Avalanche Trade for Kulak, Prepare for Big Moves

0:00This is Corey with NHL News Today, powered by the Daily News Now. Subscribe for daily updates on your team. The Colorado Avalanche kicked off the Postal and Big Break with a quick roster tweak. They traded defenseman Samuel Gerard and their 20-28 second round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for veteran defenseman Brett Kool-Ack. This deal frees up about $5 million in salary cap space for the Avs. With that extra room under the cap, the Avalanche are gearing up for bigger splashes before the trade deadline. They sit atop the league standings and want to bolster their lineup for another Stanley Cup run. Nearly $9 million in cap flexibility gives them plenty of options to chase top targets. Fans and analysts see this as classic contender strategy, trading future assets for immediate help. The Avalanche core should compete for years, so dipping into prospects or picks makes sense to stack the deck now. Their farm system is then anyway, which fits teams all in on the present.

1:00Key pieces they might move include their 20-27 first round pick. Forward Ross Colton, with his $4 million cap hit through 20. 26-27, or prospects like defenseman, Mikhail Gliyev, Goli, Ilya Nabokov, and Winger Oscar Olasan. Colton brings speed and scoring punch as a solid middle-six guy. Looking ahead, the Avalanche face a crucial week packed with games and deadline buzz. Something one more star can make them unstoppable if they stay healthy through the playoffs. They are doing all they can to pave the way for another title. This DNN story is thanks to our sponsor details in the description. Comfort you can hear. Sound you can relax into. S-O-L-I.