The Colorado Avalanche pulled off a huge trade Friday, but they may not be done dealing. Here are three NHL veterans the Avs can pursue as they remain all-in.

Mittelstadt notched an assist in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Bruins. Mittelstadt remains the second-line center for now, but things could change. The Avalanche are thin down the middle, but their trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina freed up cap space that could allow them to add a top-six forward.

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Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen has started to play center a bit. Have started hearing that Casey Mittelstadt could become available ahead of the trade deadline.

Necas and Jack Drury were traded to the Avalanche on Friday night in a stunning three-team trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes were awaiting a Saturday night tilt with the Islanders when they found out about the deal.

The massive, three-team trade sending Mikko Rantanen to Carolina could have been very different. Both J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson were in rumours involving the Hurricanes leading up to this week.

On Friday night, as many expected would happen, a Western Conference team traded away one of their top offensive players in a blockbuster deal. But contrary to expectations, that team was not the Vancouver Canucks.

Mikko Rantanen, the good solider and Nathan MacKinnon’s ... The Avs’ hottest line right now is its second one, with the trio of Jonathan Drouin, Casey Mittelstadt and Artturi Lehkonen accounting for four goals and 10 points against the Stars.

Makar scored again to give Colorado a 3-2 lead at 14:36 of the period with the Avs on the power play. Necas reversed the puck from the right side of the ice to the left, then MacKinnon set up Makar at the top of the zone for his 18th goal of the season.

Martin Necas had two assists, nearly scored twice himself and excelled on the top line. Jack Drury scored a goal and centered a new-look depth line while all 12 Avs forwards played more than 10 minutes, a departure from the usual top-heavy distribution.

The loss leaves the Rangers (24-21-4) three points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the two wild-card berths in the Eastern Conference. They are also one point behind the Ottawa Senators and two behind the Montreal Canadiens.