3 players Avalanche must trade after shocking Western Conference Final sweep

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3 players Avalanche must trade after shocking Western Conference Final sweep

Christopher Hennessy, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Wed, May 27, 2026 ·

4 min read

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The Colorado Avalanche were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. They won the Presidents' Trophy with the best record in the league, but failed to win a game in the West Final. The Avalanche now head into an offseason that could feature trades off their roster to free up cap space. Who should Colorado consider trading this offseason?

Part of this conversation hinges on the future of the Avalanche's decision makers. Reports have surfaced that the Nashville Predators want to hire Colorado GM Chris MacFarland, which would shake things up in the front office. There have also been hot-seat conversations around Jared Bednar , who has been the head coach for a decade. Even if both of those men are back, things may have to change in Colorado.

Cale Makar is eligible for an extension on July 1, which will be an incredibly expensive deal. Who will be traded to free up space this offseason?

Artturi Lehkonen could bring back some assets

The Avalanche have incredible offensive depth, which is how they ended up with 121 points in the regular season. But after the playoff disaster, they may want some new faces in that role. Artturi Lehkonen is entering the final year of his contract, worth $4.5 million with a 12-team no-trade list. After going the final six playoff games without a point, Lehkonen could be on the move.

Lehkonen was playing through an injury, so his lack of playoff scoring is not the biggest concern. But with his contract ending and the Avalanche unlikely to keep him in the summer of 2027, they may as well get something for him. Then, they can move a younger player up in the lineup or get someone on a longer-term deal. With no picks in the first three rounds this year, getting a pick back for Lehkonen could be a smart move for the future.

The Ottawa Senators are looking for some depth scoring after a brutal first-round exit. Lehkonen would be a great fit on their middle six, and they have two extra third-round picks that could be part of the package.

The Avalanche need to change up the defense

Makar's need for a new contract is the biggest question for the Avalanche to answer this offseason. But the Norris Trophy finalist is just one of four defenseman under contract for 2026-27. With Makar's salary expanding and the need for bodies on the back end, the Avalanche may flip Josh Manson to another team.

Manson was picked up from the Anaheim Ducks at the 2022 trade deadline , and he immediately played a role in winning the Stanley Cup. He signed a four-year deal to stay after the trade and just signed a two-year extension to stay with the Avalanche. But this sweep has changed things in Colorado, and they may not let that extension start.

There are not many great defensemen available in the free-agent market. But if the Avalanche want to keep Brett Kulak and Nick Blankenburg, both younger than Manson, they may need cap space.

Jack Drury could be a salary cap casualty

When the Avalanche traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, they centered the return package around two players. Martin Necas had a 100-point regular season and was great in the first two rounds of the playoffs. He is locked up on an $11.5 million per year deal through 2034. Jack Drury, on the other hand, does not have a contract and could get taken out from underneath the Avalanche.

Offer sheets for restricted free agents are rare in the NHL. Teams don't often want to pay a player a free-agency rate for a player they have to give up draft picks for. But Drury is a 26-year-old center coming off the most productive season of his young career. For a team like the Philadelphia Flyers, who have the requisite picks and is looking to improve, this could be a cost-effective move.

The Avalanche are unlikley to outright trade Drury. If he leaves, it will likely be through the offer-sheet process. That would give them a chance to match the deal a team offers Drury before he walks. If the cap crunch gets ugly in Colorado, expect a Drury offer sheet.

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