What position does Avalanche need to address at NHL trade deadline?

Sean Keeler: Val’s back! You hope that’s a good thing for the big guy, first and foremost. But I’ll tell you what: It’s an unquestionably amazing thing for the Avalanche, which has been running the Indy 500 on three wheels for what feels like a month now. Jared Bednar’s dudes could use a shot in the arm. Oh, and a hammer on the power play. There aren’t many 6-foot-4 power forwards on the open market averaging more than a point per game while also knocking home a baker’s dozen goals off the PP (13) in barely half a season of work. Now that one hole has (hopefully) been filled by Valeri Nichushkin, how would you like to see the Avs go about patching up some of the others before the March 8 trade deadline?

Corey Masisak: The Avs could probably use one more top-nine forward, and they could definitely use one more center. If that player can check both boxes, that would be great. A big question is how much faith do Colorado’s decision-makers have in Ryan Johansen’s ability to find another level? But a bigger one is how do the Avs add a center capable of playing second- or third-line minutes given the severe salary cap restrictions? If they can do it by including Johansen and paying extra (in assets) to cover his $4 million cap hit next year, that could work. If they have to include Bo Byram or Sam Girard, then it gets a little dicey.