The Colorado Avalanche traded for defender Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night. In return, the Predators got a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Blankenburg is a right-handed defender who is 27-years-old. He is an undrafted defender who started his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021–22 season.

He then moved to the Nashville Predators as a free agent before the 2024 season. Blankenburg played 55 games in Columbus with 18 points.

In Nashville, the American played 109 games during a career year. In 49 games this season, he’s recorded six goals and 15 assists.

Three of his goals have come on the power play, and he has seven power-play points. This season, he is shooting over 10 percent and averaged just under 18 minutes a night.

Blankenburg stands at 5-foot-9, weighing in at 177 pounds. But he will throw his body around, with 201 career hits and 201 career blocks. He does so while moving the puck nicely and having good skating skills.


Interestingly, he has been described as a lesser Samuel Girard. Blakenburg has followed the same career path as Girard, moving from Nashville to Colorado.

The right side of the defense for the Avalanche is full with Cale Makar, Brent Burns, and Sam Malinski. Expect Blankenburg to likely play on his off-wing when in the lineup, similar to Josh Manson. Otherwise, he makes for a solid seventh defenseman, ready to join the action when called upon. He can be more reliable than the current options of Keaton Middleton and Jack Ahcan, or even Jacob MacDonald.


Blankenburg also comes in as a cheap and reliable asset. He is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of only $775,000 in year two of his contract. After the move, the Avs still have just over $9 million to work with, including the LTIR money from Logan O’Connor’s contract.

However, draft capital continues taking a hit for the Avalanche.

With just under 48 hours left until the trade deadline closes, Colorado has made two moves on the backend. Time will tell if they make a move for another defender or make a splash on either the wing or center up top.