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

[Linds]

Newhook will never be able to fill the 2C position on a team with Cup aspirations. He just doesn't have the skill set to do so. I've said that for a long time. Rantanen is the best internal option, not just skill set wise, but the organization and coaching staff have been willing to use him there.

Frankly, I've seen this a few times and I really don't get it... what is the improvement we have seen from Newhook? Is it because he's put up a few points in recent games? If anything, what we see from Newhook is when he gets taken away from the middle of the ice, he can start to have an impact on the offensive end of things. He showed the same thing last year when Sturm was brought in. He's a talented young player with a future... there is just nothing to suggest it will be at center.

That's fair for him not being a C. But even with injuries playing with AHL bums he still is making more plays and holding onto the puck more and even scoring goals. Would like to see him playing on the 2nd line with a fully competent roster

 

[LOFIN]

If Mikko isn't the answer... I'd really like to convince Florida that Lundell could be traded. He's a lock to be a good 2C at minimum and he's on his ELC next season still. The likelihood of this is zero, but in a dream world, that's the type of deal the Avs really need.

The only way I see them trading Lundell is if they can dump Bobrovsky at the same time.

 

[Balthazar]

BREAKING: Gary Bettman is full of shit.

Why? Everyone should have known that this 4M cap increase wasn't happening. The NHL is always over optimistic with their predictions.

 

[The Merchant]

Cap crunch is coming at us. Hard. At that's even without a 2C.

This league is a f***ing joke. Of course there'd be virtually zero cap growth during the heart of the Avs' Cup window.

 

[dahrougem2]

Why? Everyone should have known that this 4M cap increase wasn't happening. The NHL is always over optimistic with their predictions.

It's not that. It's his constant retorts that some imaginary fan poll the league conducts - which nobody ever gets to see the published results - support his opinions 100% of the time.

Virtual ads making the game more enjoyable? Lol. Ok Gary.

 

[myperbixhurts]

I really have to point it out? You haven't watched Blues/Avs tilts of late? The moron who got his ass handed to him by Landeskog and later threw a absolute hissyfit when he got dinged for a late penalty? Dude is a meathead who takes dumb penalties and is dirty AF.

His stupid antics aside, he was a decent player back in the day but he's been on the decline for a while. I'm pretty sure he hasn't been a full time center the last 2-3 years.

I mean he fought Landy and lost the fight. Does that make him an idiot? Taking dumb penalties is something some Avs players have done before, and is he really known to be that dirty? I mean we had Kadri who was suspended few times in his career. I'm not really saying I want Schenn on the Avs, just wondering why he was an idiot. Maybe he is, I don't know but...

 

[Avsfan1921]

I haven’t been able to watch the last week, but see Newhook on the scoreboard a bit. Is he playing any better or is it just a “right place right time” thing?

EDIT: Wrong thread sorry, meant to post in the “week of” thread

 

[redacted]

I haven’t been able to watch the last week, but see Newhook on the scoreboard a bit. Is he playing any better or is it just a “right place right time” thing?

EDIT: Wrong thread sorry, meant to post in the “week of” thread

The last ~4 games, he hasn't been as good as his stats would indicate, but solid. His 2 goals against Philly were not 5v5. One was a nice tip on the power play and one was with the goalie pulled in garbage time. His two assists, one was a really nice one touch off a set faceoff play. The other was just a neutral zone pass to a wide open (Rantanen?). Now his game at Boston (not the one here), was one of his best of the season despite not putting up any points.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I’ll be pretty surprised if Rossi or Byfield get traded. I can also see the Canucks being dumb and valuing NHL roster players (+ picks) over the best prospect offered. For that reason I can really see LA getting Horvat based on the players you mention.


Face offs don’t matter in the grand scheme. One here or there can result in a goal, sure.

Situational face offs matter. Draws in the neutral zone dont matter too much. PK faceoff, PP faceoffs and final minute faceoffs matter a ton and the Avs suck at all those.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Cap crunch is coming at us. Hard. At that's even without a 2C.

Am I the only one who thinks guys like Henrique and Murphy will have added appeal because of this? It seems like a lot of teams, if they're giving up assets, they'd want to have cost certainty with it.

Is it possible for Anaheim to retain 1.8 and split it between this year and next year?

 

[The Abusement Park]

Am I the only one who thinks guys like Henrique and Murphy will have added appeal because of this? It seems like a lot of teams, if they're giving up assets, they'd want to have cost certainty with it.

Is it possible for Anaheim to retain 1.8 and split it between this year and next year?

I don’t think cost certainty with guys like them will add value.

 

[John Mandalorian]

I don’t think cost certainty with guys like them will add value.

You don't think the cap increase being 1 and not 4, will affect the number of teams entertaining the idea of going after Horvat?

 

[redacted]

Aging players with extra years will have discounted value due to the cap. If you want a bargain... look for 30+ players with 2-3 more years after this one on their contracts. They'll be bargains because teams will want to shed them, and teams will be deeply concerned about their cap situations and want to get ahead of the process. The Henriques and Hayes' of the world will be relatively cheap.

 

[The Abusement Park]

You don't think the cap increase being 1 and not 4, will affect the number of teams entertaining the idea of going after Horvat?

I mean depends on the player. Henrique and Murphy don’t have great contracts so I’m not sure why that’d boost their value. It would boos the value of guys like Hagel last year more than the overpaid guys.

 

[John Mandalorian]

I mean depends on the player. Henrique and Murphy don’t have great contracts so I’m not sure why that’d boost their value. It would boos the value of guys like Hagel last year more than the overpaid guys.

