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Meet the Buyers: The Avalanche look to add ahead of the trade deadline in a stacked Central Division
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Feb 19, 2026, 16:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 19, 2026, 13:30 EST
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With a 37-9-9 record, the Colorado Avalanche’s 83 points are the most for any National Hockey League team heading into the Olympic break.
After trading Mikko Rantanen before the 2025 trade deadline, one has to imagine that the Avalanche will once again be active on the trade market ahead of the Mar. 6th trade deadline. It also stands to reason that the Calgary Flames will be busy, as MacKenzie Weegar, Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Zach Whitecloud, and Ryan Lomberg have all had their names circulated in trade rumours as of late.
The Flames sit near the bottom of the league and are firmly in the hunt to land a high pick, especially after trading Rasmus Andersson earlier this season. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before more moves come. But with that being said, let’s take a look at the Avalanche’s needs, as well as what they have to offer.

Avalanche’s needs and cap situation

The Avalanche’s primary need is a third-line centre. Funnily enough, Kadri won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche back in 2022, and he could be a fit for that role. In fact, he’s already been linked to the Avalanche this season.
Kadri’s play has taken a step back this season, after scoring 24, 29, and 35 goals in the past three seasons, he has just 10 goals and 39 points in 56 games this season. That’s due in part to the wheels falling off the Flames, and one can figure he’ll find his game if he’s to be traded to a contender.
Because the Avalanche have been accumulating trade deadline cap space all season, they’ll have about $8.032 million a cap space come Mar. 6. Their current cap space is around $5.718, but Logan O’Connor could come off the long-term injured reserve in the coming weeks.
Coleman could be an option as a middle-six scoring winger, especially with experience on Stanley Cup-winning teams. The Avalanche don’t really have a need for a top four defenceman like Weegar, but a bottom pairing defenceman like Whitecloud would be a bit help for the Avalanche.

What the Avalanche have to offer

The Avalanche have a bunch of picks in the 2026 draft, but none of those selections are in the first three rounds. They have two fourth-round picks, three fifth-round picks, and four fourth-round picks. You have to imagine they’ll find an NHL’er with at least one of those picks, right? Anyway, the Avalanche have both their 2027 and 2028 first rounders, as well as a two second-round picks in the 2027 draft.
Like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who we looked at in the last Meet the Buyers, the Avalanche don’t have a whole lot in terms of a prospect pool. Their best prospect according to Daily Faceoff is Gavin Brindley, whom they acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade during the summer. This season, the undersized forward has five goals and 11 points in 42 games with the Avalanche.
Their best prospect at centre is Czechian Max Curran, who plays for the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings. Standing at 6’3”, 187 lbs, the 19-year-old has 14 goals and 41 points in 31 games this year.
If any trade between the Avalanche and Flames goes down, you’d have to imagine that the 2027 first rounder would have to be a part of it in some capacity.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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