CBS NEWS: Nathan MacKinnon Completes Transfer Swap, Commits to Colorado Avalanche Through the Transfer Portal
April 23, 2025 — Denver, CO — In a stunning and unprecedented move shaking the landscape of professional hockey, superstar forward Nathan MacKinnon has completed a high-profile transfer swap and recommitted to the Colorado Avalanche via the newly implemented NHL Transfer Portal.
The 29-year-old center had briefly entered the portal earlier this month, triggering speculation across the league about a potential departure from Denver. Multiple franchises, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, were rumored to be aggressively pursuing the former Hart Trophy winner. However, the Avalanche front office moved swiftly to reconfigure its roster, facilitating a swap that ultimately brought MacKinnon back into the fold on a long-term commitment.
“We’re thrilled to have Nathan back where he belongs,” said Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland during a press conference Tuesday evening. “This was a fluid situation, and we used every tool at our disposal within the new transfer system to keep a generational talent in Colorado.”
The deal hinged on what league sources are calling a “mutual transfer swap,” a concept introduced in the NHL’s experimental transfer portal system, which mirrors collegiate athletic models allowing player movement and real-time negotiations. In this case, the Avalanche sent defenseman Bowen Byram and future draft considerations to the Detroit Red Wings, freeing up cap space and triggering a conditional clause that allowed MacKinnon’s transfer window to be rescinded.
The result: MacKinnon signs a restructured five-year, $68 million deal, ensuring he remains the face of the franchise through the 2029-2030 season.
“This is home,” MacKinnon said in a statement released via social media. “I needed time to explore what was best for my future, but ultimately, I want to win more Cups here in Colorado. The fans, my teammates, the city—it all means too much.”
MacKinnon’s temporary presence in the portal had created a frenzy across the league. Teams cleared cap space and maneuvered assets in hopes of landing the elite playmaker, who has racked up over 900 career points and led Colorado to the Stanley Cup in 2022. His return stabilizes a franchise that had been dealing with injury concerns, a shaky playoff outlook, and mounting pressure following an early postseason exit last year.
“Huge win for the Avs,” said CBS Sports hockey analyst Mike Rupp. “MacKinnon is not just a top-five player—he’s the soul of that locker room. Letting him walk, even temporarily, would’ve been catastrophic.”
Reactions from fans were swift and overwhelmingly positive, with #MacKinnonReturns trending nationwide on Tuesday night. Ball Arena is expected to sell out the remainder of the season following the announcement.
The NHL’s pilot use of the transfer portal system—designed to increase flexibility for players while preserving competitive balance—continues to generate debate. But in Colorado, there’s little controversy. MacKinnon is back, and so is the Avalanche’s hope for another championship run.
CBS News will continue to monitor the league’s response to this historic transaction and what it might mean for the future of player mobility in the NHL.