Avalanche reportedly closing in on 3 stunning trade targets to supercharge their roster

The Avalanche sit near the top of the standings, but coach Jared Bednar and the front office both know playoff hockey burns teams that lack reliable middle-six centers. Jack Drury has admirably filled in as a third-line pivot, but adding a veteran with experience could change how Colorado rolls four full lines when it matters most. Rumors have specifically linked veteran Ryan O'Reilly and ex-Avalanche Nazem Kadri to Colorado's trade board.

Rob Couch from NHL Trade Rumors writes that Ryan O'Reilly could be Colorado's smartest buy-low piece. He's a former Stanley Cup champion and a Selke-caliber two-way center whose leadership and faceoff ability simply don't age overnight. Nashville has struggled this season, creating chatter that O'Reilly might be shipped to a contender before March. That kind of veteran middle presence is exactly what Avalanche fans have been begging to see behind the top line.

Nazem Kadri's name keeps popping up too, largely because he's already worn Avalanche blue for that 2022 Stanley Cup run and still produces both inside and around the net. Calgary's struggles have some pundits wondering if Flames brass might eventually lean toward a teardown, opening the door for a Kadri reunion in Colorado. That kind of narrative grabs fans' attention because of how huge he was during that Cup run.

Depth pivot options beyond big names could also be on the Avs' radar, especially if cap or term becomes a sticking point. San Jose's centers have been mentioned loosely in trade conversations as more affordable, shorter-term fits who could solidify the third line and keep Colorado's center depth tight through the stretch drive.

There's also a layer to this chatter where fans in Denver see familiar faces like Kadri's potentially coming back, not just as nostalgia but because real roster gaps exist once you get past Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson. That longing for a reliable second or third pivot shows up on social feeds and local forums every time another center gets linked.

At this point, none of these names are confirmed Avalanche acquisitions, but the front office clearly isn't ignoring the market. With the trade deadline looming and Colorado still chasing deep playoff validation, expect more center talk as the calendar flips toward March.