Jared Bednar is one of the most forthcoming coaches in the NHL, a well-earned reputation for the insight he offers when breaking down his Colorado Avalanche team and its opponents.
Case in point: Most NHL coaches aren’t going to say what Bednar said last week when asked where the biggest hole in his lineup is at this point.
“I like the way we are playing throughout the lineup, so the depth is good,” Bednar said. “If I was looking at something, like on a wishlist, is it a 3C spot? How does that all play out for us?
“I think all of the guys in our lineup are playing well, but it is making sure we have depth, chemistry, checking ability and scoring ability on every line, because we’re going to have to be deep in order to get out of our division.”
Bednar has the best team in the league as the holiday break approaches. The standings say it. The traditional statistics say it. The advanced ones do, too.
But he didn’t shy away from a question that he could have offered a muted response to, given how dominant the Avs have been. Colorado is almost certainly going to add another defenseman before the March 6 deadline, but whether that guy is just an insurance policy or an impact player is to be determined.
Even with the league’s best record, most dynamic offense and stingiest defense, Bednar is correct. The No. 3 center position is the one spot in the lineup where the Avs need more.
One guy who might have fit for the Avs was Phillip Danault. The Kings sent him to Montreal for a second-round pick on Friday night just before the holiday roster freeze.
It’s possible the Avs just weren’t that interested in a guy with zero goals this season, but remember this is the team that signed Valeri Nichushkin after he had a zero-goal campaign for the Dallas Stars.
A second-round pick is definitely a price Colorado can pay, even with a depleted farm system and cache of draft assets. But, Montreal was able to add Danault without subtracting anyone because the Canadiens had the cap space to do it.
What are some of the options that are still available? Let’s dig in.
Note: Stats are updated through Wednesday.
Ross Colton, Avalanche
33 games, 5 goals, 14 points, 13:18 ice time/game
Bednar made that statement, but also praised Colton’s first game as the new No. 3 center. He has experience there, playing the entire 2023-24 season in the spot. He likely would have started there last year, were it not for Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen being unavailable, pushing him into a top-six role.
Colton had 17 goals and 40 points two years ago. The Avs would take that offensive production from the 3C this year. The biggest question is whether or not Bednar and the management team would feel comfortable having Colton on the defensive side of things in a big playoff series this spring.
It’s possible, and can’t be ruled out as an option. Particularly if the market for some of the names below is problematic for the Avs.
Ryan O’Reilly, Predators
33 GP, 10 goals, 27 points, 19:34
Contract: $4.5 million through 2027
Given the cap hit and his level of performance, O’Reilly would be a dream addition. The ex-Avs center has been one of the few bright spots for a Nashville franchise that desperately needs a new plan.
Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, ROR and Jack Drury down the middle would be the best in the NHL, maybe in several years. What are the cons? O’Reilly turns 35 in February, so he’s even older than Nelson. Plus, Predators general manager Barry Trotz has made it clear they will only trade him if he wants out.
Then, there is the biggest potential issue — how are the Avs going to win a bidding war? Because many teams would line up to trade for him. Now, could he say he only wants to play for a certain team or two? Sure, and Trotz would likely make that happen for him. The cost, if any team can get it on the action, could, and honestly should be too high for the Avs to make the best offer.
Nazem Kadri, Flames
34 GP, 7 goals, 29 points, 19:51
Contract: $7 million through 2029
While we’re on the subject of ex-Avs centers who are still good NHL players, the Calgary Flames are, like the Predators, a bit of a mess. Kadri is already 35 and has two extra years on his contract compared to O’Reilly and Danault. It would be a fun reunion story, but the contract could also be an issue. It certainly feels like a long shot.
Alexander Wennberg, Sharks
34 GP, 7 goals, 22 points, 20:36
Contract: $5 million, pending UFA
Wennberg, like ROR and Kadri, is playing higher in the lineup, but he could be a really solid No. 3 on a contender. The problem is that team might be… the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose is currently in the last playoff spot in the West, and might be arriving ahead of schedule because Macklin Celebrini is an MVP candidate. Wennberg, 31, was a shrewd signing and has been a nice fit as a steady two-way guy. He’s got the best underlying numbers on a team full of guys who have bad ones.
It’s entirely possible that San Jose stays in playoff contention and doesn’t sell off anyone, or does make some small moves but chooses to try to keep Wennberg as a potential long-term answer as the club’s No. 3 center once the kids are settled into their roles.
Jason Dickinson, Blackhawks
21 GP, 3 goals, 6 points, 15:14
Contract: $4.25 million, pending UFA
Dickinson did not produce like a No. 3 center last year and hasn’t to this point this season. The difference between his expected on-ice numbers and the actual ones is almost impossible — the former is solid, even good for a team that struggles in that department, but the latter looks terrible because the team’s save percentage is .820 when he’s out there at 5-on-5.
Chicago has hung around the playoff mix, but Connor Bedard’s injury could push the Hawks back into seller mode. Dickinson isn’t the most exciting option, but the acquisition cost should be more manageable. Like Danault, maybe the Avs will believe there’s more to give in there, and they can extract it.
Charlie Coyle, Blue Jackets
33 GP, 5 goals, 20 points, 17:21
Contract: $5.25 million, pending UFA
Hey, look, another former Avalanche center. Coyle quickly became a Bednar favorite after arriving at the trade deadline last year. His cap hit was too prohibitive over the course of the full season to be the No. 3 center. But as a rental at the deadline, possibly with the Blue Jackets retaining some salary?
Coyle is having a really nice year in Columbus. The Blue Jackets made a win-now trade after nearly making the playoffs last year, and… they woke up Friday morning in last place in the Eastern Conference.
Colorado GM Chris MacFarland has plenty of history with the Blue Jackets, beyond the most recent trade. Columbus would probably love to get Gavin Brindley back, but that isn’t going to happen. Could there be a sensible deal there, though?
Given the Avs’ lack of draft picks and prospects to deal, landing a guy like O’Reilly, Kadri and maybe even Danault could be a tall order. Maybe bringing back Coyle could be the best option.
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