If Anaheim retains on Henrique .9 m for the last two years, the contract is under 5. If he's in your top 6, you can maybe live with that. His current salary is a tough pill to swallow but with just a little retention, it becomes much more pallatable with extremely finite cap space.

 

[Avsfan1921]

The last ~4 games, he hasn't been as good as his stats would indicate, but solid. His 2 goals against Philly were not 5v5. One was a nice tip on the power play and one was with the goalie pulled in garbage time. His two assists, one was a really nice one touch off a set faceoff play. The other was just a neutral zone pass to a wide open (Rantanen?). Now his game at Boston (not the one here), was one of his best of the season despite not putting up any points.

That’s unfortunate, I was hoping to hear he was maybe creating a few more chances. Thanks for the info.

 

[redacted]

That’s unfortunate, I was hoping to hear he was maybe creating a few more chances. Thanks for the info.

I wouldn't say his chances have really increased.... maybe one extra every couple games sort. That isn't to say he isn't creating any, because he does and has (even earlier this year), it just hasn't been drastic. Gotten a bit more puck luck more than anything. Still shows some flashes of talent, but needs them to be more consistent.

 

[EdAVSfan]

How much better a center is Henrique than Rantanen? If he even is…

 

[redacted]

How much better a center is Henrique than Rantanen? If he even is…

I would say he isn't better than Rants at center. At this point, Henrique really isn't capable as a 2C... as a 3C he's fine and maybe even good.

Part of the point though would be to keep Rantanen on the wing.

 

[Balthazar]

This year only a handful of teams have cap space (and most, if not all of them, aren't willing to spend it).

Next year will be significantly worse. There will be almost no cap room accross the league. You'll only be able to trade $1 in for $1 out.

That means that even if we want to trade Girard and his 5M contract stritctly for futures, it may not be as easy as we thought it would be.

If we want a 2C, even a very unexpensive one (< 5M) both Byram and Newhook will have to accept dirt cheap short term contracts.

 

[Pokecheque]

I mean he fought Landy and lost the fight. Does that make him an idiot? Taking dumb penalties is something some Avs players have done before, and is he really known to be that dirty? I mean we had Kadri who was suspended few times in his career. I'm not really saying I want Schenn on the Avs, just wondering why he was an idiot. Maybe he is, I don't know but...

Yes, he's dirty. Yes, he's an idiot. Yes, he's an overpaid, aging forward on the decline who hasn't played center full time in years. All of these things are objectively true and inarguable and ineffable as the winds on the vast, icy plains of Mars.

Next.

 

[redacted]

If we want a 2C, even a very unexpensive one (< 5M) both Byram and Newhook will have to accept dirt cheap short term contracts.

This is no guarantee either. Newhook with a 35-40 point season can command 3.5-4.5m even on a bridge. Likely right around 4, but could be slightly lower. Byram is a complete wildcard here... if he comes back and say ends with 35 points in 50 games while playing top 4 mintues with a good playoffs... we are right back to either long-term big money, or short term medium money bridge. If he's hurt most of the season and comes back to meh play, Avs might buy a cheap year around 2.5m.

That's before the bonus issues the Avs face too. There may not be a ton with Byram being injured, but schedule As can still add up (a good chunk only require 42 games played), especially with the Avs trending to 150k in cap space at most. 1m in schedule As would basically make the cap the same as this year for the Avs.

To me, this is what makes paying through the nose for Lundell the most palatable option for overpaying. Dude is on an ELC next season and can dramatically help our cap structure. The problem is... Florida needs his contract an ability as much, if not more than the Avs do.

 

[EdAVSfan]

I would say he isn't better than Rants at center. At this point, Henrique really isn't capable as a 2C... as a 3C he's fine and maybe even good.

Part of the point though would be to keep Rantanen on the wing.

I get the point of keeping Rantanen on wing.

But that’s only a good option if we’re getting a legitimate 2C.

Otherwise, it’s far better to have a Rantanen 2C option and go out and get a better winger than Henrique is a Center.

 

[redacted]

I get the point of keeping Rantanen on wing.

But that’s only a good option if we’re getting a legitimate 2C.

Otherwise, it’s far better to have a Rantanen 2C option and go out and get a better winger than Henrique is a Center.

Don't disagree with this at all. I'm a huge proponent of putting Rants at center and keeping him there. It simply solves a lot of issues, if it works.

 

[Balthazar]

This is no guarantee either. Newhook with a 35-40 point season can command 3.5-4.5m even on a bridge. Likely right around 4, but could be slightly lower. Byram is a complete wildcard here... if he comes back and say ends with 35 points in 50 games while playing top 4 mintues with a good playoffs... we are right back to either long-term big money, or short term medium money bridge. If he's hurt most of the season and comes back to meh play, Avs might buy a cheap year around 2.5m.

That's before the bonus issues the Avs face too. There may not be a ton with Byram being injured, but schedule As can still add up (a good chunk only require 42 games played), especially with the Avs trending to 150k in cap space at most. 1m in schedule As would basically make the cap the same as this year for the Avs.

To me, this is what makes paying through the nose for Lundell the most palatable option for overpaying. Dude is on an ELC next season and can dramatically help our cap structure. The problem is... Florida needs his contract an ability as much, if not more than the Avs do.

Yep, Panthers have zero reason to trade him.

Feels like 3/4 of people here don't fully understand the kind of cap crunch that we are facing, even without a 2C. This board will be something next summer.