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

[Richard88]

Am I the only one who's not convinced on Puljujarvi? I didn't watch him a ton during the regular season but during our 4 game wipeout of the oilers, not once did I think to myself "wow, that was a great forecheck by him that led to a good chance". I barely noticed him at all... maybe that's a product of playing on a team that is so dependant on #97 and #29 providing all the offense... I dunno.

I wouldn't be opposed to trading for him as long as it doesn't cost much.

If the cost to acquire him is "marginal" (guessing that means ~3rd or prospect) and he's cheap to re-sign (eg. $2mx1) why wouldn't you roll the dice on him?

JFresh had a good article on him which I shared in the Puljujarvi thread (on this board) discussing the merits of his game. He might suck at passing and finishing chances, but he's excellent (if not elite) at driving possession with his forechecking.

I think there's a good case for plugging him onto the 3rd line with Compher and Newhook as essentially a big upgrade on NAK. His play-driving would help those two spend more time in the OZ than DZ, assuming of course that he can bring the same possession metrics to the 3rd line as he's had in Edmonton that line.

I also think there's something to be said for coaching. Edmonton pre-Woodcroft have cycled through average-to-bad-to-terrible coaches who have clearly not gotten any sort of coherent message through to Jesse. Bednar is a coach who's great at getting players to buy into his system and play structured the way he wants, and there's a good chance he can mould JP in the same way he moulded Nichuskin and others before him.

Team culture is a big part too. In Edmonton JP has probably felt pretty ostracised by the media and especially teammates. In Colorado he'd have Lehkonen, Rantanen, and Annunen to lean on, along with the strong locker room overall.

Moreover, you'd be acquiring him at his lowest value. If he sucks you could probably still find some GM who wants to take a chance at him. Or if breaks out and prices himself out next year (assuming a one year prove it deal) then you've at least got a really nice trade chip to profit from.

In summary, I'm not saying that he'd be my first target, but I can definitely see the appeal and I would be positive towards a move if the Avs scouts want to push for it.

 

[Ararana]

Vancouver wants to compete. They won't be sellers.

Both those guys are UFA's this upcoming season. If Vancouver can't get them extended they'll trade them, either this summer or at the deadline.

 

[Bender]

That’d be highway robbery for us. I agree that Pulju’s upside isn’t as high as some are saying, but I question whether Kaut with ever be an NHL player in the first place.

I think Kaut could and likely will be an NHLer - probably a 3rd liner but it probably won't be with the Avs. I don't think Bednar likes him very much but he has the talent to be at least a 3rd line player. I mean, he's certainly no worse than a guy like Adam Gaudette but that guy keeps getting chance after chance with different organizations. Probably just needs to find a fit with a coach that believes in him.

I mistakenly thought Kuemper had been on a longer deal in Arizona. If he is willing to take another 2 year deal at a slight pay bump I'm all for keeping him in the fold. He was at 4.5 per. If Joe can get him to a 2 year at somewhere between 5 and 5.5 then do it. Better that than a bidding war or once again having to trade assets to get a goalie.

I doubt his agent is going to go for a 2 year contract. I get that they are meeting with his agent today but I'll be surprised if they come out of it with a deal. I'm sure the Kuemper camp has a pretty good idea what the market is going to be like next week and while I wouldn't be surprised if they offered to take "a hometown discount" that's STILL likely to be way too much for the Avalanche. My belief is the max the Avs would offer is 3-4 years @ $5M and there will likely be options on July 13th that ressemble the grubauer deal. There's a pretty big gap there.

I don't think we have the assets to trade for him, or the cap space to re-sign him.

I think we certainly have the assets to make that trade (Newhook, 2023 1st, 2024 1st, Behrens, etc.) but won't want to re-sign a guy who put up 99 points last year at the number he's going to be looking for.

 

[Richard88]

I would probably trade Kaut for him. I think that Kaut is going to need to pass through waivers if he doesn't make the team this fall anyhow.

As things stand this is the Avs bottom 6:

Newhook - Compher - xxxx
Cogliano - Meyers - O'Connor
MacDermid, Sedlak

NAK may be re-signed and if he is he probably has pole position on 3RW in camp. There's also a good chance that Meyers plays well enough to earn a 3rd line role and maybe push Compher to 3RW (with Maltsev or Sedlak taking 4C).

