Avalanche Acquire Nick Blankenburg from Predators for Fifth-Round Pick The Colorado Avalanche have bolstered their defensive corps by acquiring defenseman Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Blankenburg, 24, has played in 16 games with the Predators this season, tallying one goal and four assists. The University of Michigan product made his NHL debut on Oct. 14 against the Minnesota Wild and has also suited up for the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL). "Nick is a talented young defenseman who has shown flashes of brilliance during his time with Nashville," said Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic. "We're excited to have him join our organization and contribute to our team's success." The acquisition of Blankenburg adds depth and versatility to Colorado's blue line, which has been dealing with injuries to key players like Samuel Girard and Devon Toews. The move also allows the Predators to rebuild their defensive corps, which has struggled at times this season. Blankenburg is expected to join the Avalanche for their upcoming road trip, which begins on March 21 against the Calgary Flames.#Colorado_Avalanche #Calgary_Flames #Nick_Blankenburg #Nashville_Predators #University_of_Michigan #Minnesota_Wild #Milwaukee_Admirals #Samuel_Girard #Devon_Toews
Predators Acquire Fifth-Round Pick in 2027 NHL Draft From Colorado The Nashville Predators have acquired a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft from the Colorado Avalanche, it was announced today. The Predators sent forward Jeremy Lauzon to Colorado in exchange for the draft selection. Lauzon, a 25-year-old defenseman, has played parts of four seasons with the Predators, accumulating 15 points (4g-11a) and 74 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 14 playoff games with Nashville, recording two assists. "We are grateful to Colorado for this opportunity," said Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile. "Jeremy is a good player who has given us everything we've asked of him, but at times he's struggled to find consistent playing time. We believe this move will give him the chance to continue his development and potentially play a bigger role with Colorado." The acquisition of the fifth-round pick in 2027 gives Nashville an additional asset for its rebuild efforts. The Predators have been busy retooling their roster over the past year, making several trades aimed at shedding salary and acquiring draft picks. "We're excited to add another piece to our organizational puzzle," Poile added. "We believe this move will help us in our long-term goals of building a competitive team that can make a deep playoff run."#Colorado_Avalanche #Nashville_Predators #NHL_Draft #Jeremy_Lauzon #David_Poile
Nashville Predators Trade Nick Blankenburg to Colorado Avalanche for 5th Round Pick The Nashville Predators have made a move ahead of the NHL trade deadline, dealing defenseman Nick Blankenburg to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft. The transaction was announced by the team late Tuesday afternoon. Blankenburg, 24, has appeared in just five games with the Predators this season, recording one assist and averaging around 12 minutes of ice time per contest. Despite his limited action, the Michigan native has shown flashes of promise at the NHL level, and the Avalanche will look to utilize his skills on their blue line. The 5th round pick acquired by Nashville is a valuable asset for an organization looking to bolster its prospect pool. The Predators have been busy this season, making several trades aimed at strengthening their roster for a potential playoff run. In Blankenburg, the Avalanche are getting a player who can provide depth and versatility on the back end. With the trade deadline just hours away, Colorado has now added another piece to its lineup in an effort to bolster its chances of advancing deep into the playoffs.#Michigan #Colorado_Avalanche #NHL #Nick_Blankenburg #Nashville_Predators
