Rumor: 2022-2023 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: The Search for a 2C

[redacted]

The salary part of Toews is no big deal (except a couple of teams). Teams can work around that. It is the 10.5 cap hit that is an issue. Chicago can hold 50%, but finding someone to take the other 25% today would be rather difficult today. We are about 1/6th into the season, so you can knock off some. Without getting too much into the weeds, somewhere around 2.2m would be the other 25% in cap hit for the rest of the season. I think there are currently only 8 teams in the league that could absorb it today. 2 are in our division and wouldn't likely be willing to help today (Winnipeg and Minnesota). Isles and Wings have their own playoff aspirations and are unlikely to play ball. Sens are budget strapped, and unlikely to take on any extra until the deadline. Basically you're down to Arizona, Anaheim and Buffalo. All 3 have retained salary spots open, but some issues. Arizona has 2 left, but likely to need at least 1 maybe 2 to improve the value of the players they have available. Anaheim has 3 spots, but another team that is likely to want to use them to improve their own value at the deadline. Which leaves Buffalo as the option for today.

When we get to the deadline and you have teams that have banked space, it'll be easier to find a taker for some sort of mid round pick to get the cap hit down. Right now, the cap hit is too high and limits how teams could approach the deadline.

 

[Richard Doll]

In reality it’s probably not anyone being mentioned, Joe’s team has a type of trade they like to do.

Personally I want Edmonton to crash and bail on RNH, that is the contract I feel you trade for, it’s not happening, but that is the type of player and contract I trade for.

 

[EdAVSfan]

Whos a lesser known middle 6 C with good analytics from other teams?

I’d guess that’ll be more of their target

 

[Balthazar]

Whos a lesser known middle 6 C with good analytics from other teams?

I’d guess that’ll be more of their target

Nico Sturm

 

[redacted]

Whos a lesser known middle 6 C with good analytics from other teams?

I’d guess that’ll be more of their target

Gourde

 

[The Abusement Park]

Whos a lesser known middle 6 C with good analytics from other teams?

I’d guess that’ll be more of their target

Gourde would fit that bill. Not really lesser known though.

 

[Freaky Styley]

I'd been thinking about Gourde but not sure Seattle moves him, I see them as playoff contenders and I think they'll want to ride that wave.

 

[redacted]

Gourde would fit that bill. Not really lesser known though.

Really any player that can play at a 2C level is fairly well known. Just a prime position. Along with that, I don’t think the Avs have been unknown on many of their transactions.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Really any player that can play at a 2C level is fairly well known. Just a prime position. Along with that, I don’t think the Avs have been unknown on many of their transactions.

Thats valid.

Do you think could get away with Gourde at 2C?

Landy-Mack-Lehk
Nuke-Gourde-Mikko

or something of that sort.

 

[redacted]

Thats valid.

Do you think could get away with Gourde at 2C?

Landy-Mack-Lehk
Nuke-Gourde-Mikko

or something of that sort.

Doubtful, but remotely possible. He’d certainly be an enormous step up.

Personally, I believe one of the reasons the Avs got away with their centers last year is Kadri played like a 1 and Compher played his best hockey of the season in the playoffs. Gourde can’t play at the level of Kadri and Compher is unlikely to be better than he was last year. I’d say the Avs would likely have to upgrade the 3C to be in a great spot.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I'd been thinking about Gourde but not sure Seattle moves him, I see them as playoff contenders and I think they'll want to ride that wave.

As a 3C that'd be great. As a 2C it would still be a weakness.


But I would trade for him to be the 3C.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Doubtful, but remotely possible. He’d certainly be an enormous step up.

Personally, I believe one of the reasons the Avs got away with their centers last year is Kadri played like a 1 and Compher played his best hockey of the season in the playoffs. Gourde can’t play at the level of Kadri and Compher is unlikely to be better than he was last year. I’d say the Avs would likely have to upgrade the 3C to be in a great spot.

That’s how I feel as well. Still a masons upgrade regardless.

 

[Richard Doll]

What about a Ryan Strome type, 5m for a number of years, 50 point center, right shot. Just signed in Anaheim, but they are not going anywhere fast.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

What about a Ryan Strome type, 5m for a number of years, 50 point center, right shot. Just signed in Anaheim, but they are not going anywhere fast.

Won't get traded so soon after signing a fresh contract.


The guy they missed out on last summer was Vinny Trocheck. $5.5M would have been right in our wheelhouse in terms of affordability.

 

[redacted]

What about a Ryan Strome type, 5m for a number of years, 50 point center, right shot. Just signed in Anaheim, but they are not going anywhere fast.

Strome sucks and isn’t moving… Nelson would be that type of center that is actually decent (not good but decent). As long as the Isles are decent, he’s not going anywhere

 

[Richard Doll]

I just think we need to be realistic to what we should go after.

I agree Strome is very unlikely to be moved with just getting that contract, but that is very likely the type of player we should be targeting.

Someone that is team controlled on contact, most likely in that 50-60 point range, like a Kadri when we made the trade. Yes, Kadri was a 30 goal scorer, but he was several years removed from that, we weren’t trying to trade for a 30 goal scorer, we were trying for a 50-60 point center, with a great contract.

