Avalanche get Ryan Johansen in trade with Predators - ESPN

In need of a second-line center, the Colorado Avalanche acquired Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators in exchange for depth forward Alex Galchenyuk.

Finding a second-line center who could work within their salary cap constraints has been a priority for the Avalanche since they lost Nazem Kadri to the Calgary Flames in free agency last offseason after winning the Stanley Cup.

The trade for Johansen, who had 12 goals and 28 points in 55 games this season, fills both of the Avalanche's needs. The Predators are also retaining 50% of Johansen's contract, which has two years left at $8 million annually. Meanwhile, Galchenyuk is a pending unrestricted free agent who spent most of the 2022-23 season playing in the AHL and had zero points in 11 games with the Avs.

«Ryan is a talented, veteran center who helps our top six,» Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. «He gives us size in the middle of the ice and brings leadership and experience to our roster. We look forward to adding him to our team.»

Johansen, 30, had been with the Predators since the 2015-16 season after he was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal that saw defenseman Seth Jones head in the other direction.

Losing Kadri in free agency along with their cap challenges forced the Avalanche to rely on a rotation of players to fill that second-line center void. J.T. Compher would eventually offer the sort of two-way stability that gave the Avs a second-line anchor who scored 17 goals and finished with a career-high 52 points before they were eliminated in the first round by the Seattle Kraken.

Getting knocked out in the first round gave the Avalanche an early start on trying to retool their roster. Compher is one of eight pending