The Colorado Avalanche have a few options when it comes to finding a good back-up goaltender.
The Colorado Avalanche have a few options when it comes to finding a good back-up goaltender.
The Colorado Avalanche are doing quite well at the halfway point of the NHL regular season. They currently have a 26-12-3 record - which is good for 55 points.
They have been able to out-score most of their problems this year. However, this is not a recipe for long-term success, so they would be wise to add another goaltender to their roster to help out Alexandar Georgiev before the deadline passes. This is especially so when noting that Ivan Prosvetov has struggled as the team's backup.
Due to this, let's go over a few potential goalie trade options for the Avalanche now.
Kaapo Kahkonen
The San Jose Sharks are having a nightmare season and are gearing up to be sellers because of it. Kaapo Kahkonen is one goaltender who is expected to be moved, as he is a pending UFA.
Kahkonen, 27, currently has a .897 SV% and a 3.70 GAA in 20 appearances this season. Although those numbers are not the greatest, it is important to remember that he has very little support in front of him on a bad Sharks club. On a much better Avalanche team, his numbers would surely go up if acquired.
Marc-Andre Fleury
The Minnesota Wild are in the bottom portion of the Western Conference standings and are likely to be sellers at the deadline. With Marc-Andre Fleury being in the final season of his deal, he could be made available. If he is, the Avalanche would need to consider him as a potential option.
Fleury is a future Hall of Fame goaltender with multiple Stanley Cup championships on his resume. The Avalanche adding a legend like him to their roster would be massive because of this. He would need to waive his full no-movement clause for a potential move to occur, but given how poorly Minnesota has played this season, it certainly is possible that he at least consider a change of scenery.
Alex Nedeljkovic
If the Pittsburgh Penguins are out of the playoff race around the trade deadline, Alex Nedeljkovic would likely be moved. He is on an expiring contract, and he is having a strong season, so he would have several suitors. The Avs would likely be one of them.
After a rough tenure with the Detroit Red Wings, Nedeljkovic has turned things back around in Pittsburgh. In 14 appearances, he sports an 8-3-2 record, a 2.50 GAA, and a .922 SV%. He has proven to be an excellent backup with the Penguins, and he could be just that for the Avalanche if acquired.
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