Avalanche should sign veteran free-agent forward

The Colorado Avalanche have seen multiple roster changes this offseason, but they should not be done yet. Their current group appears to need one more middle-six winger before the start of the season.

Given Avalanche’s current cap situation, they are not in a position to bring a big name forward through the trade market, such as Martin Necas, Nikolaj Ehlers, or Trevor Zegras. Thus, they must go for cheap players if they hope to add to their roster.

When looking at the current players left on the free-agent market, one potential bargain option they should consider is veteran forward Max Pacioretty.

Pacioretty, 35, notably suffered two Achilles tears during his time with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022-23, limiting him to only five games. However, the veteran showed great determination as he returned to play with the Washington Capitals last season. While his production was a bit lower, he showed he is still a serviceable middle-six forward, recording four goals and 23 points in 47 games.

With numbers like these, it is fair to argue that Pacioretty would be a solid player for the Avalanche to bring aboard on a low-risk, one-year deal. When noting that they lost Andrew Cogliano, Zach Parise, Brandon Duhaime, and Yakov Trenin this summer, there is no question that they could use more forward depth. Pacioretty would give them that.

If the Avalanche landed Pacioretty, he would be a solid addition to their second or third line and a clear option for their power play. Perhaps playing on a team with several offensive weapons, like the Avalanche, could help him get his scoring back up.

Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see if Pacioretty becomes a target for the Avs. On paper, it looks like there could be a good fit.

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