The Nashville Predators have traded forward Yakov Trenin to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for 21-year-old defenseman Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 third-round draft pick.

Trenin, a 2015 second-round pick for the Nashville Predators, has played 283 career NHL games with the Predators after making his debut on October 19, 2019 for the franchise. The Russian forward scored his first career goal in his second NHL game on December 7, 2019 against the New Jersey Devils. Trenin scored 17 goals in 2021-2022 and tied his career high in points in 2022-2023 with 24. This season Trenin has scored ten goals and 14 points in 60 games.

Along with Trenin, Nashville sent 2022 fifth-round pick Graham Sward to the Avalanche. Sward, who is unsigned, is the current captain of the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild, where he is second amongst all defenders in scoring with 15 goals and 73 points in 58 games. Colorado has until this June to sign Sward to an entry-level contract (ELC) or he becomes a free agent.

Hanzel, like Sward, is an overage defender playing for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. The 6’1″ blueliner was picked in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and just signed an ELC, which is set to begin in 2024-25, earlier today.

Hanzel is ninth among WHL defenders in scoring with 13 goals and 50 points in 58 games. He plays heavy minutes for the Thunderbirds, and while his scoring totals might not be as impressive, his play-killing skills are likely an upgrade over Sward. Hanzel will start his pro career in Milwaukee next season and could matriculate to a depth position in Nashville one day.

The Trenin move came shortly after the Predators added Anthony Beauvillier to the roster in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.