Trade: Colorado Avalanche deal former first-rounder to San Jose Sharks

While it may not be a significant move, it's nice to see the NHL's trade market is still active a few weeks into the summer months. The San Jose Sharks have acquired winger Oskar Olausson from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for winger Danil Gushchin.

Welcome to the team, Oskar!

The Sharks have acquired Oskar Olausson from Colorado.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 25, 2025

This trade is a significant step for the Avalanche, who move Olausson, their 2021 first-round pick. A change of scenery was likely this summer, after things haven't quite worked out for either side. The 22-year-old hasn't lived up to his potential at all, and has just played four NHL games to this point. In San Jose, he'll get more opportunity to crack the lineup.

Daily Faceoff's prospect guru Steven Ellis is one of the best in the business, and heading into the season, had Olausson ranked as high as sixth on the Avs' prospect depth chart:

Olausson saw NHL action for the third straight year but is still seeking his first point. A first-round pick in 2021, Olausson hasn’t been able to elevate his game offensively yet, with his best output being the 11 goals and 26 points he put up this year in the AHL. At this time, I’m not sure any serious improvement is coming, and I’m not sure he’ll ever fit in Colorado’s system. I like that he’s a decent playmaker, but he doesn’t do enough away from the puck – or with the puck, honestly – to make it feel like he has a legit shot of becoming a full-timer.

Last season in the AHL, Olausson recorded 11 goals and 26 points in 61 games. As for Gushchin, the Avs land a player who is deemed a project at this point, and it's not expected he'll make any impact on the NHL roster next season.