The Philadelphia Flyers finally found a team that was willing to give up a first-rounder for defenseman Sean Walker. The Flyers traded Walker to the Colorado Avalanche, receiving a first-round selection in 2025 in exchange.

In order to extract the first-round pick, the Flyers had to become creative. They are sending a 2025 fifth-rounder to Colorado while also taking on forward Ryan Johansen’s contract.

Walker has been highly sought-after as the trade deadline approached. He offers physical presence on defense while also enjoying one of his most productive campaigns on the other end. Walker has six goals and 16 assists for 22 points after 63 games and is on pace to beat his season high of 24 points from 2019-20.

The Flyers are hoping to remain in contention for a playoff spot, but it is easy to see why they decided to move on from Walker. He is on an expiring contract, and it was unlikely he would be open to remaining in Philly after this season. Also, the Flyers are still in the rebuild mentality and need all the assets they can get.

Shortly after the trade was finalized, the Flyers waived Johansen. If he’s not picked up, they will be on the hook for 50% of his $8 million salary in 2023-24 and next season.

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The Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday that they have signed Zach Parise for the rest of the season. At 39 years of age, Parise provides the experience that the Avalanche needs in order to boost their secondary scoring.

“We’re excited to add Zach to our group,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland. “Over his impressive NHL career, Zach has always been a highly competitive and driven forward who is hard to play against. We look forward to adding his veteran presence to our locker room.”

Although Parise has never won a Stanley Cup, joining the Avalanche may provide him with an opportunity to achieve this feat as he helps Colorado pursue their second Stanley Cup title in three seasons. After defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5-1, the Avalanche remain top of the Central Division in the Eastern Conference.

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The Seattle Kraken announced on Saturday that the team acquired veteran winger Tomas Tatar in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. Kraken will send a fifth-round selection in 2024 to Avalanche in exchange.

Tatar signed a one-year deal with Colorado in the offseason. He played 27 games in 2023-24, scoring one goal and dishing eight assists for a total of nine points.

While Tatar didn’t shine during his time with Avalanche, Kraken believes that a change of scenery can get him playing again as a player who had 48 points last season.

“Really skilled player. He thinks the game really well,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said about Tatar. “He has the ability to fit in with the way we want to play in terms of the pace and quickness we want to play with. We can think the game at that pace, for sure, and he can play with the puck at that pace as well.”

Tatar himself is ready for a new beginning and wants to help Kraken turn things around after a shaky start of the 2023-24 campaign.

“It’s a great restart for me. I’m very excited for the opportunity,” Tatar said Saturday. “Hopefully I can help out as much as I can.”

Tomas Tatar is currently in his 13th season in the NHL. He previously played with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and New Jersey Devils, among other teams. Tatar’s career NHL stats include 212 goals and 252 assists in 810 games.

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NHL veteran Paul Stastny announced his retirement on Tuesday, lowering the curtain on a 17-year career. During the course of his impactful career, Stastny transformed from a first-line, power-play-type forward to a third- and fourth-line specialist.

Stastny revealed that he made his retirement decision in the fall. “I haven’t filed anything, but in early September we decided we were done. I didn’t put anything out on social media or anything,” he explained. “I kind of came into the league quietly, and I’m leaving the league quietly. That’s the way I like it. All the people close to me know, and then word always gets out eventually.”

Playing for the Carolina Hurricanes last season, Stastny scored nine goals and 22 points. Selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2005 draft, the 37-year-old player also played for the Vegas Golden Knights and spent two stints at the Winnipeg Jets.

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The Colorado Avalanche announced on Tuesday that their captain Gabriel Landeskog will miss the entire 2023-24 NHL season. According to the team, Landeskog is set to undergo a cartilage transplant to address a right knee injury.

Landeskog already missed the 2022-23 campaign because of the same knee. He underwent surgery in October and was initially set to return in three months but never made it back on ice.

The Avalanche and Landeskog now hope that the second surgery can resolve the issue once and for all, allowing the 30-year-old player to continue playing without further setbacks. Landeskog already made it clear that retirement isn’t an option.

“I have not contemplated retirement at all, to be honest with you,” Landeskog told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s about identifying a problem and figuring out a solution. Until I’ve exhausted every option, I’m going to keep pushing forward.”

Landeskog added that while he’ll miss the 2023-24 regular season, he could eventually return for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs if everything goes to plan.

