Rumor: 2022-2023 Free Agency and Trade Rumors: STILL searching for a 2C

[Northern Avs Fan]

I prefer Lehkonen over Burakovsky.

Burakovsky is clearly better offensively, because he can drive play better, but Lehkonen offers so much more versatility. He plays the bumper spot on the power play, while Bura only plays on the wall, spots occupied by MacKinnon and Rantanen.

Lehkonen also checks and pressures the opposition in a way that Burakovsky doesn’t.

We’re a little for removed from it now, so maybe it’s forgotten, but Burakovsky was a turnover liability with the lead in Colorado. He frequently got benched because he would lose the team games because of turnovers. Obviously he’s a good player, but I prefer Lekhonen.

Kadri is missed more than anyone else.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

Not true.


I also dont get the 2nd part either. LOC is significantly better, although Cogs is actually having a really nice season. LOC is just better.


But even if that's your argument, it still makes literally no sense to trade LOC. Cogliano is 35. Helm is 35. If you trade LOC our 13th forward is Malgin, our 14th forward is Meyers. That is poor depth. We also know that LOC/Helm/Cogs is a very capable 4th line that can tilt the ice our way in the playoffs, we saw it last year.


Why would you trade the guy on a good contract for 2 more years out of that group, while keeping the older guys making more money who aren't sign beyond this year. It would be terrible asset management.

I don’t know… I think Helm, Cogliano, LOC, and Nieto are all very interchangeable.

I can understand the preference of keeping LOC because he has term and is younger, but I don’t think he’s a step above those other guys.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I actually prefer Lehkonen over Burakovsky as well. Especially factoring in the $4.5M for Lehky versus $5.5M for Bura.


But this conversation has never been about preference or even who's the better player. The conversation has always been about offensive ability and what we're missing by not having Bura's offensive ability in the lineup.

That is where Burakovsky is being missed. He was a fantastic puck carrier in the neutral zone, drew a lot of attention to himself when he had the puck and was able to make open space for others by doing so. He was also a much better pure goal scorer then Lehkonen, well all remember that shot of his. He was a real play driver for us at 5 on 5. He was able to produce offense even when he was away from Mack/Mikko, which is a big part of where we're missing him. His absence has been a partial reason why Bednar has felt the need to split up Mack/Mikko this year. Last year he didn't need to split them up because Kadri/Bura were able to produce themselves in a 2nd line role quite well. This year we're not getting any secondary production whatsoever when Mack/Mikko are together and that is what is killing us.


Kadri is clearly the bigger piece being missed, but Burky is being felt as well. The Avs only have 2 forward capable of producing offense by themselves in the lineup right now, Landy coming back would give them 3. Compared to last year when they had basically 5 guys.

 

[Balthazar]

I prefer Lehkonen over Burakovsky.

Burakovsky is clearly better offensively, because he can drive play better, but Lehkonen offers so much more versatility. He plays the bumper spot on the power play, while Bura only plays on the wall, spots occupied by MacKinnon and Rantanen.

Lehkonen also checks and pressures the opposition in a way that Burakovsky doesn’t.

We’re a little for removed from it now, so maybe it’s forgotten, but Burakovsky was a turnover liability with the lead in Colorado. He frequently got benched because he would lose the team games because of turnovers. Obviously he’s a good player, but I prefer Lekhonen.

Kadri is missed more than anyone else.

Bura is better at skating the puck into the o-zone and has a better shot. He's worse at everything else at hockey.

The whole point of this discussion though was that we don't miss Bura because he's been replaced with a better well rounded player who offers similar stats offensively.

I really don't think Bura would have a good season with the current Avs team.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I don’t know… I think Helm, Cogliano, LOC, and Nieto are all very interchangeable.

I can understand the preference of keeping LOC because he has term and is younger, but I don’t think he’s a step above those other guys.

Statistically, LOC is pretty far ahead of the other 3, although Nieto really fits this team well and will likely see his numbers rise away from the Sharks. Though again Cogs is having a decent season. They really dont need to trade any of them. That's 4 guys who are all decent 4th liners for us, that's good playoff depth.


This should be the Avs lineup in a perfect health world:


Lehky - Mack - Nuke
Landy - 2C - Mikko
Newhook - JTC - ERod
LOC - Cogliano* - Nieto
Helm/Malgin

*If Cogs is capable of playing Center. No idea if he can though.


Trade for a 2C at the deadline and IMO you look at upgrading Newhooks spot via trade.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I really want Larkin, but I don’t think he’s going to get moved

 

[The Abusement Park]

Bura is better at skating the puck into the o-zone and has a better shot. He's worse at everything else at hockey.

The whole point of this discussion though was that we don't miss Bura because he's been replaced with a better well rounded player who offers similar stats offensively.

I really don't think Bura would have a good season with the current Avs team.

Except we do miss Bura because our offense is significantly worse due to his loss. I don't see a world where Lehk is this productive driving his own line, being stapled to Mack he should be this productive.

And this isn't me saying I don't like Lehk, we need him he's integral to the success of this team. But he's in no way replaced Bura or his role on this team.

