Colorado Avalanche & Toronto Maple Leafs Linked to Pre-Deadline Deal

The Colorado Avalanche have been dominating the NHL all season long, and word is, they will be aggressive ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. While there aren't many gaps in the roster, the Avs are looking to add a top-nine winger who can play up and down the lineup, and bring some more secondary scoring.

The Avalanche entered the Olympic break with just $5 million in cap space, so GM Chris MacFarland will have to be creative in order to add multiple pieces ahead of the deadline. Up front, there's growing interest in Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann. McMann, 29, is a pending unrestricted free agent, earning just over $1.3 million AAV, and he brings an element of scoring punch, along with physicality and speed, that would fit in perfectly for the Avs.

The Athletic's James Mirtle feels the Avs are the perfect destination for McMann:

Maybe the Avs aim higher, given the season they’ve had and their recent struggles. Or maybe this is just one of multiple additions they make.

But McMann’s speed and booming shot would fit in well here in the middle six, giving Colorado some secondary scoring beyond their superstars. And his super-reasonable cap hit, especially with retention, would allow the front office to add elsewhere. The Leafs are hoping for a first in return here, but McMann may top out at two seconds the way Kiefer Sherwood did last month. Either way, the Avs would need to dip into their 2027 picks if the bidding reaches that level, as they’ve exhausted their 2026 supply Cup-chasing in years past.

Keep an eye on these two teams, this trade could materialize to much more than just McMann involved, as the Maple Leafs are open to selling ahead of the deadline.