“It’s too early to tell, but I’m definitely leaving that door open, if that’s how we want to put it,” he said.

Gabriel Landeskog has 248 goals and 323 assists in 738 games with the Avalanche. He helped the franchise win Stanley Cup in 2022 and has one All-Star appearance on his resume.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning fought hard but couldn’t keep their dream of a three-peat alive. The Colorado Avalanche were the better team on Sunday night, claiming a 2-1 comeback win in Game 6 to capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup trophy since 2001.

The Avalanche had the chance to take care of the job in Game 5 at home, but the Bolts showed resilience and managed to prolong the series. It appeared the same scenario was about to take place in Game 6 after Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos scored less than four minutes into the first period.

After the initial shock, Colorado patiently waited for the opening, and one came early in the second. Bowen Byram and Gabriel Landeskog combined to assist Nathan MacKinnon, who managed to send the puck into the net despite shooting from an awkward angle. 

MacKinnon was also in the mix 10 minutes after when he and Josh Manson assisted Artturi Lehkonen for a 2-1 lead.

“It’s hard to describe, honestly,” MacKinnon said after the game. “We came from last place together, me, Landy, Mikko, EJ, so it’s unbelievable. I’m forever grateful to go through it with these warriors.”

Despite not being on the scoreboard in Game 6, defenseman Cale Makar ended up nabbing the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Finals MVP. Makar had eight goals and 21 assists for a total of 29 points this postseason.

“There’s nothing better than this,” Makar said after being presented with the trophy. “You dream of this. It feels so surreal. It feels like a video game right now.”

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The Colorado Avalanche’s All-Star Nazem Kadri has been chasing an opportunity to show off his skills on the biggest stage for years. And when he finally got it, Kadri made sure to make it count.

Playing for the first time since thumb surgery in early June, Kadri scored an overtime goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals to give Avalanche a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kadri’s goal, which came in his career-first appearance in the Finals series, now has Colorado just one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup trophy.

“It was a rollercoaster of emotions,” Kadri said after the game. “Just thinking I was done and having a sliver of hope, and then sitting here right now is kind of surreal. I just was excited to join the team again and be in the dressing room. This is what I’ve been waiting for my entire life, so it certainly was exciting to get back into the lineup.”

Nazem Kadri is having a career year in 2021-22 that saw him score 28 goals and dish 59 assists for a total of 87 points during the regular season. These were all Kadri’s career-highs and have brought him his first All-Star appearance. Kadri has been prolific in the postseason as well, contributing with six goals and eight assists before suffering a thumb injury midway through Western Conference Finals.

Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals is scheduled for Friday night. If Avalanche wins, they will get their first championship since 2001. On the other hand, the Bolts are trying to keep their three-peat dreams alive.

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The Colorado Avalanche have taken the lead in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals after a 4-3 win over the reigning champs Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the series. The Avalanche sealed the victory thanks to forward Andre Burakovsky’s goal in overtime.

The Avalanche had a furious start to Game 1, rushing to a 3-1 lead before the end of the first period thanks to goals from Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, and Artturi Lehkonen. Nicholas Paul scored the lone goal for the Lightning.

At this point, it seemed that Colorado had an easy game ahead, but Tampa Bay showed once again why you should never write them off. The Lightning bounced back in the second period and tied the result by scoring two goals in less than a minute. Ondrej Palat scored with 12:51 left on the clock, and Mikhail Sergachev followed with another goal just 48 seconds later.

Neither team managed to score in the third, sending the game to overtime. It then took Burakovsky less than two minutes to get the puck into the back of the net and give his team an important lead in the series.

“I just saw [J.T.] Compher get the puck through the neutral zone and win battles,” said Burakovsky after the game. “And I tried to get out as quick as possible, and then obviously Val [Nichushkin] got the puck back in and made a great play to me and it was up to me to shoot it.”

The Avalanche is currently looking to get its third Stanley Cup and first since 2000-01. On the other hand, the Lightning are chasing a three-peat and fourth trophy in total.

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The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a 6-5 overtime win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, thereby securing their place in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 2001.

Colorado was able to close two multigoal leads that were held by Edmonton, which included the Oilers leading 4-2 in the third period. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, along with teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, scored three unanswered goals before Zack Kassian leveled for the Oilers to send the game into overtime. Artturi Lehkonen needed just 1:19 to score the decider that would end Colorado’s 22-year Stanley Cup final drought.

