Mittelstadt notched an assist in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Bruins. Mittelstadt remains the second-line center for now, but things could change. The Avalanche are thin down the middle, but their trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina freed up cap space that could allow them to add a top-six forward.

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Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen has started to play center a bit. Have started hearing that Casey Mittelstadt could become available ahead of the trade deadline.

Rantanen notched an assist, two blocked shots and two PIM in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Oilers.

The Colorado Avalanche pulled off a huge trade Friday, but they may not be done dealing. Here are three NHL veterans the Avs can pursue as they remain all-in.

Mikko Rantanen, the good solider and Nathan MacKinnon’s ... The Avs’ hottest line right now is its second one, with the trio of Jonathan Drouin, Casey Mittelstadt and Artturi Lehkonen accounting for four goals and 10 points against the Stars.

Recent rumors have suggested that Colorado Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt could be on the trading block. This made me wonder: what if Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams decided to try to bring back the organization’s eighth-overall pick from 2017?

The trade also features Martin Necas, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick heading to Colorado, while Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall move to Carolina and Chicago retains 50 percent of Rantanen's salary and receives a 2025 third-round pick.

As NHLRumors.com has documented, Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland has been busy reshaping this roster. It started with the goaltending, bringing in Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood. Even with the upgrades in the goaltending position, the Avalanche felt they did a couple of seasons ago before they got Nazem Kadri.

Jared Bednar has been known to rely heavily on his top forwards, often overplaying the top line to the point where some nights you wouldn't know the Avalanche were even dressing 12 forwards. That was not the case in Sunday's 5-4 win over the New York Rangers.

On the surface, the Colorado Avalanche made a pretty baffling decision last week (Jan. 24). Trading an in-his-prime franchise legend like Mikko Rantanen doesn’t usually go over well in the eyes of public opinion.