Nathan MacKinnon excited to play with Brock Nelson after the Avalanche acquire the former NY Islanders center

With only a few hours remaining before the 3 pm trade deadline, the Colorado Avalanche are all in on making a Stanley Cup run this season.

The Avs acquired Brock Nelson and William Dufour last night in exchange for Calum Ritchie, a conditional 2026 first-round pick, Oliver Kylington (who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations), and a conditional 2028 third-round pick.

Making the two biggest splashes in the trade market this season in shipping Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in a deal that saw Martin Necas head to the mile-high city, the Avs have now acquired a player in Nelson who may be thie biggest name to move on deadline day.

MacKinnon excited to have Nelson

With a need at center, Nelson fills that role perfectly, and will play behind one of the best centers in the league in Nathan MacKinnon, who is happy to have some help as he makes a push for his second Stanley Cup in the last four years.

"Yeah, I know Brock (Nelson) from over the years, we have the same strength coach so we've been to the same camps, and [I'm] really excited," said MacKinnon after the Avs 7-3 win over the San Jose Sharks last night. "He's an amazing player. Yeah, really happy."

MacKinnon, coming off an MVP performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off where he and Canada defeated Nelson and the USA in the final, is glad to see his team is going all-in, looking to add to his trophy cabinet this season.

"We have to (go all-in), this is our year," said MacKinnon. "It's up to us, but there's no other way. We're not in rebuild mode yet."

Nelson will make his debut with the Avalanche tomorrow night as Colorado hosts the Toronto Maples Leafs.