The Avalanche has a clear need on the blue line. Colorado has added several options to be the No. 6 defenseman since the end of last season, including de Haan as a free agent, but none of them have found a regular, successful spot next to Sam Malinski on the third pairing.

The Rangers are four points out of a playoff spot and did not want to let pending unrestricted free agents walk for nothing.

The Colorado Avalanche acquired forwards Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey and the rights to defensive prospect Hank Kempf from the New York Rangers on Saturday.