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

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I’m a big defender of Toews’s peak against revisionist HFBoards memes, but whatever health problem he’s been having seem to have just taken too much out of him. Don’t want him even at 50%

The only way I take Toews is if all the options are gone, and he comes in a 3-way where there's 75% retention and the cost of obtaining him is nothing.

On the ice, maybe he recovers from whatever he had and is an excellent two-way player again. Off the ice, not a huge fan of his statement regarding the Beach situation, definitely seems like he prioritized winning over helping out a fellow human/teammate.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

He absolutely is better than ERod.

All this Rodriguez talk has me nervous the Avs are actually looking at him. Guy had one good season...not even a full season a good half season. It's not like he's in his early-mid 20's and just figuring things out either.

Just to give some context for the fancy stats crowd. Don't forget that Johnny Malkin had fantastic fancy stats in his year with the Rangers prior to signing with the Avs.

 

[redacted]

All this Rodriguez talk has me nervous the Avs are actually looking at him. Guy had one good season...not even a full season a good half season. It's not like he's in his early-mid 20's and just figuring things out either.

Just to give some context for the fancy stats crowd. Don't forget that Johnny Malkin had fantastic fancy stats in his year with the Rangers prior to signing with the Avs.

Pretty much... I think ERod is a fine player and a good guy to have as a 3rd line wing. His offensive pop this year was an outlier and unlikely to be repeated. He's also not a center. He's taken shifts there and can technically play the position, but he's not at all a center on a good team. As soon as Pittsburgh got semi healthy, he got moved away from center.

The funny thing about the advanced stats... Stastny is the superior player, especially on the microstats level.

 

[The Moops]

I had a dream last night that Kadri re-signed with the Avs on a 2x2M contract because he was tired of waiting for other teams to move money for him

 

[EdAVSfan]

I feel like given the options, the would probably prefer to go with players without term from the UFA market.

Ie between Stastny and ERod: ERod probably would want more term whereas we could likely get Stastny on a 1 year deal.

If we sign ERod, we likely have our new JT Compher for several years.

 

[Gatorbait19]

Ok understood. I didn’t realize you meant to wait to acquire him.

Yes, obviously if we banked cap space we’d be able to get him without shipping out money.

Even still, I’m not all that interested. Feels like he’s in the middle 6C stage rather than 2C. Sure he may be rejuvenated going for a cup, but I wouldn’t want to count on him as the 2C for a full playoff run.

If we’re gonna bank cap space, might as well try to go for a better 2C since we’ll have the space to absorb a much bigger hit later on in the season.

100% agree that he’s more a 3c than a 2c, and also that id much rather go for a legit 2c. But there’s no guarantee that’ll be available or a possibility between now and the trade deadline.

Again, Toews certainly is not the best option and we should explore and exhaust the better avenues first before settling on him. But he’s at least a viable option and would much rather have a Toews/JTC combo at 2c/3c than JTC/Myers.

 

[Vaslof]

You know HF Avs are getting antsy when they start considering Toews and Stastny.

 

[Richard88]

 

[Belgican]

Don’t understand the hate towards Newhook.

He was a rookie on a SC champs team !!!

He had a good first season, showed lots of intelligence and hockey sense. It would be foolish to expect from him to lead this team yet. But he’s our best top 6 project, you keep those.

 

[Frobbo]

I think Newhook needs better line mates to showcase his ability. I saw too many times where a deft feed was fumbled by LOC, NAK and others. He held his own in the playoffs but didn't wow.

Where is the organization at with Maltsev? He has good size and skates well. Could he be in the mix after a good camp or has he leveled out and is another Kaut or Bowers?

 

[Raucherhusten]

Don’t understand the hate towards Newhook.

He was a rookie on a SC champs team !!!

He had a good first season, showed lots of intelligence and hockey sense. It would be foolish to expect from him to lead this team yet. But he’s our best top 6 project, you keep those.

There is no hate on Newhook. But if Kadri re-signs our Top 6 is pretty much set for years. There is simply no room on the roster for him, and because he's young and has upside, he has value!

 

[redacted]

Don’t understand the hate towards Newhook.

He was a rookie on a SC champs team !!!

He had a good first season, showed lots of intelligence and hockey sense. It would be foolish to expect from him to lead this team yet. But he’s our best top 6 project, you keep those.

Is anybody really hating on Newhook?

 

[shadow1]

All this Rodriguez talk has me nervous the Avs are actually looking at him. Guy had one good season...not even a full season a good half season. It's not like he's in his early-mid 20's and just figuring things out either.

