The Colorado Avalanche are once again proving to be one of the best teams in the NHL. With Nathan MacKinnon leading the charge, it appears the Avalanche are poised to make a strong push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Given the talent on the roster, it’s difficult to exclude them from the conversation for the Cup itself.

However, this is not a perfect roster. One of the team’s biggest flaws has resurfaced: the Avalanche’s offense remains extremely top-heavy, with limited legitimate scoring depth. To be fair, there is a bit more depth this year compared to last season.

Last year, only three players surpassed the 50-point mark: Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen. However, Rantanen was traded midseason. His replacement, Martin Necas, performed admirably, scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace over 28 games and finishing the season with 83 points combined between Colorado and the Carolina Hurricanes.

So far this season, six Avalanche players are on pace to eclipse 50 points, showing an improvement in scoring depth. While this development is welcome, the team could still use a bit more depth to balance out their offense.

More importantly, one of the Avalanche’s long-standing issues remains unresolved: the second-line center position. Last season, the team acquired Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders to fill this role, but he has been struggling this year.

Daily Faceoff writer Mike Gould suggests the Avalanche could look to reunite with a former star to address this weakness. Gould points to Nazem Kadri as a potential fit for Colorado:

> “The Colorado Avalanche know all about what Kadri can bring to a team, considering that they wouldn’t have won the Stanley Cup in 2022 without his incredible playoff performances. There’s been a Kadri-sized hole in the Colorado lineup ever since he left in 2022 to sign with the Flames.”

### Avalanche Could Take Advantage of Calgary Flames Rebuild

Last season, the Avalanche made the playoffs, whereas Kadri and his Calgary Flames teammates narrowly missed qualifying. Calgary lost out on a tiebreaker with the St. Louis Blues for the final Wild Card spot.

Unfortunately for the Flames, the 2025-26 NHL season has started poorly. Currently, Calgary holds a 4-10-2 record and sits last in the NHL standings, trailing the Blues by two points.

While Calgary has yet to officially signal a rebuild, continued struggles may force their hand. If the Flames enter the trade market, Nazem Kadri would likely be their most sought-after asset.

### Nazem Kadri Could Spark Colorado Once Again

The Avalanche boast plenty of star-level talent and are still fresh from their Stanley Cup victory in 2022. Yet, as Mike Gould highlights, Colorado has struggled to replace Kadri since he left via free agency.

Kadri’s impact during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs was significant. While not necessarily historic, his contribution helped the Avalanche secure hockey’s ultimate prize. He tallied seven goals and 15 points across 16 playoff games that year.

Bringing Kadri back to Denver could provide the spark the Avalanche need to shore up their second line and strengthen their bid for another Stanley Cup run. Whether Colorado can capitalize on Calgary’s struggles and reunite with their former star remains to be seen, but it’s a storyline worth watching as the season unfolds.
https://heavy.com/sports/nhl/colorado-avalanche/avalanche-linked-potential-nazem-kadri-trade/