Rumor: 2023-2024 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Off-season is in full swing

[ABasin]

This is spot on. And exactly why this offseason has been frustrating at best. The depth still sucks and it's going to be a carbon copy of burnt the f*** out for the playoffs as last year.

Chet, going back a month, given the amount of cap space available and the shallowness of the prospect pool, what on earth were your expectations for this offseason?

Even with the skinny cap space and the lack of meaningful trade assets in the system, they added a 2C, a 3C, a few depth pieces - and along the way, they didn't touch the defense....or the goaltending....or the top 4 forwards on the team to do it.

I mean, I get if the frustration comes from the lack of draft success over the years, hence the Avs depth is in question. The Avs have sucked at drafting, and when a team can't even ice 3rd/4th players from their 1st and 2nd round picks, that's rough.

But given the aforementioned circumstances, has this offseason really been so bad? It's certainly not perfect, and there's risk here (2C and Drouin are question marks), but I guess I'm not sure what reasonable higher expectations were realistic?

 

[The Abusement Park]

I want Cal Foote. I don't trust our right side our defensive death if we get injuries.

Foote sucks though.…

 

[RockLobster]

Chet, going back a month, given the amount of cap space available and the shallowness of the prospect pool, what on earth were your expectations for this offseason?

Even with the skinny cap space and the lack of meaningful trade assets in the system, they added a 2C, a 3C, a few depth pieces - and along the way, they didn't touch the defense....or the goaltending....or the top 4 forwards on the team to do it.

I mean, I get if the frustration comes from the lack of draft success over the years, hence the Avs depth is in question. The Avs have sucked at drafting, and when a team can't even ice 3rd/4th players from their 1st and 2nd round picks, that's rough.

But given the aforementioned circumstances, has this offseason really been so bad? It's certainly not perfect, and there's risk here (2C and Drouin are question marks), but I guess I'm not sure what reasonable higher expectations were realistic?

TBH, I think he's wanted them to trade Girard for 2C help...but I'm not sure how much better of a package we would have gotten for Girard. I mean I believe he has value, but not sure if we would have gotten a significantly better option at 2C than RyJo (who I agree has serious question marks heading in to the season).

There's also the frustration with keeping the two 1st round draft picks. But...no one made trades in R1, so I'm not sure how that can be solely blamed on Sakic and CMac. I believe they intended to keep one of them and trade the other, but nothing materialized and they weren't going to just give a 1st away.

 

[sethro109]

Foote sucks though.…

I'm hoping he fits Bednar's system. He's got the wheels and since EJ left, our D is now lacking in size. He's the same age as Malinski, so I'd rather one of them earn that last spot in camp.

 

[myperbixhurts]

What a hit by ERod on Vince Dunn

 

[Sea Eagles]

I can get the frustration of this offseason. A few things have to go right for the Avs to actually be better. As a breakdown we pretty much have this swap:

ERod to Drouin
Compher to RyJo
Newhook to Colton
Helm to Wood
Malgin to Olofsson
EJ to Malinski

As a whole I'd say the group to the right is a significant step up... but there is a significant amount of risk. Drouin plays a less sound and tenacious game compared to ERod, but he's got a lot more talent. RyJo is a lot more talented than Compher, but is coming off a bad season and is old. Colton is a very clear upgrade on Newhook in every way. Wood also a clear upgrade if he's healthy, big if. Olofsson is a better 4th line fit, but worse player than Malgin. Malinski is a mystery box, but I'd say a downgrade clearly right now.

Next season will basically come down to how RyJo, Wood, and Drouin pan out. If RyJo sucks and Colton has to be 2C, I'm not sure the Avs are really better off. If Drouin sucks, then the Avs need to make a top 6 wing move. If Wood is a 4th liner, the Avs just locked themselves into a 1.5m overpay for 6 years. Odds are all 3 won't pan out and all 3 won't fail... so, truth falls somewhere in the middle.

