The Colorado Avalanche are virtually assured of a spot in the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that doesn't mean they are just going to stand pat ahead of Monday's NHL trade deadline. For one, there remains to be some issues that the Avs can address by making a trade or two — and that could even include a plan to go after Philadelphia Flyers star Claude Giroux.
Via Harman Dayal of The Athletic:
“Colorado’s bottom six has produced 2.05 expected goals-for per 60 minutes at five-on-five, definitely nothing to write home about. Whether it’s Claude Giroux, Rickard Rakell or perhaps even a cheaper option like Dominik Kubalik, adding another top-nine scorer to the mix would help.”
The Avs took quite a painful punch to the gut with forward Gabriel Landeskog out indefinitely after suffering a knee injury, but the top lines should remain robust offensively with guys like Nathan MacKinnon, Andre Burakovsky, and Nazem Kadri. But as mentioned by Dayal, Colorado's bottom six is something that needs a boost.
The Avs recently acquired Nico Sturm in a trade with the Minnesota Wild, but if they could land Giroux. that would certainly be a massive add to an already stellar cast of goal-scorers in Colorado. On the season, the Avs are second in the NHL with 3.84 goals for per contest and seventh in 5-on-5 shooting percentage (8.6%).
Giroux has been among the most talked-about names ahead of the NHL trade deadline, with the veteran playing on the last season of his current contract.
