Rumor: 2022-2023 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Let’s Run it Back!

[CalderKing21]

I don’t understand the guffawing over Forsberg’s contract. It’s roughly in line with expectation. Nashville needed him back and it’s not like they’re trying to rebuild.

 

[shadow1]

Sakic likely has to sign a UFA forward signing at this point, really two UFA forward signings if Nuke walks. Everyone keeps talking about making that elusive trade for a 2C, but with what assets?

Newhook or G plus Colorado's first next year? Centers are in such high demand that you are likely looking at a Byram plus Colorado's first next year to accomplish anything by trade that appreciably improves the Colorado lineup. Moving Newhook or G plus for a Schmaltz or Gourde forward is not really going to move the needle, and it would open up holes elsewhere in the lineup.

Sakic went all in last year, which was obviously the right decision, but Colorado has severely depleted its available assets to allow for a trade of any significance at this point. Due to the organization's inability to develop NHL caliber depth forwards, the forward group is going to be in trouble next year. I just don't see any way around not signing at least one UFA forward, at least of middle six caliber, and hopefully a center.

I think Copp and Trochek would be good fits as 2C's, but I'm pretty much expecting Sakic to add young, cheap players with warts and fix their game. Dylan Strome has been informed he won't be tendered, and there are rumblings about players like Kasperi Kapanen and Pavel Zacha.

Those forwards may make people recoil. I'm not advocating for them specifically, just saying adding players like those and fixing them would be in Sakic's wheel house. The Burakovsky trade and Nichushkin signing were both largely disliked on this board but worked out insanely well.

Most didn't have Georgiev on the radar, but I think we're all cautiously optimistic; new shine is added to the player simply because Colorado liked him enough to add him. That's how well their pro scouting is thought of.

 

[Bender]

Good points, well made.

I agree that Washington would be best for Kuemper. Their core only has like two years of playoff relevance left (if that), so he'd age out with the team and his bad years wouldn't matter so much through a rebuild. In Edmonton and Toronto he'd be under constant scrutiny.

With that in mind, if you're Washington and you know that Kuemper probably favours your team (let's be real tampering definitely goes on so they'd probably have an idea) are you really that worried about Edmonton or Toronto that you drop a pick before UFA?

Toronto specifically are also operating under a tight cap so it's easy to predict the sort of AAV they can offer, and Washington can top that.

If I'm Washington, even if I know Kuemper favors my team, I still don't want to get to UFA so that they could use those teams to get me to pay more than I want to or maybe a change of heart or whatever. I think it's worth a 4th/5th round pick, personally.

 

[Richard88]

Lehk $4m
Nichushkin $6m
JJ $750k
Georgiev $3m
NAK $1.225m
Manson $4m

That leaves $4.5m for a 2C.

Trading Newhook for Necas and signing him to a $4mx3 year deal uses up ~$3m of that $4.5m, leaving $1.5m which can go to a 4C ($1m) and have $500k spare for cap accrual.

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen - Necas - Rantanen
Meyers - Compher - NAK
Cogliano - xxxxx - O'Connor
MacDermid, Sedlak

Toews - Makar
Byram - EJ
Girard - Manson
JJ

Georgiev
Francouz

 

[Balthazar]

Lehk $4m
Nichushkin $6m
JJ $750k
Georgiev $3m
NAK $1.225m
Manson $4m

That's super optimistic on several players at the same time.

I bet that all of Lehk, JJ, Georgiev and Manson make more than that.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

There will be goalies that could be dealt once someone loses out on Kuemper and Campbell.

Talbot
Allen
Gibson
Blackwood
Reimer

Someone will overpay for one of those guys like Joe had to overpay for Kuemper last summer.

 

[willy702]

I suggested a Newhook/Necas swap on capfriendly a few days ago just to gauge opinions, and Carolina fans were positive to the idea.

I'm not sure about doing that. There's obviously risk that Newhook breaks out and becomes the younger and better player. But if the Avs don't believe he can be a center (or even top 6 forward) while on the flipside believing that Necas can, then it's a risk you take imo.

For goodness sakes no. I'm not trading a guy 2 years younger and under cap control longer for Necas. I get the appeal of a Necas trade, but something else has to go in that trade and I'm pretty certain the Avs are thinking the same thing too.

 

[LOFIN]

Toronto specifically are also operating under a tight cap so it's easy to predict the sort of AAV they can offer, and Washington can top that.

