The four biggest winners of the 2025-26 NHL trade deadline

"Their trade deadline acquisitions took the form of Nashville Predators defenceman Nick Blankenburg, Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nicholas Roy, and former Avalanche/ Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri. That all came at the price of Victor Olofsson, Max Curran, two conditional first-round draft picks, a conditional second-round pick, and two fifth-round picks. Though the Avalanche did lose five picks in what is already a depleted collection of draft capital, it's normal for contenders to have a considerably lower amount of picks."

"The moves themselves shouldn't be seen as only a means to make the Avalanche look better on paper; the team could very well receive a massive boost in morale from the Kadri trade alone. When it comes to Kadri, we're talking about a player who loved playing for the Avalanche and who was incredibly passionate about the team."

The Colorado Avalanche made significant moves at the 2025-26 NHL trade deadline, acquiring defenseman Nick Blankenburg from Nashville, center Nicholas Roy from Toronto, and former Avalanche center Nazem Kadri. These acquisitions cost the team five draft picks across multiple rounds, though they received a fourth-round pick back with Kadri. Despite depleting their draft capital, contenders typically operate with fewer picks. The Avalanche's recent history demonstrates their ability to convert strong trade deadlines into postseason success. Beyond the on-paper improvements, Kadri's return provides a significant morale boost, as he was passionate about playing for the organization and remains emotionally invested in the team.

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