Rumor: 2022-2023 Trade Rumors and Free Agency (Mod Warning in OP)

[flyfysher]

It's not a problem in a vacuum, but in the overall picture it's questionable. Signing an UFA at $4.5m to leave yourself with only ~$10m in cap when you know you have two huge RFA deals to sign with two of your best players isn't really that wise.

Stupid people making incredibly dumb moves when the situation clearly was foreseeable.

 

[redacted]

I mean nuke doubled Thompsons previous career high in what were his worst offensive seasons so I still say they are different lol.

Thompson potted 38 goals as a 24 year old center. I would say they are different.... one is more valuable.

Did I really just see Nichushkin being compared to Tage Thompson? What the ****, man. Why?

I was just about to call it a night and now I’m mad and want to fight @henchman24.

Btw, that’s a crazy contract. Stars owner should complain about that one.

The point isn't that they are the same player. The point is that their contracts are based off one great year. Nuke prior to last season was looking at a mid 4s, maybe 5m contract for 4-5 years (he was always going to ask high). Instead he got 8 years and 6.125m.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Makar and Kaner spending some time together at Biosteel. Saw a vid of Cale finding an open Kaner in his office on the ice too. Make it happen

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Is that why he loves paying his shitty vets so much money? Gotta make sure they are supported?

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I’m on the Newhook breakout train.

I honestly don't understand the people that are giving up on Newhook already. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people this year.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I still want to trade for Pool Party and run the all Finn line.

Landy - MacK - Nuke
Lehk - Rants - Pool Party

Yes, the Finnish Ungulates. Get it done already.

 

[Muffin]

No idea the obsession with putting Rantanen at Centre is? He's never looked good there and you're really going to handicap your best winger?

 

[The Abusement Park]

No idea the obsession with putting Rantanen at Centre is? He's never looked good there and you're really going to handicap your best winger?

Same. And Bednar clearly only plays him there when there are literally 0 options, so clearly it’s not something Bednar would push for either.

 

[redacted]

Rants as a center, if it works, solves a major problem in the roster now and long-term internally. Simple as that. If it doesn't work, he can move back to wing. When the options are Meyers, Newhook, and Compher... Rants should also get a look.

I honestly don't understand the people that are giving up on Newhook already. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people this year.

Who is giving up on him?

 

[The Abusement Park]

Who is giving up on him?

The same people that turned on Nuke

 

[Chiarelli]

Thompson is a risk… but the only one good year argument is a look in the mirror situation.

Was thinking this exact same thing

 

[Iceberg]

Same. And Bednar clearly only plays him there when there are literally 0 options, so clearly it’s not something Bednar would push for either.

And i don't get the sense Rantanen has any interest in being a full time center either.

 

[shadow1]

Rants as a center, if it works, solves a major problem in the roster now and long-term internally. Simple as that. If it doesn't work, he can move back to wing. When the options are Meyers, Newhook, and Compher... Rants should also get a look.


Who is giving up on him?

It worked well in the ~15 games he played center last year. Colorado only lost one regulation game in that span, and Rantanen was great offensively and on face-offs.

I see people say all the time that he can't play center, but I don't think I've seen any good reasons why.

 

[The Abusement Park]

It worked well in the ~15 games he played center last year. Colorado only lost one regulation game in that span, and Rantanen was great offensively and on face-offs.

I see people say all the time that he can't play center, but I don't think I've seen any good reasons why.

I mean he was 46% this year on FO’s. Nothing to write home about. I mean we could certainly get by him there but he’s never stood out playing at C. Maybe that changes if he plays there consistently but it’s clear Bednar prefers him on the wing.

 

[The Moops]

Why don't we try Landy at center first? He takes quite a bit of draws (more than Rants) and he's solid defensively

 

[redacted]

Why don't we try Landy at center first? He takes quite a bit of draws (more than Rants) and he's solid defensively

Bednar hasn't shown any desire to move Landy to center or play there. I think he could, but I don't think it is realistic to happen.

 

[LOFIN]

And i don't get the sense Rantanen has any interest in being a full time center either.

