Fansided

These teams need to get on the phone about a Evgeni Malkin trade

By Brad Berreman

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) waits for play to begin during the second period in Game 4 of the First Round in the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 16, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) waits for play to begin during the second period in Game 4 of the First Round in the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 16, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images /

3. Colorado Avalanche

With a hat tip to our own Dave Stevenson of Puck Prose, and even as they enter a Game 7 with a chance to reach the Western Conference Finals Wednesday night, the Avalanche have been seen as a one-line team this season with the numbers to back it up.

After Nathan MacKinnon (99 points), Mikko Rantanen (87 points) and Gabriel Landeskog (75 points), the next highest scoring forward during the regular season for Colorado was Carl Soderberg (49 points). The next highest scorer overall was defenseman Tyson Barrie, with 59 points (14 goals and 45 assists). No offense to Soderberg and Alex Kerfoot, but they are not ideal second-line centers.

The Avalanche would surely have to attach a first-round pick, and Barrie might have to go to Pittsburgh in a deal for Malkin. But reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Cale Makar puts general manager Joe Sakic in position to deal from some good blue line depth, and with the cap space to take on his contract Malkin would formidably fortify the team’s top-six forwards.

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