Avalanche predicted to trade $4 million forward as playoff run turns toward nightmare

If things keep going this direction for the Colorado Avalanche, they're going to have some things to seriously figure out this offseason.

Even if they pull off a historic rally and make the Stanley Cup and win it, the Avs don't have a good salary cap situation entering the offseason.

That could mean a guy like Ross Colton has to go.

It wouldn't be anything against Colton and his $4 million cap hit, per se, but the overall scope won't allow for everyone to stay put.

Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin thinks Colton fits the bill as someone who could be traded elsewhere as a cap casualty move.

"The Avs are trying to remain atop the NHL’s mountain coming off a Presidents’ Trophy (and potentially Stanley Cup) win, which will be extremely challenging to do with $2.98 million in projected cap space and four defensemen hitting unrestricted free agency," Larkin writes. "Colton is an effective, physical middle-six forward who can play center or the wing, but $4 million is a luxury for someone who averages 9:45 of ice time this postseason and was even healthy scratched for a game. At 29, he still has plenty to offer an inferior club that could play him a lot more. He has some trade value."

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Colton, as Larkin suggests, could thrive in a lesser lineup. The Avalanche are just quite loaded.

If teams know the Avalanche basically have to get rid of Colton, the cost won't be too high. But for Colorado, just getting rid of him could be huge for their books. And for another team, giving Colton a larger runway to play more could pay dividends in the long run.

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