“When I first got to Colorado, the team was dead last,” defenceman Erik Johnson recalled of his early days with the Avalanche. “Had some up-and-down years after that, and we’ve been knocking on the door here the last couple years. Just soaking it all in and trying to embrace the moment and just having a lot of fun.”

Victory for Colorado was all the more impressive considering the team’s injury. Avalanche was without Nazem Kadri, who suffered a broken thumb in Game 3 during a boarding incident with Evander Kane. Following surgery, it remains unclear whether Kadri will be available for the Stanley Cup finals.

Avalanche now waits to see who their opponent in the finals will be. Currently, the New York Rangers are leading the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals.

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The Colorado Avalanche didn’t allow for any surprises at the start of their 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs run. With a 5-3 win on Monday night, the Avalanche completed the sweep against the Nashville Predators and are the first team to make it to the second round.

After dominating performances for the better part of the series, Colorado found itself in uncharted territory in Game 4. They were trailing 3-2 after four minutes in the third quarter and it appeared that the absence of starting goalie Darcy Kuemper was a much bigger problem than anyone thought it would be.

Luckily for the Avalanche, Devon Toews scored a goal midway through the period to make things even before Valeri Nichushkin, and Nathan MacKinnon contributed one apiece as well to put the Predators away.

“It was a lot of emotion,” said MacKinnon after the game. “Down 3-2 in the third, the boys battle back. It wasn’t our best night. The first three games were a lot better. But we found a way.”

Avalanche, who finished the regular season as the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, will probably have to wait a bit before learning their opponent in the second round. They are set to play against the winner of the matchup between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, which is currently tied at 2-2.

The post Avalanche Sweep the Predators to Become the First Team in 2nd Round appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Philadelphia Flyers finally found a team that was willing to give up a first-rounder for defenseman Sean Walker. The Flyers traded Walker to the Colorado Avalanche, receiving a first-round selection in 2025 in exchange.

In order to extract the first-round pick, the Flyers had to become creative. They are sending a 2025 fifth-rounder to Colorado while also taking on forward Ryan Johansen’s contract.

Walker has been highly sought-after as the trade deadline approached. He offers physical presence on defense while also enjoying one of his most productive campaigns on the other end. Walker has six goals and 16 assists for 22 points after 63 games and is on pace to beat his season high of 24 points from 2019-20.

The Flyers are hoping to remain in contention for a playoff spot, but it is easy to see why they decided to move on from Walker. He is on an expiring contract, and it was unlikely he would be open to remaining in Philly after this season. Also, the Flyers are still in the rebuild mentality and need all the assets they can get.

Shortly after the trade was finalized, the Flyers waived Johansen. If he’s not picked up, they will be on the hook for 50% of his $8 million salary in 2023-24 and next season.

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The Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday that they have signed Zach Parise for the rest of the season. At 39 years of age, Parise provides the experience that the Avalanche needs in order to boost their secondary scoring.

“We’re excited to add Zach to our group,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland. “Over his impressive NHL career, Zach has always been a highly competitive and driven forward who is hard to play against. We look forward to adding his veteran presence to our locker room.”

Although Parise has never won a Stanley Cup, joining the Avalanche may provide him with an opportunity to achieve this feat as he helps Colorado pursue their second Stanley Cup title in three seasons. After defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5-1, the Avalanche remain top of the Central Division in the Eastern Conference.

The post Zach Parise Signs for Avalance Until End of Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Seattle Kraken announced on Saturday that the team acquired veteran winger Tomas Tatar in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. Kraken will send a fifth-round selection in 2024 to Avalanche in exchange.

Tatar signed a one-year deal with Colorado in the offseason. He played 27 games in 2023-24, scoring one goal and dishing eight assists for a total of nine points.

While Tatar didn’t shine during his time with Avalanche, Kraken believes that a change of scenery can get him playing again as a player who had 48 points last season.

“Really skilled player. He thinks the game really well,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said about Tatar. “He has the ability to fit in with the way we want to play in terms of the pace and quickness we want to play with. We can think the game at that pace, for sure, and he can play with the puck at that pace as well.”

Tatar himself is ready for a new beginning and wants to help Kraken turn things around after a shaky start of the 2023-24 campaign.

