Colorado Avalanche acquire Yakov Trenin from Nashville Predators

The Colorado Avalanche have acquired centre Yakov Trenin and defensive prospect Graham Sward from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick and defensive prospect Jeremy Hanzel.

Trenin, 27, is a pending unrestricted free agent in the final season of a two-year, $3.4-million contract that carries a $1.7-million cap charge, the full freight of which was absorbed by the Avs – no salary retention.

Yakov Trenin, acquired by COL, is a physical forechecking two-way winger who kills penalties. On top of his excellent defensive impact he can also chip in offensively off extended possessions. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/G2MxVQ5bRa

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 7, 2024

The Trenin acquisition – paired with Brandon Duhaime only moments prior and Casey Mittelstadt yesterday – just further bolsters their forward ranks, adding much-needed depth to a team that was a bit top-heavy coming into the week. He's a diligent defensive player, a fearless forechecker, and has more scoring touch than his meagre 14 points in 60 contests this season would suggest.

The prospect swap is fascinating in its own right. Sward probably has more cachet within the industry, the result of his offensive explosion with the WHL's Wenatchee Wild this season, where he's hit 73 points in 58 contests; Hanzel, though, is probably held in better esteem within our ranks, though. 

It's also hard not to like this deal philosophically for the Predators. Their recent eight-game winning streak has probably done enough to lock them into a wildcard spot, but this is a team that desperately needs to accumulate futures to try and unlock star power as they go through their retool. Moving Trenin almost certainly doesn't jeopardize that playoff push, but helps them acquire young assets, around which they can build a credible contender.