Colorado Avalanche acquire Brandon Duhaime from Minnesota Wild for 2026 third-round pick

Michael Russo from The Athletic broke the news first, after hearing Duhaime was told that he was going to be traded earlier on Thursday. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to say that the Avalanche were the suitors.

This is the first time Duhaime has been traded in his NHL career.

Duhaime is having a bounce-back season after being banged up through most of the 2022-23 campaign. The Coral Springs, Florida native only played 51 games last season due to various body injuries.

This season, Duhaime has played every game for the Wild, and has four goals and four assists. He is a little off the pace from his production over the previous two seasons, including scoring 17 points during his rookie season two years ago. However, he can be a useful piece in the bottom six for an Avalanche team that has expectations of making another deep run in the playoffs.

He is currently on a one-year deal with an AAV of $1.1 million. He received a little pay bump when he re-signed with the Wild last July, as he made just $750,000 in each of the last two seasons. In 193 career games, the 26-year-old has scored 19 goals and 16 assists, playing in 12 playoff games for Minnesota.

The Avalanche have already been busy prior to Friday’s trade deadline.

Colorado sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Buffalo Sabres for center Casey Mittelstadt on Wednesday, a one-for-one trade.

Also on Wednesday, the acquired defenseman Sean Walker and a pick from the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Ryan Johansen and another pick.

Avs general manager Brian MacFarland explained the moves on TNT’s broadcast on Wednesday night during Colorado’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

With how superstars like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar have played this season, and how good the team is around them, MacFarland is doing his part by adding more players to give his team the best chance of making it back to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Avalanche (39-20-5) are currently tied for second in the Central Divison with the Winnipeg Jets, both teams two points back of the Dallas Stars, who are in first place.

The Wild (29-27-6) are sixth in the Central, 19 points behind the Avs, and nine back of the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.