He would have to put in much more effort in each game lol.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Why don't we try Landy at center first? He takes quite a bit of draws (more than Rants) and he's solid defensively

Landy would be a far better C than Rantanen and he basically already does that in the D zone. No clue why that hasn’t been tried before.

 

[Anders Cain]

Landy would be a far better C than Rantanen and he basically already does that in the D zone. No clue why that hasn’t been tried before.

I'd say it's because they want to keep landy with mack to maybe be another face off guy there? Seen them do that plenty

 

[shadow1]

I mean he was 46% this year on FO’s. Nothing to write home about. I mean we could certainly get by him there but he’s never stood out playing at C. Maybe that changes if he plays there consistently but it’s clear Bednar prefers him on the wing.

One food for thought item when it comes to face-offs - Rantanen was much better with consistent work.

In the games where he took 7+ face-offs (24GP), he operated at 51.6% on 250 draws.

In the games where he took between 1-6 face-offs (34GP), he was much worse: 33.6% on 104 draws.

I’ve posted it before, but I traced back 15 games last year where Rantanen was a full-time center due to injuries to one of Kadri or MacKinnon. In those games, the Avalanche went 12-1-2, Rantanen scored 24 points, and won 51.1% of his draws. (Note: these were games mostly in November and December, with a handful in Late January-Early February. Rantanen did NOT play center at the end of the season when Kadri went down; but he took many more face-offs for the MacKinnon line due to Landeskog also being injured).

 

[EdAVSfan]

There are 2 major benefits to Rantanen working out as a Center.
One, it solves an issue long term with a player we’re already paying and under contract long term.

Secondly, it opens up your trade possibilities. The Avs would no longer have to be tunnelled into looking for a 2C only. They could then expand their trade to include wingers also, of which, there are more of, and in general cheaper to acquire.

 

[ANewHope]

There are 2 major benefits to Rantanen working out as a Center.
One, it solves an issue long term with a player we’re already paying and under contract long term.

Secondly, it opens up your trade possibilities. The Avs would no longer have to be tunnelled into looking for a 2C only. They could then expand their trade to include wingers also, of which, there are more of, and in general cheaper to acquire.

Rants/Newhook working out at C would be an absolute game changer.

I’d go all in on Kane if that’s what happens.

 

[Cake Malar]

One food for thought item when it comes to face-offs - Rantanen was much better with consistent work.

In the games where he took 7+ face-offs (24GP), he operated at 51.6% on 250 draws.

In the games where he took between 1-6 face-offs (34GP), he was much worse: 33.6% on 104 draws.

I’ve posted it before, but I traced back 15 games last year where Rantanen was a full-time center due to injuries to one of Kadri or MacKinnon. In those games, the Avalanche went 12-1-2, Rantanen scored 24 points, and won 51.1% of his draws. (Note: these were games mostly in November and December, with a handful in Late January-Early February. Rantanen did NOT play center at the end of the season when Kadri went down; but he took many more face-offs for the MacKinnon line due to Landeskog also being injured).

Rants was definitely adequate during these games, which is why I'm optimistic with a full summer and training camp of preparation to play center he could succeed there. People are always knocking him for his perceived lack of effort, but playing center could force him to up his effort level. Who knows if the Avs are prepping him for a switch to center though. We won't know until we start seeing how they line up in training camp.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Rants as a center, if it works, solves a major problem in the roster now and long-term internally. Simple as that. If it doesn't work, he can move back to wing. When the options are Meyers, Newhook, and Compher... Rants should also get a look.


Who is giving up on him?

The same people that are insistent that there’s no way he sticks in the top-6 and that he is only a middle 6 option.

 

[redacted]

The same people that are insistent that there’s no way he sticks in the top-6 and that he is only a middle 6 option.

But is him ending up 'just' a middle 6 guy giving up on him. Around the league you're looking at versatile guys who are 20-20 or even 25-20 sorts that are just middle 6 guys... I don't see how that is giving up on him as that is still a very good player.

Plus on almost every team... there is almost no way you get 6 top 6 players. Most likely you have 4-5 legit top 6 guys and a could middle 6 sorts that are complimentary. Purely sticking in the top 6 doesn't equate to being a top 6 player.

FTR I see Newhook as a solid 2nd line wing sort in the future, so this is lower than I would value him.