The one that NEEDS to happen is RyJo rebounding and giving a F. Considering he'll be playing for his career (Avs will buy him out if he fails), I think he'll rebound.

30 is old?

Also, if you consider Manson, Makar, Byram, Toews & Girard your top 5, wouldn't you assume Jack Johnson is your 6th D-man? Then possibly even Hunt (who got 10 points in 47 games), before Malinski?

But completely agree with you. We are much deeper in my view, hopefully healthier & the worst thing for the rest of the league, possibly with a bee in our bonnet, and with something to prove !

Don't get me wrong though, I'd actually like a 4C and 3RW asap after Colton signs if we have the space.

 

[redacted]

30 is old?

Also, if you consider Manson, Makar, Byram, Toews & Girard your top 5, wouldn't you assume Jack Johnson is your 6th D-man? Then possibly even Hunt (who got 10 points in 47 games), before Malinski?

But completely agree with you. We are much deeper in my view, hopefully healthier & the worst thing for the rest of the league, possibly with a bee in our bonnet, and with something to prove !

Don't get me wrong though, I'd actually like a 4C and 3RW asap after Colton signs if we have the space.

In hockey years, it is almost ancient.

 

[Balthazar]

In hockey years, it is almost ancient.

Playing style is important too. Manson/Landeskog at 29-30 are more beat up than Burns/Pavelski at 37-38.

I don't know how "old" RyJo is, hard to tell...last injury probably didn't help but before that he didn't look old. Just lazy.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I'm hoping he fits Bednar's system. He's got the wheels and since EJ left, our D is now lacking in size. He's the same age as Malinski, so I'd rather one of them earn that last spot in camp.

I’d much rather let Malinski and JJ earn the last spot and then upgrade at the TDL if necessary. Foote won’t have any impact on the defense that’s more noticeable than JJ as is.

 

[JH21]

30 is old?

Also, if you consider Manson, Makar, Byram, Toews & Girard your top 5, wouldn't you assume Jack Johnson is your 6th D-man? Then possibly even Hunt (who got 10 points in 47 games), before Malinski?

But completely agree with you. We are much deeper in my view, hopefully healthier & the worst thing for the rest of the league, possibly with a bee in our bonnet, and with something to prove !

Don't get me wrong though, I'd actually like a 4C and 3RW asap after Colton signs if we have the space.

Yes. JJ absolutely will be the 6D. Bednar trusts him and will not play an unproven rookie in Malinski over him. Hunt will be the 7D as well.

Malinski will start the year in the AHL and will probably be needed to play a few games throughout the season.

Toews - Makar
Byram- Manson
Girard - JJ
Hunt
MacDermid
Malinski

 

[ABasin]

TBH, I think he's wanted them to trade Girard for 2C help...but I'm not sure how much better of a package we would have gotten for Girard. I mean I believe he has value, but not sure if we would have gotten a significantly better option at 2C than RyJo (who I agree has serious question marks heading in to the season).

There's also the frustration with keeping the two 1st round draft picks. But...no one made trades in R1, so I'm not sure how that can be solely blamed on Sakic and CMac. I believe they intended to keep one of them and trade the other, but nothing materialized and they weren't going to just give a 1st away.

I don't disagree, but who was really available for Girard? I wanted Bennett, but who's to say Florida was willing to trade him?

I also understand not trading G, as the Avs 2nd pairing played a combined 69 games last season. Imagine those two having similar injury issues this season, G's gone, and the Avs are icing JMFJ on the 2nd pairing (and MacDermid on the 3rd pairing) for big chunks of the season. Makar and Toews would look like scarecrows by February.

Bottom line is the Avs had three large challenges they had to simultaneously address in June 2023:
1) Little cap space under which they could maneuver,
2) Virtually zero prospects in the system that they could trade for anything of value, and
3) A massive black hole at the center position (minus MacKinnon, of course).

