On Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins completed a trade involving Trent Frederic, but it was reported that another blockbuster deal nearly happened involving the Colorado Avalanche.
New Jersey played a big part of this trade, retaining 50% of Frederic's salary and would send the Bruins the rights to unsigned draft pick Petr Hauser. The Bruins used Hauser and flipped him along with Jones to the Oilers in exchange for Max Wanner, a 2025 2nd-round pick, and a 2026 4th round-pick.
Leaked Failed Trade Between The Bruins and Avalanche
An NHL insider publicly leaked that this trade almost didn't take place because the Avalanche were trying to work out a deal with the Bruins.
Haefele reported that the Avalanche were willing to part ways with some highly-touted prospects like Cal Ritchie, and Sam Malinski to make the deal happen.
The other big piece of news was the Edmonton Oilers acquiring Trent Frederic and Max Jones in exchange for picks and prospects in a three-team trade for the purposes of salary retention. We've heard the Avs were in this one until the very end and that Colorado loved Frederic. The intrigue here is that the deal the Avs were working through was larger than just Frederic and could have included top Avalanche prospect Cal Ritchie and defenseman Sam Malinski. That obviously would have been for far more than Frederic as the target is believed to have been Colorado native Brandon Carlo.
Recently, the Avalanche made a move to improve their depth by acquiring Ryan Lindgren, and Jimmy Vesey from the New York Rangers.
Due to them not being able to acquire Trent Frederic, and Brandon Carlo, there is so rumours that the Avalanche may be looking to make another big trade ahead of Friday's trade deadline.