“It’s a great restart for me. I’m very excited for the opportunity,” Tatar said Saturday. “Hopefully I can help out as much as I can.”

Tomas Tatar is currently in his 13th season in the NHL. He previously played with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and New Jersey Devils, among other teams. Tatar’s career NHL stats include 212 goals and 252 assists in 810 games.

The post Kraken Acquire Winger Tomas Tatar in a Trade With Avalanche appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NHL veteran Paul Stastny announced his retirement on Tuesday, lowering the curtain on a 17-year career. During the course of his impactful career, Stastny transformed from a first-line, power-play-type forward to a third- and fourth-line specialist.

Stastny revealed that he made his retirement decision in the fall. “I haven’t filed anything, but in early September we decided we were done. I didn’t put anything out on social media or anything,” he explained. “I kind of came into the league quietly, and I’m leaving the league quietly. That’s the way I like it. All the people close to me know, and then word always gets out eventually.”

Playing for the Carolina Hurricanes last season, Stastny scored nine goals and 22 points. Selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2005 draft, the 37-year-old player also played for the Vegas Golden Knights and spent two stints at the Winnipeg Jets.

The post Paul Stastny Announces NHL Retirement appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Tuesday that their captain Gabriel Landeskog will miss the entire 2023-24 NHL season. According to the team, Landeskog is set to undergo a cartilage transplant to address a right knee injury.

Landeskog already missed the 2022-23 campaign because of the same knee. He underwent surgery in October and was initially set to return in three months but never made it back on ice.

The Avalanche and Landeskog now hope that the second surgery can resolve the issue once and for all, allowing the 30-year-old player to continue playing without further setbacks. Landeskog already made it clear that retirement isn’t an option.

“I have not contemplated retirement at all, to be honest with you,” Landeskog told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s about identifying a problem and figuring out a solution. Until I’ve exhausted every option, I’m going to keep pushing forward.”

Landeskog added that while he’ll miss the 2023-24 regular season, he could eventually return for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs if everything goes to plan.

“It’s too early to tell, but I’m definitely leaving that door open, if that’s how we want to put it,” he said.

Gabriel Landeskog has 248 goals and 323 assists in 738 games with the Avalanche. He helped the franchise win Stanley Cup in 2022 and has one All-Star appearance on his resume.

The post Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog Expected to Miss 2023-24 Regular Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Tampa Bay Lightning fought hard but couldn’t keep their dream of a three-peat alive. The Colorado Avalanche were the better team on Sunday night, claiming a 2-1 comeback win in Game 6 to capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup trophy since 2001.

The Avalanche had the chance to take care of the job in Game 5 at home, but the Bolts showed resilience and managed to prolong the series. It appeared the same scenario was about to take place in Game 6 after Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos scored less than four minutes into the first period.

After the initial shock, Colorado patiently waited for the opening, and one came early in the second. Bowen Byram and Gabriel Landeskog combined to assist Nathan MacKinnon, who managed to send the puck into the net despite shooting from an awkward angle. 

MacKinnon was also in the mix 10 minutes after when he and Josh Manson assisted Artturi Lehkonen for a 2-1 lead.

“It’s hard to describe, honestly,” MacKinnon said after the game. “We came from last place together, me, Landy, Mikko, EJ, so it’s unbelievable. I’m forever grateful to go through it with these warriors.”

Despite not being on the scoreboard in Game 6, defenseman Cale Makar ended up nabbing the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Finals MVP. Makar had eight goals and 21 assists for a total of 29 points this postseason.

“There’s nothing better than this,” Makar said after being presented with the trophy. “You dream of this. It feels so surreal. It feels like a video game right now.”

The post Avalanche Lift the 2022 Stanley Cup Trophy with Comeback Win in Game 6 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Colorado Avalanche’s All-Star Nazem Kadri has been chasing an opportunity to show off his skills on the biggest stage for years. And when he finally got it, Kadri made sure to make it count.

Playing for the first time since thumb surgery in early June, Kadri scored an overtime goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals to give Avalanche a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kadri’s goal, which came in his career-first appearance in the Finals series, now has Colorado just one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup trophy.

“It was a rollercoaster of emotions,” Kadri said after the game. “Just thinking I was done and having a sliver of hope, and then sitting here right now is kind of surreal. I just was excited to join the team again and be in the dressing room. This is what I’ve been waiting for my entire life, so it certainly was exciting to get back into the lineup.”