Just to give some context for the fancy stats crowd. Don't forget that Johnny Malkin had fantastic fancy stats in his year with the Rangers prior to signing with the Avs.

Pretty much... I think ERod is a fine player and a good guy to have as a 3rd line wing. His offensive pop this year was an outlier and unlikely to be repeated. He's also not a center. He's taken shifts there and can technically play the position, but he's not at all a center on a good team. As soon as Pittsburgh got semi healthy, he got moved away from center.

The funny thing about the advanced stats... Stastny is the superior player, especially on the microstats level.

Rodrigues did most of his damage at center though. Crosby missed October, and Malkin was out until early January.

In those first 33 games, Rodrigues took 262 face-offs while scoring 30 points. In the final 49 games, he only took 124 face-offs and scored only 13 points.

I basically see him as a bizarro-world Donskoi who can play center. Donskoi was not good defensively, and scored a lot of goals on very few shots. Conversely, Rodrigues is really good defensively and had an insane amount of shots (243) despite third line ice time (15:50). But both players are going to be streaky offensively.

He's a decent player for sure. I'd rather have Stastny, but Rodrigues is solid.

 

[John Mandalorian]

It's interesting how, in almost every way, Stastny and EJ are practically the exact inverse of each other. And it's also true that, if JS keeps EJ, it's for the same reason that he won't sign Stastny.

 

[Belgican]

There is no hate on Newhook. But if Kadri re-signs our Top 6 is pretty much set for years. There is simply no room on the roster for him, and because he's young and has upside, he has value!

Yes there is room for him, even with a 2C.

He’s the only one, with JTC, with the ability to contribute in a top 6 role once you have an injury. He has good defensive abilities, is efficient on your PP2, and we don’t know his ceiling yet, will be cheap in the meantime.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Makar's going to convince Joe and CMac to acquire Mario Ferraro and he's going to get the Makar bump and become a #2D. Avs then trade Girard for a 2C that no one expects. Off-season complete.

 

[Belgican]

Is anybody really hating on Newhook?

Hating is not the right word, but that’s what I use because many posters seem ready to get rid of him and use him as trade chip.

I think you need those players to stay on the team, he’s really valuable with the Avs.

 

[Raucherhusten]

Yes there is room for him, even with a 2C.

He’s the only one, with JTC, with the ability to contribute in a top 6 role once you have an injury. He has good defensive abilities, is efficient on your PP2, and we don’t know his ceiling yet, will be cheap in the meantime.

If he's getting better, and most of us think he will, the Avs can't afford to keep him beyond this season when he needs a new contract. Mac's and Byram's extensions will likely eat all the money available and we have to settle for a cheaper option in the bottom 6.

And if, for some reasons, he's not getting better then why keeping him?

Kid has some good value right now so he might be a great chip at the deadline or next off-season. Or even sooner than that.

 

[chet1926]

I think Rodrigues makes more sense if we are looking to the future. As he could take on the 3rd liner JTC type role.

But if we are just simply going for it again next season Paully Walnuts makes more sense. As he would be more useful in the short term.

 

[UnkleKraker]

All the Kane AND Toews talk is giving me Kariya and Selanne vibes. That isn't a good thing.

 

[redacted]

Rodrigues did most of his damage at center though. Crosby missed October, and Malkin was out until early January.

In those first 33 games, Rodrigues took 262 face-offs while scoring 30 points. In the final 49 games, he only took 124 face-offs and scored only 13 points.

I basically see him as a bizarro-world Donskoi who can play center. Donskoi was not good defensively, and scored a lot of goals on very few shots. Conversely, Rodrigues is really good defensively and had an insane amount of shots (243) despite third line ice time (15:50). But both players are going to be streaky offensively.

He's a decent player for sure. I'd rather have Stastny, but Rodrigues is solid.

It is being overinflated how much he played center... by quite a bit actually. He didn't play center until January... he played center until late November and then it was sporadic and in spurts. His best games were at center... but also he cleaned up when with Guentzel in spurts (who is a supremely underrated player). Hot streaks happen to a lot of players. Compher has gotten his whole NHL salary off a few hot streaks... ERod is much the same as Compher. Better defensively, but really about the same player.

 

[Belgican]

If he's getting better, and most of us think he will, the Avs can't afford to keep him beyond this season when he needs a new contract. Mac's and Byram's extensions will likely eat all the money available and we have to settle for a cheaper option in the bottom 6.

