Avalanche acquire Nick Blankenburg from Predators
The Colorado Avalanche have acquired defenseman Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, the club announced Wednesday evening.
Blankenburg, 27, has six goals and 21 points while averaging 17:58 of ice time in 49 games with the Predators this season. The 5’9″ right-shot defender is under contract through the end of the 2025-26 season at a $775,000 NHL cap hit.
The league-leading Avalanche have reshaped the bottom end of their defensive group in a significant way this season, having already swapped Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak in a previous trade back in February.
We have acquired defenseman Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Welcome to Colorado, Nick! 🏔️
An undrafted player, Blankenburg made his NHL debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021-22 season after signing with them as a free agent from the University of Michigan. Prior to his NCAA career, Blankenburg played with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers in the 2017-18 season.
Blankenburg spent parts of three NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets to begin his professional career but was demoted to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters midway through the 2023-24 campaign. The Washington, Mich. product departed Columbus the following summer to sign with the Predators as an unrestricted free agent.
While playing with the Predators in the 2024-25 season, Blankenburg set new career highs in games played (60) and average time on ice (19:33). He has already established new highs in goals, assists, and points with the Predators this year.
Blankenburg is the third Predators depth player to be traded in the last two days after Michael McCarron and Cole Smith were dealt to the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, respectively, on Tuesday night. The Predators currently rank fifth in the Central Division with a 27-26-8 record and 62 points through 61 games.
Through 164 career NHL games over parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets and Predators, Blankenburg has collected 16 goals and 55 points. He has yet to make his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.