My opinion on our UFAs...
1. Valeri Nichushkin - 62GP-25G-27A-52P - 27 y/o
Everybody agrees; the #1 priority of our UFAs. We've heard conflicting reports. You have Seravalli saying his playoff performance has priced himself out of Colorado. You have Friedman saying Nuke loves it in Denver, doesn't forget his hard times before joining our organization, and would like to return. Does a player like this justify a max term(8 year) contract from us? That's the question. Make no bones about it; teams will offer him 7 years, knowing there's not much tread on these tires and you're getting a proven catalyst(aka makes your players better) in the prime of his career. The Avs should look for a 5-6 year deal for Nuke, solidifying him in that second tier of contracts; your Johnsons at $6m, etc. If I was a betting man, I'd say he returns.
2. Nazem Kadri - 71GP-28G-59A-87P - 31 y/o
In my opinion, the most obvious player who is leaving. The Avs might try to make him a 2-3 year offer, but we probably don't even waste our time. Career year in points. Will be 32 when the season starts. Looking for the biggest payday of his career after a team-friendly $4.5m AAV for the past 6 years. Can get a 1C spot on a bad team looking to improve. Gone.
3. Andre Burakovsky - 80GP-22G-39A-61P - 27 y/o
I think he's a goner. He's an example of a player we had the luxury of having on our roster over the last couple of years as we've had the smaller contracts. With people getting paid now and over the next couple of years, I just don't see a future for Bura here. The team also proved they can win with him out of the lineup and a player like Lehkonen, though not as offensively dynamic, ultimately provides more to the team top to bottom in a secondary role. His money goes to Lehkonen on a new deal, pretty straight forward to me. Bura will be another guy that gets a sweet deal somewhere; career year across the board in every statistical category and just won his second Cup. Good age. Will get something silly from another team.
4. Darcy Kuemper - 57GP-37W-2.54GAA-.921sv%
Look, everybody knows I'm not a fan. I think we won in spite of him. The playoff numbers in particular, with a .902sv%, repeatedly allowing weak goals, and not getting timely saves cemented him as an average goaltender to me. In fact, he was the second worst goalie that faced a shot in the entire NHL playoffs if we just go by the numbers. Anyhow, I think the Avs try to bring him back again just like Grubauer. We will try to pay him in that same range, staying under $6m. We gave up a lot for him just a year ago, won the Cup, and I could see Joe trying to get some more return on his investment. Personally, I would just let him walk. We will have a weaker roster next year, it's the reality of winning a Cup and having 10 unrestricted free agents. I would pony up and trade for Gibson, giving our core the best chance to repeat as champions. I think Sakic will try to keep Kuemper and it's a 50/50 if he walks for a better deal at the last minute ala Gruby or if he sticks around.
5. Josh Manson - 67GP-6G-10A-16P - 30 y/o
Love him, think he fit us like a glove, would like to keep him, but I also believe he walks. A return to Anaheim is possible or anywhere that is going to pay him like a top 4 D, which we simply CANNOT afford to do. That's the reality. Makar, Girard, EJ and Toews getting "big" money already and we don't have the capacity to pay him with Bo coming up soon, too. This is an interesting one, because if EJ decided to play ball for the last year of his deal and go hide somewhere with a skin infection, we can bring Manson back. I still think it's a luxury. A trade of Girard makes this a bit easier, but I expect Manson to get paid. Could easily see a $30m/5y deal from somebody. I think he's gone.
6. Darren Helm - 68GP-7G-8A-15P - 35 y/o
Bring him back on another 1 year deal. Great to have on the 4th line, still has legs under him.
7. Andrew Cogliano - 74GP-4G-12A-16P - 35 y/o
Team hasn't told him anything about coming back, he wouldn't expect to hear about that now anyways. Would love to come back, wants to play another 2 seasons. Optimistic about getting a 2 year deal from somebody but would come back to Denver on a 1 year deal. I'm biased, but would obviously keep him for another year. Glue player, great wheels to fit our style, no issue with a Helm-Cogs-LOC 4th line.
8. Jack Johnson - 74GP-1G-8A-9P - 35 y/o
I don't think anybody expected him to be as serviceable as he was. I expected a lot more mistakes, but he showed that the issue was always overplaying him. In a limited role, he has tools to provide value. If he wants league min at $750k again, I'm more than happy with JMFJ back in a 7th D role.
9. Nico Sturm - 74GP-9G-11A-20P - 27 y/o
Thank you for your services, best of luck elsewhere. His playstyle never fit our team, always looked like an odd duckling out there. Gave me vibes of when Soda returned and looked slow, disengaged and a total opposite fit to what we've built. Definitely walking, would be shocked if we bring him back. With size, a 20 point season, playoff exposure, and a good age, somebody will give him 3rd line money and regret it in a few months. Weird player.
10. Ryan Murray - 37GP-0G-4A-4P - 28 y/o
What a disappointment. Oft-injured, as we knew he would be, but completely ineffective when he actually did play. We knew there wasn't much offense there, but he struggled to pass or make any quick decisions to support our fast transition style. A bad fit here. Nice dude, wish him well elsewhere and really hope he can revitalize his career a bit. Gone.
My mildly realistic optimistic hope is that we sign him for 6+ years in the high 9's. It'd be amazing if he did a Brayden Point esque short term contract, but I doubt that'll happen.
I hope we can keep these players you target, I think these players would like to stay so there is a chance ! Just keep Nuke, Manson, Helm and Cogs. I guess we won’t be able to keep Kadri, but damn bring Annunen in and keep Kadri 
