3 untouchable Colorado Avalanche players at 2025 trade deadline
With the calendar turning to March, the focus now shifts squarely to the March 7 trade deadline. Like most contenders, the Colorado Avalanche will be looking to pull the trigger on any and all deals that can help the club contend for the Stanley Cup this season.
While the Avs already pulled the season’s biggest blockbuster in moving Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, one thought comes to mind: Are there any “untouchable” Colorado Avalanche players? In other words, are there any players the Avalanche simply will not entertain any sort of offer on?
Let’s answer that question by exploring three untouchable Colorado Avalanche players at this year’s trade deadline.
3 untouchable Colorado Avalanche players at 2025 trade deadline
Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnon is the clearest first choice as an untouchable player. He’s the heart and soul of the Colorado Avalanche while being a leader on the ice and in the locker room.
But beyond production and intangibles, there’s a powerful reason why the Avalanche will never trade Nathan MacKinnon: The Avs cannot hope to get the return they would like for MacKinnon. After all, what would it take to make such a trade reasonable?
Four first-round picks? Three top prospects? Another superstar player?
Unless we’re talking about a Leon Draisaitl-Nathan MacKinnon swap, this deal is pretty much off the table. Plus, MacKinnon’s $12.6 million cap hit will likely scare just about everyone off. At least contenders cannot hope to have that sort of cap space to make a deal work.
So, MacKinnon stays put in Colorado for the foreseeable future.
Saros gets revenge on MacKinnon, Makar in Preds win over Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche dropped their first game back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, losing 2-1 to the Nashville Predators on Saturday evening. The Avs had 4 Nations MVP Nathan MacKinnon and star blue liner Cale Makar back in the lineup.
However, it was Predators’ goaltender Juuse Saros who got revenge, making 31 saves in the win. Saros, playing for Team Finland, was on the losing end of a 5-3 game against Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Overall, the Avs played a rather solid game, but just couldn’t muster enough offense to get the two points. Sam Malinski got his second goal of the season.
Malinski’s slapshot from the top of the circle opened the scoring in the second period. However, the lead would last for about 30 seconds as Justin Barron beat former Predator Scott Wedgewood to tie the game.
