With the NHL Trade Deadline set for this upcoming Friday, now less than two days away, the Avalanche have executed another player movement, coming a week after they secured defenseman Brett Kulak from the Pittsburgh Penguins. On this occasion, Colorado obtained right-shot blueliner Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators, offering a 2027 fifth-round draft pick in return.
The 27-year-old Blankenburg is widely expected to serve as Colorado’s seventh defenseman for the current season, providing essential reserve depth, ready to step in should the Avs require an NHL-level defenseman for any operational needs. Over 49 games played for Nashville this season, Blankenburg accumulated six goals and 15 assists, totaling 21 points, and is slated to enter unrestricted free agency this summer upon the conclusion of his $775,000 contract.
Blankenburg projects as a dependable, low-maintenance defenseman for the third pairing and should perform adequately whenever summoned to play. It’s noteworthy that after a week of discussions emphasizing the Avalanche’s preference for robust and large players on their defensive unit, they targeted not only another right-handed player but also one measured at 5 feet 9 inches and 177 pounds. However, the acquisition cost was likely agreeable, making Blankenburg an economical addition for supplementary depth.
As previously stated, with less than 48 hours remaining until the deadline tonight, activity across the league has noticeably intensified. Colorado has yet to bolster its offensive lineup, which could be the subsequent item on their agenda now that their defensive core appears settled for the remainder of the campaign.