The idea of getting a star for the second line that we can’t afford to pay next year or an old vet like Toews that we also won’t keep next year is a wrong way of thinking, do we really want to be sitting here with this exact same conversation next year?

It’s also possible that the guy we need is already here, with the way ERod has been playing lately, maybe getting Nuke and Landy back with ERod at 2c will be effective…

 

[redacted]

I just think we need to be realistic to what we should go after.

I agree Strome is very unlikely to be moved with just getting that contract, but that is very likely the type of player we should be targeting.

Someone that is team controlled on contact, most likely in that 50-60 point range, like a Kadri when we made the trade. Yes, Kadri was a 30 goal scorer, but he was several years removed from that, we weren’t trying to trade for a 30 goal scorer, we were trying for a 50-60 point center, with a great contract.

The idea of getting a star for the second line that we can’t afford to pay next year or an old vet like Toews that we also won’t keep next year is a wrong way of thinking, do we really want to be sitting here with this exact same conversation next year?

It’s also possible that the guy we need is already here, with the way ERod has been playing lately, maybe getting Nuke and Landy back with ERod at 2c will be effective…

If you want a 50-60 point cost controlled guy for a few years… it’s gonna still cost. It won’t be cheap assets wise because teams need those types of centers. That’ll be more expensive than a rental by a decent amount. Not saying it is the wrong way at all, just it isn’t going to be cheaper.

I agree with the sentiment of solving the issue. Avs should be looking at a 3-4 year solution.

I brought up Hayes the other day and I think him with retention would fit very nicely here. Not perfect but checks a lot of boxes.

ERod is no where near a capable 2C. That shouldn’t even be thought of as an option. He can look fine in spurts, but he will be invisible for 20 games at a time.

 

[Richard Doll]

If you want a 50-60 point cost controlled guy for a few years… it’s gonna still cost. It won’t be cheap assets wise because teams need those types of centers. That’ll be more expensive than a rental by a decent amount. Not saying it is the wrong way at all, just it isn’t going to be cheaper.

I agree with the sentiment of solving the issue. Avs should be looking at a 3-4 year solution.

I brought up Hayes the other day and I think him with retention would fit very nicely here. Not perfect but checks a lot of boxes.

ERod is no where near a capable 2C. That shouldn’t even be thought of as an option. He can look fine in spurts, but he will be invisible for 20 games at a time.

If it’s a cost controlled player that gets us at least several years, I have no problem paying assets.

My resistance has always been the high picks or prospects for a guy we won’t see in a year in an Avs sweater.

The Leky type deal I’m perfectly fine with and don’t think we should give up looking for those types of deals rather than looking for the flashy diamond on some other teams finger that we really can’t afford.

 

[John Mandalorian]

I just think we need to be realistic to what we should go after.

I agree Strome is very unlikely to be moved with just getting that contract, but that is very likely the type of player we should be targeting.

Someone that is team controlled on contact, most likely in that 50-60 point range, like a Kadri when we made the trade. Yes, Kadri was a 30 goal scorer, but he was several years removed from that, we weren’t trying to trade for a 30 goal scorer, we were trying for a 50-60 point center, with a great contract.

The idea of getting a star for the second line that we can’t afford to pay next year or an old vet like Toews that we also won’t keep next year is a wrong way of thinking, do we really want to be sitting here with this exact same conversation next year?

It’s also possible that the guy we need is already here, with the way ERod has been playing lately, maybe getting Nuke and Landy back with ERod at 2c will be effective…

Realistic? It's likely to be someone with term. That voids all the the discussion of Horvat. You have to look at this in multiple ways. Is the standard Kadri? Or is the standard "better than Compher"?

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Not that it would help our 2C situation, but I really want the Avs to get Trenin and Jeanot from the Preds. Feel like they’d fit really well on the Avs.

 

[Richard Doll]

Realistic? It's likely to be someone with term. That voids all the the discussion of Horvat. You have to look at this in multiple ways. Is the standard Kadri? Or is the standard "better than Compher"?

Which Kadri?

The one that played out of his mind last season or the one that would have been the 50-60 range his previous years with us were it not for injury?

While I’d love to stumble on the 90 point Kadri, I’ll take the 50 point version and be happy I’ve got him.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I think it would be smart to make a move for Horvat early. Let him build chemistry with the team, and also longer evaluation period to see if you open up space to re-sign him.

 

[PAZ]

As a 3C that'd be great. As a 2C it would still be a weakness.


But I would trade for him to be the 3C.

If you're trading for him he'd be our 2C, because the Avs can't afford a #3C making 5.2 mil.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

If you're trading for him he'd be our 2C, because the Avs can't afford a #3C making 5.2 mil.

They could... It would be tight, but they could.

2C would have to be on a ~5.5-6M contract as well. Someone like Nelson.

 

[PAZ]

They could... It would be tight, but they could.

2C would have to be on a ~5.5-6M contract as well. Someone like Nelson.

It's still not really plausible. It would entail trading Girard, cap going up to $86+ mil, Byram making ~$5 mil. Newhook, Kaut, and Meyers (or replacements) all making $1 mil or less, and carrying a 18-19 man roster.