Given those (significant) challenges, I believe they did pretty darn well. Again, it's not perfect, and there is risk here, but all in all, this offseason hasn't been bad at all.

Minus the Landeskog news.

 

[myperbixhurts]

Toews!!!!

 

[redacted]

I really don't think G has as much value as people think. He's settled into a middle pairing puck mover sort of role. Doesn't have the shine of a potential top pairing guy on a sweetheart dealy anymore. He's shown to have issues in the playoffs. His offense is solid, but he's not a big driver on that side of the puck. You add that to being 5'9" I can't see a lot of teams stumbling over themselves to acquire him, let alone giving up a key piece like a 2C.

Now a flawed top 6 wing, that makes a ton of sense as a hockey trade.

 

[Balthazar]

Toews!!!!

What?

Did we extend Devon? Signed Jonathan? What!?

 

[RockLobster]

Toews!!!!

Dude, you've got to stop with this type of stuff.

 

[redacted]

What?

Did we extend Devon? Signed Jonathan? What!?

Pretty sure he's watching a game and commenting on it... or he discovered a wormhole.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

I’m also not as enamored as everyone else with Ross Colton being our 3C. I love the acquisition of him in general. Especially the savvy GM work to get it done. But he hasn’t played centre in a few years. While I think he’s definitely capable of being a quality 3C, I think it also takes him away from the walls and from being the first guy on the forecheck which are components of his game that makes him him. To top it off he isnt great defensively and he’s going to have a whole lot more responsibility there than he’s used to having.

I like Ross Colton a lot. I just wish we had another guy capable of being our 3C (Laughton) so Colton can be Colton on the wing.

 

[myperbixhurts]

Dude, you've got to stop with this type of stuff.

What?

Did we extend Devon? Signed Jonathan? What!?

Just watching game 2 vs Seattle

 

[RoyIsALegend]

What a hit by ERod on Vince Dunn

What am I missing!?!?!

 

[redacted]

I’m also not as enamored as everyone else with Ross Colton being our 3C. I love the acquisition of him in general. Especially the savvy GM work to get it done. But he hasn’t played centre in a few years. While I think he’s definitely capable of being a quality 3C, I think it also takes him away from the walls and from being the first guy on the forecheck which are components of his game that makes him him. To top it off he isnt great defensively and he’s going to have a whole lot more responsibility there than he’s used to having.

I like Ross Colton a lot. I just wish we had another guy capable of being our 3C (Laughton) so Colton can be Colton on the wing.

I'd say you're underrating him a bit, but regardless, CMac is already on the record that he's a center here. They aren't going to grab someone unless he fails in that role.

 

[Mighty Makar]

@the_fan is drinking again.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

I'd say you're underrating him a bit, but regardless, CMac is already on the record that he's a center here. They aren't going to grab someone unless he fails in that role.

I don’t think I’m underrating him at all. I think he’s a damn good hockey player. I just think playing him at centre prevents him from spending more times doing things he’s best at.

 

[Balthazar]

Just watching game 2 vs Seattle

Don't do that. I was glued on Twitter and F5'ing the board like an idiot for some Toews news.

 

[Hasbro]

I really don't think G has as much value as people think.

Not with the flat cap. Look at all the players bought out or given away this offseason.

 

[redacted]

I don’t think I’m underrating him at all. I think he’s a damn good hockey player. I just think playing him at centre prevents him from spending more times doing things he’s best at.

I meant in regards to his defensive play. More of my point though was that CMac brought him in for that role and the Avs don't deviate from plans until there is a failure. If Colton is struggling at the deadline, maybe they do something. But more likely the won't address it until next summer or deadline 25. They aren't going out to get Laughton or any other player to take the 3C role. Colton is that guy.

Not with the flat cap. Look at all the players bought out or given away this offseason.

Flat cap plays a role, but G is at least a good player in his prime. Not an overpaid player who is regressing. The type of swap that I could see with G is something like G for Boeser. Flawed, but impactful players who fill needs on the other team.