Kuemper makes no sense for Toronto. Campbell is in the same ballpark as far as abilities go, and they are going to cost the same. I would rather keep the guy I'm familiar with in Jack if I was Dubas. '

That said, it seems like the negotiations between Campbell and Toronto have been non-existent because they really lowballed him earlier this season and Jack took it as an insult or something.

 

[Richard88]

That's super optimistic on several players at the same time.

I bet that all of Lehk, JJ, Georgiev and Manson make more than that.

I don't think so.

According to Evolving Hockey, 4x4 is the most likely Lehkonen contract, and $6.4m x7 for Nichushkin. So neither is far off what likely happens.

Georgiev is in the $2.8-3.3m x2-3 year range.

Manson could probably get more AAV on a 3 year deal, but 4x4 seems appropriate.

NAK is a 1 year QO.

And JJ, as just discussed he should be under $1m imo.

 

[Richard88]

For goodness sakes no. I'm not trading a guy 2 years younger and under cap control longer for Necas. I get the appeal of a Necas trade, but something else has to go in that trade and I'm pretty certain the Avs are thinking the same thing too.

As I said, you only do that trade if you believe in Necas as 2C, and don't with Newhook.

Perhaps there's an add by Carolina for the age difference.

 

[willy702]

Lehk $4m
Nichushkin $6m
JJ $750k
Georgiev $3m
NAK $1.225m
Manson $4m

That leaves $4.5m for a 2C.

Trading Newhook for Necas and signing him to a $4mx3 year deal uses up ~$3m of that $4.5m, leaving $1.5m which can go to a 4C ($1m) and have $500k spare for cap accrual.

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen - Necas - Rantanen
Meyers - Compher - NAK
Cogliano - xxxxx - O'Connor
MacDermid, Sedlak

Toews - Makar
Byram - EJ
Girard - Manson
JJ

Georgiev
Francouz

I don't see Joe paying 4m AAV and risking a bad ending of the contract for a #6 D. I'm sure he will go the JJ or Murray route again for depth and try to sign some veteran for 2M or less for that spot. In their minds, Manson is the type of guy you go trade for at TDL if you need him and can spare the assets. They can spare themselves the hit and the concern about term and just hunt again if needed next year.

 

[Avsavsavsavsavs]

I don't see Joe paying 4m AAV and risking a bad ending of the contract for a #6 D. I'm sure he will go the JJ or Murray route again for depth and try to sign some veteran for 2M or less for that spot. In their minds, Manson is the type of guy you go trade for at TDL if you need him and can spare the assets. They can spare themselves the hit and the concern about term and just hunt again if needed next year.

Manson was fairly dominant and absolutely crucial to our cup run. I would take them resigning Manson over Lehkonen despite loving both. You have to make Nuke/Manson happen.

 

[CalderKing21]

Dater wrote an article stating obvious things: Nichushkin likely signing with Colorado, Kadri unknown, Bura no, Manson maybe if Girard is traded

Nuke returning is key. Kadri will get priced out of town. I hate to see Bura walk and honestly, the season flipped my expectations on Nuke and Bura. I expected to be saying Bura coming back was key and hated to see Nuke walk.

Not keen on a Girard trade. I want to keep him. I’ve lusted for a insanely deep d man corps since Mack’s draft year. Unless it’s to clear space to retain Toews, no sense in trading Girard yet.

 

[Richard88]

I don't see Joe paying 4m AAV and risking a bad ending of the contract for a #6 D. I'm sure he will go the JJ or Murray route again for depth and try to sign some veteran for 2M or less for that spot. In their minds, Manson is the type of guy you go trade for at TDL if you need him and can spare the assets. They can spare themselves the hit and the concern about term and just hunt again if needed next year.

I'm just going off what has been rumoured, which is that Manson is 50/50 (tenuous rumours I know, but still what we have to go off).

It makes perfect sense that the Avs are waiting on other contracts first before circling back to Manson. Avs should be all-in this year and don't have a lot of assets, so if there's capspace available I think they'll try to bring him back.

Maybe the smart move if there aren't any good 2C's available is to have a stacked D group again and kick the 2C issue to the TDL when they can lump all their futures together for just a 2C.

 

[willy702]

Manson was fairly dominant and absolutely crucial to our cup run. I would take them resigning Manson over Lehkonen despite loving both. You have to make Nuke/Manson happen.

Huh? Seriously? Manson over Lehkonen???

 

[hockeyfish]

I don't see Joe paying 4m AAV and risking a bad ending of the contract for a #6 D. I'm sure he will go the JJ or Murray route again for depth and try to sign some veteran for 2M or less for that spot. In their minds, Manson is the type of guy you go trade for at TDL if you need him and can spare the assets. They can spare themselves the hit and the concern about term and just hunt again if needed next year.