 

[henchman21]

Lehkonen GSVA this year: 2.1

Burakovsky last year: 1.8

@henchman24

Different roles for different players. Avs flat out struggle scoring 5v5. Lehky doesn’t at all help that. Burkie is incredibly good at driving goals 5v5. You need 5v5 goals to win and win in the playoffs. If the Avs don’t find it… they’re kinda F.

The point here isn’t who is the better player. The point is who addresses the Avs’ needs more effectively.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Burakovsky wouldn't be able to drive his own line this year either without kadri and a healthy Nuke.

 

[Mighty Makar]

Did we trade for O’Reilly, yet?

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Burakovsky wouldn't be able to drive his own line this year either without kadri and a healthy Nuke.

I think he would. Certainly better then anybody else on this current Avs team. He's a genuinely good 5 on 5 player.


Crazy how everyone is just sleeping on such a vital aspect of the game.

 

[Azrael89]

Did we trade for O’Reilly, yet?

This is now a Burakovsky thread apparently.

 

[henchman21]

Burakovsky wouldn't be able to drive his own line this year either without kadri and a healthy Nuke.

Avs need a 2C that can drive more than Burkie, absolutely. Avs miss Burkie’s ability to out kick his coverage on finishing. Avs were a team (mainly driven by the top 2 lines) that could finish at a higher than expected rate for 60ish% of the toi. That’s now down to 30ish% and then we wonder why they can’t score 5v5. It simply comes down to no finishing talent at all in the bottom 9, unless MacK and Mikko are split… which limits effectiveness (mainly for Mikko).

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Really hope ROR isn't the target. Watching him tonight, dude is slow as molasses. He makes Dermy look speedy

 

[Avsboy]

Really hope ROR isn't the target. Watching him tonight, dude is slow as molasses. He makes Dermy look speedy

It would be a pretty historical event if he was reacquired, though, for Avs and NHL as a whole.

 

[Vk1ing]

I don't think a player can be less compatible with our system than ROR. He still has hockey IQ and could probably adjust to a degree but its not a good fit. A shutdown line with nuke Landy and RoR would be pretty great though, as much as I hate the idea of RoR on this team.

 

[Azrael89]

It would be nice if there was a 2c available who wasn't on his last legs. Toews, O'Reilly, Monahan, these dudes all look washed to varying degrees.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[forsbergavs32]

I don't think a player can be less compatible with our system than ROR. He still has hockey IQ and could probably adjust to a degree but its not a good fit. A shutdown line with nuke Landy and RoR would be pretty great though, as much as I hate the idea of RoR on this team.

I think he would be fine if he was on a line with Lando and Nuke. They don’t rely on speed as much and like you said, would be a real good shutdown line.

Then grab a good 7D like JMFJ and I think we would be looking good.

Lehk-Mack-Mikko
Lando-ROR-Nuke
Hook*-JTC-ERod
Nieto-Cogs-LOC
Malgin
Helm**


Toews-Makar
Bo-Manson
G-EJ
JMFJ
Hunt
Englund
MacDermid

*Depending on if he’s moved for ROR
**If he comes back this year

 

[Gruyeriev]

Could the Avs have interest in Barbashev?

 

[Azrael89]

Barbashev could just show up and be like, "Sorry I broke your sternum and almost killed you, let's get this Cup." Lol

 

[Avsboy]

Old G vs new G

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

I prefer Lehkonen over Burakovsky.

Burakovsky is clearly better offensively, because he can drive play better, but Lehkonen offers so much more versatility. He plays the bumper spot on the power play, while Bura only plays on the wall, spots occupied by MacKinnon and Rantanen.

Lehkonen also checks and pressures the opposition in a way that Burakovsky doesn’t.

We’re a little for removed from it now, so maybe it’s forgotten, but Burakovsky was a turnover liability with the lead in Colorado. He frequently got benched because he would lose the team games because of turnovers. Obviously he’s a good player, but I prefer Lekhonen.

Kadri is missed more than anyone else.

Spot on.

Lehky also a killer in the playoffs.

 

[Gruyeriev]

Avs need a 2C that can drive more than Burkie, absolutely. Avs miss Burkie’s ability to out kick his coverage on finishing. Avs were a team (mainly driven by the top 2 lines) that could finish at a higher than expected rate for 60ish% of the toi. That’s now down to 30ish% and then we wonder why they can’t score 5v5. It simply comes down to no finishing talent at all in the bottom 9, unless MacK and Mikko are split… which limits effectiveness (mainly for Mikko).

I couldn’t agree more but who fits that bill? ROR from 3-6 years ago for sure. But now? I think he is too slow. I think Henrique is an interesting option to settle for. Anaheim has been shit for years so his numbers have suffered. Let’s not forget he played on a DeBoer coached NJ Devils when he first entered the league. I think he might be a good fit for Bednar’s System for a smaller cost.

Then we run with a JTC/Henrique/ERod 2C with a healthy Landeskog on LW to help with Faceoffs and D zone responsibilities. It might actually work..

 

[dahrougem2]

Spot on.

Lehky also a killer in the playoffs.

And Burakovsky is not?