Jan. 24, 2025 was one of those nights where Avalanche fans will remember exactly where they were when they heard the news. One year later, it feels like a lifetime ago.

Saturday marks the first anniversary of the Avalanche trading away Mikko Rantanen, a move that shook the foundation of the NHL. In return, Colorado received forward Martin Necas and center Jack Drury, who picked up two assists in Colorado’s ugly 7-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Ball Arena.

It’s not just about who the Avalanche received in the trade, but the cap space they received with the move for this season. Because any Rantanen extension would have kicked in this year, it would have limited Colorado’s ability to add more over the summer.

Including a second-line center.

“I love Mikko as a player and as a person. It was sad to see him go, but our team would look completely different than it does now,” Jared Bednar said on Friday morning. “Whether that’s Jack, Marty, the ability to sign Brock Nelson, all those things come into it in the offseason. I’m kind of under the mindset that I coach the players that I have, and I love our team.”

Rantanen is currently making $12 million this season with the Dallas Stars, while Necas and Drury are combining to make just $8.25 million. That will obviously change after this season when Necas’ massive extension kicks in and Drury signs his new deal, but it was this year that was important for Colorado. That nearly $4 million difference is a big deal, one that has allowed the Avalanche to build a deeper group, a big reason why they currently are setting the pace in the NHL.

For Necas, who will be a very rich man starting next season, he’s just trying to focus on the future, a future he hopes will include a Stanley Cup.

“It was a good place in Carolina, but I’m extremely happy to be here,” Necas said on the eve of the anniversary. “Being locked in here for another eight years is great and (we’ll) try to win as much as possible.”

And winning is ultimately all people care about. The Avalanche won with Rantanen in their lineup and watched their former star play a major role in ending their last season. That’s still fresh in everyone’s minds. If the Avalanche can get it done with Necas, Nelson, and Drury in the lineup, whether this year, next year, or the year after, that series against Dallas will be a distant memory.

They’ll need fewer games like the one they had on Friday night if they want that to happen, though.

Flyers 7, Avalanche 3

What happened: Colorado controlled the majority of the play for the first 40 minutes but fell apart in the third period.

What went right: The only reason this game wasn’t 3-0 after 10 minutes was Sam Ersson, who stonewalled the Avalanche in the first. Colorado was creating plenty of chances, but they weren’t finishing anything. That ultimately caught up to them later in the game.

What went wrong: There isn’t really any other way to describe it: the power play is a mess. It creates chances, but not nearly at the rate the Avalanche would want. But enough has been said about the poor power play. It was the start of the third period that buried the Avalanche in this game, as the Flyers scored twice in the first two minutes to take control. “I don’t know what happened at the start (of the third),” Bednar said. “Mismanaging the puck and then just not heading to the right spot. I mean, the start of the third was horrible.”

Avalanche goal scorers: Kelly (10), Olofsson (10), Makar (15)

Flyers goal scorers: Tippett (16,17,18), Barkey (2), Brink (13), Michkov (11,12)

Between the pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood has struggled in his two starts since returning from injury and gave up six goals on just 19 shots. “He’s got to get in the groove,” Bednar said of Blackwood. “Hasn’t played enough hockey. He’s got to get going.” Scott Wedgewood backed up but missed morning skate as he and his wife welcomed a baby girl to the world on Thursday.

What’s next: The Avalanche head out on the road for four games, starting Sunday when they play the Maple Leafs in Toronto at 11:30 a.m. The Gazette will be on the road with the team for the next three games.