Denver Gazette beat writer Kyle Fredrickson takes you around the NHL and inside the Colorado Avalanche:

WHAT THEY SAID

“For years, the players have embraced the opportunity to compete for Olympic gold, and we are excited that today’s announcement makes it a certainty for our members in the 2026 and 2030 Olympic Winter Games. We also know that hockey fans worldwide have long been anticipating the next best-on-best international competition, and now they can finally see some of their favorite players represent their countries and line up together.”

—NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh on Friday in an online statement.

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WHAT I’M THINKING

—Thank goodness for the upcoming return of Olympic hockey. It hasn’t been played since 2014 when Canada took home gold over Sweden in the finals. Team USA lost to Finland in the bronze medal game. Will Cale Makar lead Canada back to a medal? The answer is more complicated than you might think. Right now, Makar is ineligible to compete in the Olympics.

—Hockey Canada announced in March 2023 that members of its 2018 World Juniors team were ineligible to play for Canada at international competitions, pending the results of an investigation of alleged sexual assault against team members. Makar is not among five players who reportedly surrendered last month to Ontario police in connection with those events.

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WHAT I’M READING

—Avalanche prospect Calum Ritchie, a 2023 first-round draft pick, was named player of the month for January by the Ontario Hockey League (via chl.ca). The 19-year-old center led the OHL with 26 points (nine goals) over that span. Ritchie is healthy following shoulder surgery and is now averaging 1.68 PPG.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

—All three Avalanche representatives in the All-Star skills competition won a different event. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev made nine saves vs. Connor McDavid to claim the one-on-one title. Makar fired a 102.5 MPH slapper to win the “hardest shot” challenge. Nathan MacKinnon took first in the one-timer competition.

—In the All-Star game (three-on-three tournament), Team MacKinnon lost in the semifinals to Team McDavid, 4-3, in a shootout. MacKinnon scored twice. His second goal was a high backhander that floated over the left shoulder of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (Panthers). Makar logged two assists. Georgiev made 9-of-10 saves in the first period.

—The Avalanche placed backup goalie Ivan Prosvetov on waivers Sunday. He cleared and was reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL). The Avs recalled Justus Annunen from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) as the No. 2 goaltender for the team’s upcoming six-game road swing.

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NHL INSIDER

The NHL arms race is heating up out West.

Are the Avs hot enough to keep pace? Two of the conference’s top teams added significant trade pieces over the past four days. Both players might have filled the Avalanche’s coveted second-line center position.

The Canucks added Elias Lindstrom; a 20-plus goal scorer in four of his last five seasons in Calgary. But he didn’t come cheap. The Canucks gave up forward Andrei Kuzmenko, a first-round draft pick, a fourth-round draft pick, and two prospects in return for Lindstrom.

The Jets traded for Sean Monahan after a resurgent season (35 points at the All-Star break) in Montreal. He also carried a high price tag. The Jets unloaded a first-round draft pick and a conditional future third-round pick in exchange for Monahan.

The Avalanche, with just over a month left until the March 8 deadline, were unable to land two of the most prized centers on the trade market. I don’t blame general manager Chris MacFarland. They aren’t worth the sticker price.

MacFarland is smart enough not to leverage huge pieces (first-round picks, prominent players, etc.) for a rental forward. Lindstrom and Monahan can become unrestricted free agents following this season. Why risk the farm for a single yield of crops?

But that doesn’t hide an ugly truth: The Avs are still searching for a reliable second-line center.

Ryan Johansen will get another shot out of the All-Star break playing with Artturi Lehkonen and newcomer Zach Parise. Johansen played well in stretches at 2C early this season before seeing a sharp decline in ice time. He needs to show the requisite consistency and effort needed to play in the top six.

MacFarland can’t sit idle while the Canucks, Jets, and other legit contenders out West load up with talent to make their playoff push. Because the Avalanche’s path to the Stanley Cup just got tougher. Their focus in the trade market now likely shifts to a reliable backup goaltender.

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THE LIST

Central Division standings out of the NHL All-Star break (as of Sunday afternoon).

1. Avalanche — 67 pts (32-14-3)

2. Stars — 66 pts (30-13-6)

3. Jets — 65 pts (30-12-5)

4. Blues — 54 pts (26-21-2)

5. Predators — 54 pts (26-23-2)

6. Coyotes — 49 pts (23-22-3)

7. Wild — 47 pts (21-23-5)

8. Blackhawks — 30 pts (14-34-2)

Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confers with center Ross Colton, left, and right wing Logan O’Connor during the third period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

David Zalubowski