And if, for some reasons, he's not getting better then why keeping him?

Kid has some good value right now so he might be a great chip at the deadline or next off-season. Or even sooner than that.

Well if he explodes, you will have a good problem to have, he would fill the 2C spot, and his value will be much better.

If he progresses steadily, he will be a good player with potential on a cheap contract for a third liner.

 

[ABasin]

It is being overinflated how much he played center... by quite a bit actually. He didn't play center until January... he played center until late November and then it was sporadic and in spurts. His best games were at center... but also he cleaned up when with Guentzel in spurts (who is a supremely underrated player). Hot streaks happen to a lot of players. Compher has gotten his whole NHL salary off a few hot streaks... ERod is much the same as Compher. Better defensively, but really about the same player.

Yes, I made a similar point last week. What's the difference between Rodriques and Compher?

Maybe the Stastny play wouldn't be such a terrible one after all (my initial reaction to my own initial suggestion was very negative). It would give them the opportunity to push the 2C decision down the road one year, see how Newhook develops (I'm not terribly optimistic in his future at C), and try to win another cup with a solid - albeit somewhat slower - player at 2C. And, they wouldn't have to jettison any assets right now.

Of course, then the Avs are going to be in the position of replacing 2C and 3C next offseason, unless Myers really shows something. But they'd at least be able to plan and execute a Girard-for-2C trade, when teams have cap space, etc.

 

[redacted]

Hating is not the right word, but that’s what I use because many posters seem ready to get rid of him and use him as trade chip.

I think you need those players to stay on the team, he’s really valuable with the Avs.

I think it is all relative... if Newhook can be moved to solve the 2C spot long-term, it makes a ton of sense to move him. If there is a team out there that still values him as a top end center prospect... he might be worth moving while that value is still there. If he's just moved for a similar value prospect or wing, that doesn't make a ton of sense. He's not untouchable, but he's not bait either.

Personally, I value him as a middle 6 wing who should pop in 40-45 points (i'm probably in the minority, but I was disappointed in his production last year... but that could be the square peg/round hole of trying to force him at center). On a cap strapped team, makes sense to keep those guys to a limit. Now if he breaks out an is the 55 point guy I expect out of him, he'll get a good raise and where that fits in the structure is a pretty big question. If he stays cheapish, you certainly keep him (and I think that possibility is good especially on a bridge). If he demands $6+m long-term... that's a really tough sell for a wing.

Yes, I made a similar point last week. What's the difference between Rodriques and Compher?

Maybe the Stastny play wouldn't be such a terrible one after all (my initial reaction to my own initial suggestion was very negative). It would give them the opportunity to push the 2C decision down the road one year, see how Newhook develops (I'm not terribly optimistic in his future at C), and try to win another cup with a solid - albeit somewhat slower - player at 2C. And, they wouldn't have to jettison any assets right now.

Of course, then the Avs are going to be in the position of replacing 2C and 3C next offseason, unless Myers really shows something. But they'd at least be able to plan and execute a Girard-for-2C trade, when teams have cap space, etc.

Pretty much how I'd see a Stastny move. It gives a year to work on different solutions. Try Rants, Meyers, Landy, Newhook... and if they all fail, Stastny can still work there until a move can be made (and I'd hope it would be by the deadline). If one succeeds, Stastny is a nice middle 6 piece who can help the 2nd unit power play and play different roles.

 

[Belgican]

I think it is all relative... if Newhook can be moved to solve the 2C spot long-term, it makes a ton of sense to move him. If there is a team out there that still values him as a top end center prospect... he might be worth moving while that value is still there. If he's just moved for a similar value prospect or wing, that doesn't make a ton of sense. He's not untouchable, but he's not bait either.

Personally, I value him as a middle 6 wing who should pop in 40-45 points (i'm probably in the minority, but I was disappointed in his production last year... but that could be the square peg/round hole of trying to force him at center). On a cap strapped team, makes sense to keep those guys to a limit. Now if he breaks out an is the 55 point guy I expect out of him, he'll get a good raise and where that fits in the structure is a pretty big question. If he stays cheapish, you certainly keep him (and I think that possibility is good especially on a bridge). If he demands $6+m long-term... that's a really tough sell for a wing.

Yes, exactly what I think.

I hoped he would bring more this first season, but I thought he did quite well the first part of the season, then kinda hit a wall.

I like his attitude though, seems to work hard and be very coachable. And he was rewarded in the playoffs with some playing time and some very good games where the bottom 6 was crucial.