The annual NHL draft takes place Friday and Saturday, which means it’s finally time for the Avalanche to foot the bill on some of the trades they’ve made in recent years.

Colorado enters the weekend with three draft picks and the Avalanche won’t pick unitl the third round this year.. They went “all in” to bolster their current lineup in recent years and it’s time to pay the piper.

But who the heck were those picks used to acquire? Some of the names might actually surprise you.

2025 first-round pick – traded to Philadelphia with Ryan Johansen for Sean Walker and a 2025 fifth round pick

When the Avalanche acquired Johansen for very little, they took a chance that he’d regain his form as a second-line center. That never came close to happening, as he struggled to even keep up with the play, forcing the team to pivot. Colorado wanted to add Walker and under normal circumstances, it would have probably cost a second-round pick and a prospect. To get rid of Johansen’s contract, the Avalanche had to include their first, which stings.

Johansen has not played an NHL game since and Walker signed with Carolina as a free agent a few months after his last game with the Avalanche.

2025 second-round pick – traded to the Washington Capitals for Lars Eller

Remember Lars Eller’s brief stint in Colorado? You’d be forgiven if you don’t. He played just 31 games for the Avalanche and picked up seven points. Once an effective center, the Dane had shown serious signs of decline that season before being acquired by Colorado. It didn’t turn around with the Avalanche and he left in free agency.

2025 third-round pick – traded to the Nashville Predators with Jeremy Hanzel for Yakov Trenin and Graham Sward

Trenin was an effective bottom-six forward for the Avalanche, but the team just didn’t have the cap space to keep him around. That might not be a bad thing. He signed a contract with Minnesota that pays him $3.5 million per season and in his first season with the Wild, scored just seven goals. Not much bang-for-your-buck there.

2025 fifth-round pick AND 2026 second-round pick – traded with Nikolai Kovalenko and Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks for Mackenzie Blackwood and a 2027 fifth round pick

This is one the Avalanche are perfectly happy with. The goaltending needed to be fixed and Blackwood is a great fit in Colorado. Edmonton probably regrets not making a move like this.

2025 sixth-round pick – traded with Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators for Scott Wedgewood

It took some draft capital to fix their goaltending problems, but they got the job done.

2026 first-round pick – traded to the New York Islanders with Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington and a 2028 third round pick for William Dufour and Brock Nelson

The Avalanche managed to re-sign Nelson to make this trade look a little more palatable, but the price was steep no matter which way you look at it. This first-round pick has a condition on it. If it’s a top-10 pick in 2026, the Avalanche keep it and the Islanders get their 2027 pick. If that happens, things went terribly wrong this upcoming season.

2026 third-round pick – traded to the Minnesota Wild for Brandon Duhaime

Duhaime was another decent depth player but ultimately did not do a whole lot in a Colorado uniform, scoring just six points in 29 games. He left in free agency to join the Washington Capitals.

Colorado’s owned 2025 draft picks

Fourth round, No. 118 overall

Seventh round, No. 214 overall

What I’m hearing

—The NHL and NHLPA are close to announcing they have the framework completed on the next collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement is set to expire in September of 2026, and it sounds like the next one guarantees no work stoppages until at least 2030.

One big change is that the regular season will move to 84 games, starting in the 2026-27 season. Preseason will be shortened to four games, which is long overdue, but the season is already too long, if you ask me. Owners aren’t about to turn down gate money, though.

—Another big change in the new CBA is that the maximum contract length for players re-signing with their current teams will be shortened from eight years to seven years, starting next summer. Depending on when that goes into effect, it could mean Cale Makar’s next deal with the Avalanche will be capped at seven years.

What I’m seeing

—The NHL will also add a playoff salary cap mechanism as they look to close the “LTIR” loophole that has been exposed over the last several years.

—Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs since 2011 and it’s easy to understand why when you see them deal a 23-year-old who just put up 68 points for a second-pair defenseman and a prospect. J.J. Peterka is headed to Utah and the Central Division continues getting stronger.

What I’m thinking

—The Avalanche really don’t have to do anything. They’re in decent shape when it comes to the cap and can sit back and wait. That being said, it’s a terrible free agent market for centers. If a desperate team offers a nice trade package for 33-year-old Charlie Coyle, it’s something that must be seriously considered, right? With just one-year remaining on his deal, he’s not a part of the long-term plan and you have Jack Drury who could fill that role.

You win in the NHL with depth down the middle, but it could be a way to recoup some assets. Depth centers like Nick Bjugstad and Nico Sturm will be available in free agency if the Avalanche want to bring in someone for significantly cheaper.

—With the Sabres bringing in a defenseman in the Peterka trade, old friend Bowen Byram is likely the next one out of the door in Buffalo.