Avalanche forward could be popular target

Shortly before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline passed, the Colorado Avalanche acquired Yakov Trenin and Graham Sward from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 third-round pick. With the Avalanche needing to add more grit and depth to their bottom six, the move made sense.

However, now with the Avalanche's season over, Trenin's contract is expired. If the Avalanche do not re-sign the 27-year-old forward before July 1, he will become an unrestricted free agent. If that comes to fruition, he should be a hot commodity.

While Trenin is not a star, he is exactly the kind of bottom-six forward that all teams love to have. This is because he chips in a bit offensively, plays all three forward positions, can kill penalties, and is immensely physical. Along with that, he is on the right side of 30 and will be for multiple more years, so that only adds to his overall appeal.

Trenin appeared in 76 regular-season games this year split between the Predators and Avalanche, posting 12 goals, 17 points, 207 hits, and a plus-15 rating.

It will be intriguing to see what the Avalanche decide to do with Trenin this offseason. It would be nice for them to keep him around in their bottom six, but if he hits the market, he should not have any trouble finding a new home in free agency.

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