Nazem Kadri is having a career year in 2021-22 that saw him score 28 goals and dish 59 assists for a total of 87 points during the regular season. These were all Kadri’s career-highs and have brought him his first All-Star appearance. Kadri has been prolific in the postseason as well, contributing with six goals and eight assists before suffering a thumb injury midway through Western Conference Finals.

Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals is scheduled for Friday night. If Avalanche wins, they will get their first championship since 2001. On the other hand, the Bolts are trying to keep their three-peat dreams alive.

The post Nazem Kadri Scores in Return to Action, Seals Avalanche’s 3-2 OT Win Over Bolts appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Colorado Avalanche have taken the lead in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals after a 4-3 win over the reigning champs Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the series. The Avalanche sealed the victory thanks to forward Andre Burakovsky’s goal in overtime.

The Avalanche had a furious start to Game 1, rushing to a 3-1 lead before the end of the first period thanks to goals from Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, and Artturi Lehkonen. Nicholas Paul scored the lone goal for the Lightning.

At this point, it seemed that Colorado had an easy game ahead, but Tampa Bay showed once again why you should never write them off. The Lightning bounced back in the second period and tied the result by scoring two goals in less than a minute. Ondrej Palat scored with 12:51 left on the clock, and Mikhail Sergachev followed with another goal just 48 seconds later.

Neither team managed to score in the third, sending the game to overtime. It then took Burakovsky less than two minutes to get the puck into the back of the net and give his team an important lead in the series.

“I just saw [J.T.] Compher get the puck through the neutral zone and win battles,” said Burakovsky after the game. “And I tried to get out as quick as possible, and then obviously Val [Nichushkin] got the puck back in and made a great play to me and it was up to me to shoot it.”

The Avalanche is currently looking to get its third Stanley Cup and first since 2000-01. On the other hand, the Lightning are chasing a three-peat and fourth trophy in total.

The post Avalanche Take the Lead in Stanley Cup Finals After 4-3 OT Win Over Lightning appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a 6-5 overtime win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, thereby securing their place in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 2001.

Colorado was able to close two multigoal leads that were held by Edmonton, which included the Oilers leading 4-2 in the third period. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, along with teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, scored three unanswered goals before Zack Kassian leveled for the Oilers to send the game into overtime. Artturi Lehkonen needed just 1:19 to score the decider that would end Colorado’s 22-year Stanley Cup final drought.

“When I first got to Colorado, the team was dead last,” defenceman Erik Johnson recalled of his early days with the Avalanche. “Had some up-and-down years after that, and we’ve been knocking on the door here the last couple years. Just soaking it all in and trying to embrace the moment and just having a lot of fun.”

Victory for Colorado was all the more impressive considering the team’s injury. Avalanche was without Nazem Kadri, who suffered a broken thumb in Game 3 during a boarding incident with Evander Kane. Following surgery, it remains unclear whether Kadri will be available for the Stanley Cup finals.

Avalanche now waits to see who their opponent in the finals will be. Currently, the New York Rangers are leading the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals.

The post Colorado Return to Stanley Cup for First Time Since 2001 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Colorado Avalanche didn’t allow for any surprises at the start of their 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs run. With a 5-3 win on Monday night, the Avalanche completed the sweep against the Nashville Predators and are the first team to make it to the second round.

After dominating performances for the better part of the series, Colorado found itself in uncharted territory in Game 4. They were trailing 3-2 after four minutes in the third quarter and it appeared that the absence of starting goalie Darcy Kuemper was a much bigger problem than anyone thought it would be.

Luckily for the Avalanche, Devon Toews scored a goal midway through the period to make things even before Valeri Nichushkin, and Nathan MacKinnon contributed one apiece as well to put the Predators away.

“It was a lot of emotion,” said MacKinnon after the game. “Down 3-2 in the third, the boys battle back. It wasn’t our best night. The first three games were a lot better. But we found a way.”

Avalanche, who finished the regular season as the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, will probably have to wait a bit before learning their opponent in the second round. They are set to play against the winner of the matchup between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, which is currently tied at 2-2.

The post Avalanche Sweep the Predators to Become the First Team in 2nd Round appeared first on SportzBonanza.