Seattle.
Mock Trade from Sasha Landprecht
Avalanche receive: Jake Evans, Joel Armia, 2025 third-round pick
Montreal receives: Ross Colton, Miles Wood, 2025 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
If the Avalanche’s main goal is to offload both Colton and Wood’s deals, then this would be the way to go. You basically trade two guys who might not fit into your plans next year for a couple of players on expiring deals.
Evans is the best player in the trade and Armia is having a good year as a depth piece and would be fun to have in the playoffs.
At first glance, it does seem like a steep price to pay, mostly because the Avs would then not have a second-round pick until 2028. I wonder if the better route would be to trade Colton for a draft pick to a team that wants him and use that as the chip Montreal gets.
Who Says No: Colorado. But it wouldn’t upset me if they made this deal. I like it.
Mock Trade from Joe Cerwinske
Avalanche receive: Ryan O’Reilly
Nashville receives: Miles Wood, Oskar Olausson, William Zellers, 2026 fourth-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
Those who have followed me for long enough know how I feel about O’Reilly. I love everything about what that player brings to a team.
But this trade offer won’t cut it. It’s not even close. Olausson has zero trade value. I also don’t think William Zellers does anything for the Preds. Now you’re basically asking Nashville to take a bad contract and a fourth-round pick for a top-six center. And it’s the only top-six center they have.
Look at what Toronto traded to get O’Reilly two years ago. That was in a year where the centerman was struggling. It’ll take that and more to get him this year since he’s also not a rental.
If the Avs actually got O’Reilly, the trade, at first glance, would make a lot of fans feel like Colorado overpaid.
Who Says No: Nashville.
Mock Trade from Joe Cerwinske
Avalanche receive: Rasmus Ristolainen (40% retained)
Philadelphia receives: Sam Malinski, 2026 fourth-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
I like the player, but I don’t think this gets it done. The only way it does is if Philadelphia just simply wants to move on from Ristolainen.
Frank Seravalli reported last week that the Flyers aren’t getting any real offers for the blueliner and they’re a little surprised by that. If this is true, and if they just want his contract off the books, I wouldn’t be surprised if an offer like this gets it done.
I just don’t think it will.
Who Says No: Philadelphia.
Mock Trade from Mr. Trades
Avalanche receive: Rasmus Ristolainen, Scott Laughton
Philadelphia receives: Ross Colton, Josh Manson, 2026 first-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
This is my favorite offer so far. The Flyers are reportedly asking for a first for Laughton, who makes $3 million for another season after this. So if that’s to be believed, then this offer is basically Colton, Manson, and a fourth for Ristolainen. The defenseman makes $5.1 million for two more years after this but the Avs would clear out $4.5 million for one year remaining on Manson and $4 million for two more years of Colton.
The only thing is, the Avs are giving up a lot for very little cap space. If Ristolainen is retained at 40%, then I can see this being more enticing. But this has the framework of a good deal for both sides.
Who Says No: Colorado.
Mock Trade from Mr. Trades
Avalanche receive: Ryan O’Reilly
Nashville receives: Ross Colton, 2025 second-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
It’s not enough. If Laughton is going to fetch a first, O’Reilly will require a first and more. Is Colton enough, with a first-round pick to get him? Maybe. But I still think they’d get a better offer from a team that isn’t also a division rival.
Who Says No: Nashville.
Mock Trade from Mr. Trades
Avalanche receive: Brad Marchand (30% retained)
Boston receives: Ross Colton, 2025 second-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
Same idea. Marchand would be a great addition, but Boston would get a lot more for him in another offer.
Who Says No: Boston.
Mock Trade from Mr. Trades
Avalanche receive: Yanni Gourde, 2025 second-round pick
Seattle receives: Ross Colton
Aarif’s Thoughts
Take out the second-round pick and we have a deal. Seattle gets a similar type of player with two more years at $4 million and the Avs get Yanni Gourdie for a playoff run, then salary cap to rework the depth in the summer.
Who Says No: We have a deal. (Without the draft pick)
Mock Trade from Kyle
Avalanche receive: Mario Ferraro, Nico Sturm, Fabian Zetterlund
San Jose receives: Sam Malinski, Miles Wood, 2026 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick, 2026 fourth-round pick
Aarif’s Thoughts
Way too much coming to Colorado for very little in return. If I’m San Jose, neither of the two roster players will help me. That means you’re getting four draft picks — albeit two higher ones — for three very valuable players. You could do better if you traded them each to a different team.
Most importantly, Zetterlund isn’t someone they want to move at all. And Ferraro is a left-shot defenseman who doesn’t have a spot on the Avs after the Lindgren addition.
Who Says No: San Jose. (But I commend you for being different)
Read More
