The Avalanche sure look ready to make another run at the Stanley Cup.
Two days before the NHL’s trade deadline, Colorado swung two trades to beef up its roster as it gears up for another playoff run on Wednesday.
In one trade, the Avalanche acquired Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram.
Colorado also sent forward Ryan Johansen and a protected first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Flyers for defenseman Sean Walker and a fifth-round pick in 2026.
In Mittelstadt, Colorado gets a player on pace to set a new career best in goals and points, as he racked up 14 and 47, respectively, through 62 games with Buffalo.
The No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 draft got off to a slow start in his career, but he broke through in 2022-23 with 15 goals and 44 assists.
He’s in the final year of a three-year $7.5 million deal and is set to hit restricted free agency this summer, according to Spotrac.
The Avalanche did lose Byram in the deal, the fourth overall pick in 2019.
The 22-year-old has eight goals and 12 assists this season and has a career 51.8 Corsi for percentage, meaning Colorado’s generated more chances than against while he’s on the ice.
To fill Byram’s spot on the blue line, the Avalanche got Walker, who had 22 points and a career-best six goals for the Flyers this season.
He profiles as a net positive on the Corsi front as well, having a number a shade over 50 this season.
Walker will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.
Johansen, whose eight-year $64 million deal runs through the 2024-25 season, was placed on waivers, though the Flyers plan to reassign him to the AHL if he clears, according to The Athletic.
He has 23 points in 63 games this season.
The Avalanche are third in the Western Conference with 81 points as they look to win their second Stanley Cup in three seasons.
