Colorado Avalanche Eye Mason Marchment as Potential Missing Piece

The Colorado Avalanche are weighing their options after the Brady Tkachuk trade, considering a potential move for Mason Marchment.

What sparked the conversation?

The Tkachuk deal has reset the market for elite forwards, making the Avalanche think about their own roster and potential trades.

The Avalanche have been linked to Marchment, a physical forward who could bring a new dimension to their game.

How does Marchment fit in?

Marchment's style of play, big and physical, could be a great addition to the Avalanche roster, which has lacked a player like him at times.

The Avalanche found out firsthand against Vegas what happens when a series turns into a war of attrition rather than skill.

What are the potential trade options?

The Avalanche could explore a package built around Valeri Nichushkin for the No. 9 overall pick, or something closer to No. 25, depending on how the market evolves.

Moving Nichushkin would also mean shedding his contract structure, which is notably front-loaded, giving the Avalanche more financial space.

And that space could be used to sign a player like Marchment, who is expected to test the free agent market, according to NHL insider David Pagnotta.

The Avalanche would be responsible for just under $5 million in actual salary this season if they move Nichushkin.

What's next for the Avalanche?

The Avalanche are in a position where adding draft capital has value after years of dealing picks away in win-now moves.

Ottawa's return for Tkachuk, which included the No. 9 pick, the No. 25 pick, a conditional first-round selection in 2029, and a second-round pick in 2027, underscores the point.

The market is expected to get crowded, with 30 other front offices looking at the same framework, and someone will try to replicate it with their own roster calculus.

The Avalanche will have to decide whether to make a move for Marchment or explore other options to improve their roster.

Mason Marchment's last contract was a four-year deal, and his expected testing of the free agent market will draw mixed reactions from Avalanche fans.

But stylistically, he's exactly the type of player this roster has lacked at times: big, physical, heavy on the puck, and capable of scoring goals while changing the tone of a playoff series.

The Avalanche will have to weigh their options carefully and decide what's best for their roster.