Whatever the case, unless the Avs add a 3RW in the next couple of weeks through trade or in UFA that spot is going to be up for grabs. It'll be up to Kaut to come into camp in the shape of his life and finally take that job. Seems like a long-shot at this point though.

 

[Chiarelli]

Joe will get Kuemper on a good term + good AAV deal or he’ll just move on. That much I am confident in.

 

[Bender]

Marek said this morning that he thinks Kuemper gets a deal in Colorado for around 3 years. Am I crazy for thinking this is worst case scenario? If he takes 3 years he certainly isn’t taking a break on AAV. He might be a little better than Fleury but I think Fleury for a year or 2 at 2ish million per + whatever else you do what that added cap space is 7263728272 times better than Kuemper at 3 years which is almost certainly north of 5.5ish million.

If they are good with a 3 year contract at $5M or less, I'm good with that. It gives plenty of time for Annunen to develop and would keep our overall G costs at a total of $7M or less for the next 3 years... certainly not bad.

Kuemper is one of only seven active goaltenders that have actually won the Stanley Cup :

Kuemper
Vasi
Binner
Holtby
Murray
Fleury
Quick

Still, I'll be surprised if they settle for a 3 year deal.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I don't think Kuemper is our best option if he is asking for above 4.5/year, he can definitely get more on the market, but the Avs have other areas they need to shore up.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

If the cost to acquire him is "marginal" (guessing that means ~3rd or prospect) and he's cheap to re-sign (eg. $2mx1) why wouldn't you roll the dice on him?

JFresh had a good article on him which I shared in the Puljujarvi thread (on this board) discussing the merits of his game. He might suck at passing and finishing chances, but he's excellent (if not elite) at driving possession with his forechecking.

I think there's a good case for plugging him onto the 3rd line with Compher and Newhook as essentially a big upgrade on NAK. His play-driving would help those two spend more time in the OZ than DZ, assuming of course that he can bring the same possession metrics to the 3rd line as he's had in Edmonton that line.

I also think there's something to be said for coaching. Edmonton pre-Woodcroft have cycled through average-to-bad-to-terrible coaches who have clearly not gotten any sort of coherent message through to Jesse. Bednar is a coach who's great at getting players to buy into his system and play structured the way he wants, and there's a good chance he can mould JP in the same way he moulded Nichuskin and others before him.

Team culture is a big part too. In Edmonton JP has probably felt pretty ostracised by the media and especially teammates. In Colorado he'd have Lehkonen, Rantanen, and Annunen to lean on, along with the strong locker room overall.

Moreover, you'd be acquiring him at his lowest value. If he sucks you could probably still find some GM who wants to take a chance at him. Or if breaks out and prices himself out next year (assuming a one year prove it deal) then you've at least got a really nice trade chip to profit from.

In summary, I'm not saying that he'd be my first target, but I can definitely see the appeal and I would be positive towards a move if the Avs scouts want to push for it.

I'd be pretty happy with a Poolparty addition. He was a guy I wanted to give a shot when he had originally gone back to Finland. That does depend on how much Edmonton wants for him, as well as how much he would be looking to sign for. If both are on the cheaper end, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. If it does work out you've got a really serviceable player that fits the team identity.

 

[Richard88]

He's our best shot if we want to just go all in again next year. Won't find a 2C cheaper salarywise.

Bennett is cheaper, $4.45m. But yeah I agree with your overall point.

 

[Richard88]

One guy I was impressed with in the playoffs - Round 1 DAL vs CAL was Michal Raffl.

If he came cheap, I think he'd be a solid 4th line addition.

No idea what Kaliyev is doing on that list, but otherwise that supports your view of Raffl.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

No idea what Kaliyev is doing on that list, but otherwise that supports your view of Raffl.

If Marchment doesn't get snatched up and overpaid right away, he'd be a guy I'd like to see the Avs add.

 

[Richard88]

I still really want Kulak. He’d be such a money depth guy here. Especially if Girard gets moved for a C.

Kulak would be a great add even if you kept Girard.

Byram - Makar
Toews - Girard
Kulak - EJ

Honestly I think Trochek would be a solid fit as our 2C especially if he comes in around $5.75m for 5 years I think he would be worth the contract for the duration of his time with us. It also fills the 2 C void and allows us to keep our prospects.

He'll get more than that. Probably somewhere in the $6.5-7.5m range depending on term.

