LOS ANGELES – Where in the world is … Chris MacFarland?

Most nights, no one is asking that, but on Sunday evening, his location raised some eyebrows in NHL circles.

MacFarland, assistant general manager Kevin McDonald and assistant to the general manager Andrew Cogliano traveled to Anaheim to catch the Ducks take on the Calgary Flames. Less than a week before the March 6 trade deadline, a general manager in an opposing team’s building is going to make everyone think, even if it was a short trip from Los Angeles for the Avalanche brass, but this one caught everyone’s attention because of one man: Nazem Kadri.

There are rumblings that the Avalanche are sniffing around their former center, perhaps interested in bringing him back to bolster their depth down the middle. The Gazette has learned that the Avalanche have indeed shown interest in Kadri, but his $7 million price tag for three more seasons complicates matters.

MacFarland, meeting with the media prior to his team’s game against the Kings, wasn’t about to tip his hand, even though his head coach has made it clear on multiple occasions that he’d love another center.

“I don’t think we’re looking at any sort of particular 3C or fourth-line wing,” he said. “If something makes us better, whether it’s a winger, a center or another defenseman, then we’ll certainly look at it over the next few days.”

MacFarland has already made one deal, moving Sam Girard and a draft pick for veteran defenseman Brett Kulak last week. He said they wanted to “change the mix” on the blue line.

Does that mean he was concerned that with Girard, they might have been a little too small on the blue line?

“I don’t know if concern is the right word,” he said. “I just think hopefully come playoff time that we wanted to change the mix and see what it would look like with a different mix.”

The pace of the Avalanche has cooled in 2026. It was always going to. But this is still very much a team built to win it all.

Outside of the obvious names, no one should be untouchable if it makes this team better. It doesn’t sound like MacFarland disagrees.

“We’re going to leave no stone unturned, like we usually do,” he said. “If it makes sense, we’ve got some cap space to play with, and we’ll see if there’s the right fit. It’s got to make sense from the asset acquisition cost, but if we can improve the team, we’d like to try to do that.”

The Avalanche don’t have much in terms of valuable prospects to deal. They’ve got 2027 and 2028 first-round picks that can be moved, as well as a few second-round picks in 2027 that they can toss in. Beyond that, the cupboard is pretty bare. Might as well empty it out.

By moving Calum Ritchie last deadline for Brock Nelson, the Avalanche moved their one big-name prospect. No reason to stop now. Given the age of the core and the lack of prospects in the system, might as well continue to go all-in.

Whether it’s Kadri, Ryan O’Reilly, or any other center that might be available, (almost) everything and everyone should be on the table. The window is only going to be open for so much longer. Might as well maximize it.