If Joe does bring back Manson, he would be our #4, next to Girard or Byram. I go back and forth on it, but I say whatever brings the best chance of the cup for the next 2-3 years.

I do wish there was a clear hockey trade to be made with Girard. If there was an obvious 2C with flaws but locked up and young, it would be the perfect fit. But I'm not really seeing that out there right now.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Manson was fairly dominant and absolutely crucial to our cup run. I would take them resigning Manson over Lehkonen despite loving both. You have to make Nuke/Manson happen.

Lmao

 

[Avaholic29]

Manson was fairly dominant and absolutely crucial to our cup run. I would take them resigning Manson over Lehkonen despite loving both. You have to make Nuke/Manson happen.

No way lol, I want to keep Manson too but over lehkonen, no chance.

 

[Hornstar]

I don't see Joe paying 4m AAV and risking a bad ending of the contract for a #6 D. I'm sure he will go the JJ or Murray route again for depth and try to sign some veteran for 2M or less for that spot. In their minds, Manson is the type of guy you go trade for at TDL if you need him and can spare the assets. They can spare themselves the hit and the concern about term and just hunt again if needed next year.

If Manson was a#6 this may be true. He was arguably the second best D man during the playoffs. Manson at 4 million is a no brainier to me. You want to run Makar/Toews 30+ a night because Murray, JJ and some washed up vet are only options we are in trouble.

 

[PAZ]

You absolutely bring Manson if you have the chance. Sign him to a 4-5 year deal and if his plays falls off you dump him in the last 1-2 years and just pay the price. The cost to bring in another Manson for next years run is going to cost the same as to dump him in a few years.

 

[willy702]

If Joe does bring back Manson, he would be our #4, next to Girard or Byram. I go back and forth on it, but I say whatever brings the best chance of the cup for the next 2-3 years.

I do wish there was a clear hockey trade to be made with Girard. If there was an obvious 2C with flaws but locked up and young, it would be the perfect fit. But I'm not really seeing that out there right now.

Agreed on the Girard trade. Its easy for people to throw out that idea and say its as good as done, but its not. If that ideal guy existed Joe probably would have made the move already. Besides most are saying get someone like Kadri. Is that the Kadri of last season or the Kadri of seasons before, a solid player who filled the role, but wasn't worth much more than the nearly 5M cap hit?

If Manson was a #4 it makes a 4M AAV hit a little more palatable, but I'm pretty convinced he's got 1-2 years of play left at the level people are expecting. EJ hit that wall of being a quality contributor and fell to just being #4/5 D at about 500 NHL regular season games. Manson is at 475 and on the wrong side of 30. I just think a smart front office lets him go knowing they have 4 top notch D and can fill in the bottom with cheaper options.

 

[BobRossColton]

What if we signed Manson for one more year for the sole purpose to repeat. Then he can go back to Anaheim.. haha bad idea?

 

[AnimalMother73]

I'm just going off what has been rumoured, which is that Manson is 50/50 (tenuous rumours I know, but still what we have to go off).

It makes perfect sense that the Avs are waiting on other contracts first before circling back to Manson. Avs should be all-in this year and don't have a lot of assets, so if there's capspace available I think they'll try to bring him back.

Maybe the smart move if there aren't any good 2qC's available is to have a stacked D group again and kick the 2C issue to the TDL when they can lump all their futures together for just a 2C.

That’s what I think as well. JS doesn’t like to spend big on UFA. Plus the Avs have had success by putting Rants or JTC there is spurts. Considering Girard didn’t have the best regular season they could build his value thru the first part of next season then make a mid season trade for 2C. Not sure how meaningful this is but also gives a longer period of time for Bryan to demonstrate he’s over his concussions.

 

[Miri]

Plus, his name is Schmaltz.

Man, he's playing like Schmaltz! Would you like to see my Schmaltz?

Sorry if there's anyone here named Schmaltz...

We already have Schmaltzev

 

[LOFIN]

What if we signed Manson for one more year for the sole purpose to repeat. Then he can go back to Anaheim.. haha bad idea?

It would be the best case scenario, because things are going to get more difficult after next season when the MacKinnon and Byram extensions kick in. Yeah EJ is off the books but it's not enough to compensate. We won at our best year when Kadri and Burakovsky were still on the cheap. Next season is our second best chance. After that it's going to be much more difficult.