The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators are at it again, making their second trade of the season in what’s becoming quite a familiar partnership.
This time, the Avs are getting Juuso Pärssinen and a 2026 seventh-round pick, while the Predators receive Ondrej Pavel and a 2027 third-rounder.
It’s not exactly a surprise – Nashville’s been trying to move Pärssinen for weeks now, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
These two teams clearly like doing business together. Just this past November, they swapped goalies Scott Wedgewood and Justus Annunen in a deal that’s worked out pretty well for both sides.
The numbers tell the story: Wedgewood’s been solid for Nashville with a 4-2-0 record and an impressive .932 save percentage. Annunen’s holding his own too, going 2-1-0 with a .941 save percentage in Colorado.
The Avs look like they’re getting the better end of this latest deal. Pärssinen is just 23, built like a tank at 6’3" and 212 pounds, and can play both center and wing. That’s the kind of flexibility teams dream about.
It’s been an interesting journey for the young Finn. After being picked in the seventh round back in 2019, he turned heads in his first pro season last year. He started in the minors but quickly earned his shot at the big leagues after racking up nine points in just 10 AHL games.
But things haven’t been smooth sailing in the NHL. While he managed a decent 25 points in 45 games as a rookie, he’s struggled to find his groove this season with just five points in 15 games in a fourth-line role.
The Predators are getting Pavel in return, though he’s spent most of his career in the minors. He’s played just two NHL games, and his AHL numbers aren’t exactly turning heads – only two points in 14 games this season.
This move might be more about what’s coming next for Nashville. They’ve got some exciting prospects waiting in the wings – Fedor Svechkov, Reid Schaefer, and Joakim Kemell are all tearing it up in the AHL.
With the team going 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, Predators GM Barry Trotz has been pretty clear: if things don’t improve, it’s time to give the young guns their shot.
