Colorado Avalanche: 5 Players the Avalanche Should Trade for

The Colorado Avalanche have had an up and down year so far and are looking to try and get their season back on track.

One of the ways the Avalanche might consider in order to make this improvement is the trade market, where there are some seriously interesting prospects.

Looking at Colorado, their biggest need is in their forwards, both in size and scoring ability.

Here are some players that would help the Avalanche improve their team.

Jason Spezza

Jason Spezza is a fantastic option for the Avalanche to consider trading for.

He's a center, so he doesn't fit the biggest need on the wing for the Avalanche, but he still provides everything they really need.

If Spezza were traded to the Avalanche today, he would come in as the team's leader in points, with 23, and although he may not play like a power forward, the guy is still 6'3" and 215 pounds—He's a big body that is strong on the puck and produces points.

Jason Spezza would make much more of an impact offensively and could help spur on other teammates to better offensive production as well.

Rick Nash

Rick Nash's time in Columbus might be coming to an end.

People have been mentioning Nash's name in trade rumors several times this year, asking whether or not Nash should request a trade out of Columbus (something that the Columbus front office denies that he has done).

Nash has been part of the sinking ship in Columbus for a long time now, and it might warrant the Blue Jackets deciding to just move on and attempt to find a new leader.

Nash would make a great addition to the Avalanche roster, or any roster for that matter, with his size and skill with the puck.

He would fit amazingly on a line with Matt Duchene and could become one of the most dynamic one-two punches in hockey.

The Avalanche would have to give up a pretty big price for Nash, but I think it could be done without significantly hurting the team's depth.

Paul Stastny would no doubt be part of this trade, along with either a couple top prospects or possibly future draft picks.

Players like Tyson Barrie, Calvin Pickard or Trevor Cann could be used in addition to Stastny to help Columbus look to the future of their franchise.

Bobby Ryan

Through Anaheim's recent struggles, Bobby Ryan has stated that he wouldn't be surprised if he was traded from the Anaheim Ducks.

It seems that most of the trade rumors surrounding Ryan have died off with the firing of Randy Carlyle and the hiring of Bruce Boudreau.

Nonetheless, with how heavily he has been shopped around, the possibility could still remain.

Ryan is another big, strong, power forward with an immense amount of skill that could make the Avalanche roster so much better.

Rene Bourque

Rene Bourque found himself in the middle of some trade rumors thanks to Calgary's very slow start to the season.

Though he isn't the scoring force that most of these other guys are, Bourque is still a very skilled player that has a lot of grit to his game that Colorado could use.

The Avalanche have a habit of not showing up to play every single game, and a guy like Bourque would hopefully make that a thing of the past with the way he shows up for every game.

It also wouldn't hurt to have this guy on the Avalanche team because he always seems to score whenever he plays against Colorado.

People might think that the Avalanche wouldn't be interested in trading with Calgary since they are within the division, but allow me to respond with two names: Chris Drury and Alex Tanguay.

The Avalanche traded both Drury and Tanguay to Calgary for players that never worked out. Colorado has a history of dealing with Calgary and could do so again.

Zach Parise

Zach Parise stands to be the possible prize of this year's trade market.

The incredibly talented Parise was a restricted free agent with the Devils last season and was unable to work out a long-term deal to keep him in New Jersey.

Now, there is word that Parise may want to test the free-agent market at the end of this season which could prompt the Devils to try and get something for him before he leaves.

Zach Parise is a perfect fit to the Avalanche roster and brings something that the Avalanche desperately need, an elite scorer that could tally 40-plus goals.

The Avalanche should be very aggressive in getting Parise if the possibility exists.

Kevin Goff is a Featured Columnist for the Colorado Avalanche and NHL on Bleacher Report. For more NHL news and discussion,