 

[tucker3434]

I really hope we can get Kuemper done at a reasonable cost. I can convince myself that we’d get more game 4’s and 6’s from him next year and I kinda hate the other options. MAF is the only UFA with better upside, but he’s had rough playoffs too recently. Can’t keep trading 1sts for goalies.

Kinda up to Kuemper though. If he wants to cash in on that cup, he’ll be able to.

 

[dahrougem2]

3 year deal for Kuemper sounds like I'm going to be back to angry and @Avs_19 is going to want to give @The Kingslayer a stone cold stunner.

 

[Richard88]

3 year deal for Kuemper at a number like $5.5m or less would be pretty decent considering what other options are out there... I just hope it's not one of those high AAV/short term sort of deals where it's north of $6m AAV.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

3 year deal for Kuemper sounds like I'm going to be back to angry and @Avs_19 is going to want to give @The Kingslayer a stone cold stunner.

If Kuemper can overcome those eye issues I actually think I'd be comfortable (enough) with him getting 3 years. However, there are just so many question marks. We just won a cup in spite of his performance.

Who knows, maybe the Avs sign him for 3 years and he ends up being a stellar goaltender for us. Maybe that stretch in the middle of the season where he looked almost unbeatable becomes the norm as he gets more comfortable with the team.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

If, for some reason, the Blues are okay dealing Tarasenko to the Avs I'd be so stoked. He's the premium version of Burakovsky, and I also think he'd work brilliantly with a guy like Nuke.

 

[redacted]

No idea what Kaliyev is doing on that list, but otherwise that supports your view of Raffl.

Here's the problem with only a stats based look on defense... the fact that Kaliyev and Poolparty even touch that list is outright laughable. Also don't see how Cheese is top 30 amongst wingers.

If they are good with a 3 year contract at $5M or less, I'm good with that. It gives plenty of time for Annunen to develop and would keep our overall G costs at a total of $7M or less for the next 3 years... certainly not bad.

Kuemper is one of only seven active goaltenders that have actually won the Stanley Cup :

Kuemper
Vasi
Binner
Holtby
Murray
Fleury
Quick

Still, I'll be surprised if they settle for a 3 year deal.

Annunen will never be a starter level NHL goalie...

 

[Bender]

Here's the problem with only a stats based look on defense... the fact that Kaliyev and Poolparty even touch that list is outright laughable. Also don't see how Cheese is top 30 amongst wingers.


Annunen will never be a starter level NHL goalie...

Then the Avs are in for a rude awakening or they were just playing the "long-con" with that stuff about him being their only untouchable prospect?

 

[tucker3434]

Is the 3 year thing being rumored anywhere or are we just being hopeful?

I'd think that we'll be choosing between low term or low AAV. If the $ starts with a 5 then the term will be 4 or 5. Would love to be wrong though.

 

[redacted]

Then the Avs are in for a rude awakening or they were just playing the "long-con" with that stuff about him being their only untouchable prospect?

I think the reasoning is pretty simple... goalie prospects don't tend to have a ton of value until they actually do something AND Annunen is the only prospect with any NHL potential at the position, makes sense to see it out.

 

[dahrougem2]

Holy Ottawa what is you doing baby

 

[redacted]

Holy Ottawa what is you doing baby

Finding a way as a cash poor organization to get rid of Murray's contract.

 

[Richard88]

Here's the problem with only a stats based look on defense... the fact that Kaliyev and Poolparty even touch that list is outright laughable. Also don't see how Cheese is top 30 amongst wingers.


Annunen will never be a starter level NHL goalie...

I agree. As I said I have no idea why Kaliyev is on that list... And the fact that he is suggests the whole list should be taken with a Hulk-sized fistful of salt.

 

[MacKaRant]

If they are good with a 3 year contract at $5M or less, I'm good with that. It gives plenty of time for Annunen to develop and would keep our overall G costs at a total of $7M or less for the next 3 years... certainly not bad.

Kuemper is one of only seven active goaltenders that have actually won the Stanley Cup :

Kuemper
Vasi
Binner
Holtby
Murray
Fleury
Quick

Still, I'll be surprised if they settle for a 3 year deal.

Fleury's Cup win (well, the Cup win where he actually played in the Finals) was over a decade ago in 2009. Credit to him for having a great career, fun personality, and all that, but the last three playoff seasons saw him watching his team's elimination game from the bench. And the last two times he got his name on the Cup, he was cheering on from the bench watching Matt Murray win the thing.