The Colorado Avalanche are no strangers to making strategic moves at the trade deadline, and it looks like they may be circling back to a familiar name this time around. While much of the recent chatter has revolved around big-ticket players like Artemi Panarin, Ryan O’Reilly, or even a potential reunion with Nazem Kadri, the Avs might be zeroing in on a different kind of addition-one that fits a very specific need on their blue line.
Enter Mario Ferraro.
At 27, Ferraro is a versatile defenseman who can play both the left and right side, and his style of play could be exactly what Colorado needs in its bottom pairings. The Avalanche have reportedly checked in on Ferraro before, and there’s a sense that this might finally be the right time to make something happen.
His current $3.25 million cap hit is manageable, especially for a team like Colorado that’s already investing heavily in its top-four defensemen. In fact, Ferraro would come in as the fourth-highest paid D-man on the roster, behind only Josh Manson’s $4.5 million.
The San Jose Sharks, Ferraro’s current team, are in an interesting spot. While both sides reportedly have interest in a contract extension, the Sharks are open for business-at least when it comes to everyone not named Dmitry Orlov, Sam Dickinson, or Shakir Mukhamadullin.
That leaves Ferraro as a potentially valuable trade chip. If San Jose decides to move him, they could either re-sign him down the road or watch him become one of the more sought-after free agents on the market.
As of now, there’s no clear asking price from San Jose, but the picture is starting to come into focus. The Sharks are holding onto the second wild card spot in the West with a 26-21-3 record, and they’ve got a mix of promising young talent and veteran leadership. Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and William Eklund are showing real flashes, and veterans like Tyler Toffoli and John Klingberg are helping steady the ship.
Goaltending isn’t a need-they’ve got Yaroslav Askarov locked in as the present and future between the pipes-and they’ve already added Keifer Sherwood, who could become a key middle-six contributor if he keeps up his scoring pace. San Jose also has a deep prospect pool, with names like Michael Misa, Quentin Musty, and Filip Bystedt waiting in the wings.
So what would a Ferraro deal look like?
Don’t expect the Sharks to demand a first-rounder, but draft picks will certainly be part of the equation. Colorado has six picks between the fourth and seventh rounds, and a second-rounder in 2027 could be a piece that gets talks moving. With San Jose holding over $8.8 million in cap space and an available retention slot, the Avalanche could also ask the Sharks to retain some salary, potentially bringing Ferraro’s hit down to the $2.75-$3 million range to help make the numbers work.
If a deal does go down, the Avalanche will need to shuffle the deck a bit to make room. Assuming both Devon Toews and Gabriel Landeskog are healthy and back in the lineup, Colorado could send down Jack Ahcan and a waiver-exempt forward to open up a roster spot.
The bigger question is whether any current roster defensemen-like Samuel Girard or Sam Malinski-would be part of the trade, or if the deal is strictly centered around picks and prospects. For now, let’s assume the latter.
On the ice, Ferraro would likely slot into the third pairing, but don’t let that fool you-he’s a high-usage guy who averaged over 20 minutes a night with the Sharks. In San Jose, he found chemistry playing on the left side with Timothy Liljegren, a pairing that allowed Ferraro to focus on the defensive side while supporting his partner’s offensive instincts. That same formula could work in Colorado, where pairing Ferraro with Malinski-who’s enjoying a breakout offensive season-could give the Avs a more balanced third pair.
Ferraro’s presence would also bolster an already elite penalty kill. Colorado’s PK ranks among the league’s best at 84.4%, and adding Ferraro to a unit that could feature Toews, Jack Drury, and Parker Kelly would only make it more formidable. A second unit with Brock Nelson, Artturi Lehkonen, Manson, and Cale Makar would give the Avalanche enviable depth when down a man.
All of this comes at a time when the Avalanche are in a bit of a holding pattern. They’ve gone 4-4-2 in their last 10 but still sit comfortably atop the Central Division by 10 points.
They’re also just nine points behind the NHL’s top spot. So while there’s no panic in Denver, there’s also no complacency.
A move like this-adding a dependable, defensively sound, minutes-eating blueliner-might not make the biggest headlines, but it could be the kind of under-the-radar upgrade that pays dividends in the postseason.
The Avalanche have built their identity on speed, skill, and structure. Ferraro fits that mold. If they can make the money work and the price is right, don’t be surprised to see him wearing burgundy and blue before the deadline buzzer sounds.