Rumor: 2023-2024 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Offseason Edition

[The Abusement Park]

Nurse more likely than Nuge IMO

Can’t imagine either guys waiving their NMC.

 

[UncleRisto]

Friedman said on 32T that he "thinks" the Avs made a run at PLD, but it was never close, and then they made the deal for Johansen.

Of course. The Avs always make runs at big trades and offer top UFAs but they don't have the assets or cap to beat out anything, so who cares.

 

[redacted]

Friedman said on 32T that he "thinks" the Avs made a run at PLD, but it was never close, and then they made the deal for Johansen.

Elliotte loves to link the Avs to every big name. I'm pretty sure he can't even comment on a rumor without linking the Avs.

From what (little) I know, the Avs were circling the 2-3 year older 2Cs and simply scoffed at the prices until they landed on RyJo. Which is also why were are hearing Kuznetsov may stay in DC. The Avs were the top suitor and it dried up.

 

[Ararana]

Elliotte loves to link the Avs to every big name. I'm pretty sure he can't even comment on a rumor without linking the Avs.

From what (little) I know, the Avs were circling the 2-3 year older 2Cs and simply scoffed at the prices until they landed on RyJo. Which is also why were are hearing Kuznetsov may stay in DC. The Avs were the top suitor and it dried up.

RyJo gives them a two year cushion for Newhook to grow into the 2C

 

[Muffin]

I'd let ERod walk and sign Drouin for cheap. Roll with
Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Drouin
Nuke-Johansen-Rantanen

Use the left over cap space to upgrade the third line. Wonder what the cost of JVR would be? We REALLY lacked net front presence with Landeskog and Nuke out in the playoffs, JVR could be a 3rd line winger, PP specialist kind of guy.

 

[redacted]

RyJo gives them a two year cushion for Newhook to grow into the 2C

I'm convinced that is the plan. The Avs will force it with certain guys until they simply can't anymore. This is definitely a Jost 2.0 situation in the handling. We will see what the result ends up being.

 

[UncleRisto]

From what (little) I know, the Avs were circling the 2-3 year older 2Cs and simply scoffed at the prices until they landed on RyJo. Which is also why were are hearing Kuznetsov may stay in DC. The Avs were the top suitor and it dried up.

Nooooooo!! Sakic's Russian Snowblower crew!

 

[Mighty Makar]

I'd let ERod walk and sign Drouin for cheap. Roll with
Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Drouin
Nuke-Johansen-Rantanen

Use the left over cap space to upgrade the third line. Wonder what the cost of JVR would be? We REALLY lacked net front presence with Landeskog and Nuke out in the playoffs, JVR could be a 3rd line winger, PP specialist kind of guy.

JVR re-signed with Philly.

Edit: I guess he didn’t. I thought I read that somewhere.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I'd let ERod walk and sign Drouin for cheap. Roll with
Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Drouin
Nuke-Johansen-Rantanen

Use the left over cap space to upgrade the third line. Wonder what the cost of JVR would be? We REALLY lacked net front presence with Landeskog and Nuke out in the playoffs, JVR could be a 3rd line winger, PP specialist kind of guy.

Man this Drouin thing just won’t die will it.

 

[UncleRisto]

Man this Drouin thing just won’t die will it.

The Drouin thing this summer after it happens:

 

[Ararana]

I'm convinced that is the plan. The Avs will force it with certain guys until they simply can't anymore. This is definitely a Jost 2.0 situation in the handling. We will see what the result ends up being.

I'm confident that's the plan. I do think Newhook ends up quite better than Jost, I think he eventually becomes a pretty decent 3C, but hoping he becomes the 2C is banana pants crazy.

 

[Chiarelli]

RyJo gives them a two year cushion for Newhook to grow into the 2C

If they can not suck at the draft it’s reasonable to think they can grab a guy that’s ready to be 2C in 3 years if this draft is as deep as some say.





Drouin Johansen Nuke

What could go wrong?

 

[Ararana]

Drouin is going to fit right in on the Avs bottom six that couldn't score to save their lives.

 

[dahrougem2]

Intriguing UFA name to watch: Matthew Phillips.

I think he 100% leaves Calgary and looks for an opportunity in the NHL. He's diminutive but has torched the AHL the last couple of seasons. Perhaps a Malgin replacement if Malgin prices himself out of the Avs' budget?

 

[redacted]

I'm confident that's the plan. I do think Newhook ends up quite better than Jost, I think he eventually becomes a pretty decent 3C, but hoping he becomes the 2C is banana pants crazy.

IMO if you want to really get the most out of Newhook, he needs to be a 3rd wheel top 6 wing. Plant him on the left side of MacK or RyJo and just let him stick there. Avs have enough size and compete with the to other top 6 guys that Newhook's inability to win battles and get separation will be minimized... so the Avs an utilize his solid shot and good hands without teams pressuring him as a top option. I don't think this will happen, but... that's what I'd do. I'd also sign Kampf as the 3C to allow this to happen.

 

[John Mandalorian]

If they can not suck at the draft it’s reasonable to think they can grab a guy that’s ready to be 2C in 3 years if this draft is as deep as some say.





Drouin Johansen Nuke

What could go wrong?

There's no point in drafting certain guys unless they go into the draft with some skill or commitment to puckhounding/checking. What's the point?

If they can't develop it, Bednar won't play him in a way that's necessary for their development curve. And quite honestly, for where things are with the Avs, it's hard to criticize Bednar for not being more patient with Newhook. He's trying to win games with half the vets on IR at times.

 

[Bender]

IMO if you want to really get the most out of Newhook, he needs to be a 3rd wheel top 6 wing. Plant him on the left side of MacK or RyJo and just let him stick there. Avs have enough size and compete with the to other top 6 guys that Newhook's inability to win battles and get separation will be minimized... so the Avs an utilize his solid shot and good hands without teams pressuring him as a top option. I don't think this will happen, but... that's what I'd do. I'd also sign Kampf as the 3C to allow this to happen.

Bednar would shift Newhook down to the 3rd line and move Kampf up to his spot in period #3 of the very first game of that experiment.

I don't disagree with you that it would give Newhook the best opportunity but to me part of giving the kid an actual chance is to stick with something for 5-6 games to allow him to try and build some confidence.

 

[redacted]

If they can not suck at the draft it’s reasonable to think they can grab a guy that’s ready to be 2C in 3 years if this draft is as deep as some say.

This draft isn't as deep as people have stated, especially when you break it down positionally. On defense, it is actually rather weak... there will be a decent amount of top 4 guys, but only ~2 or 3 guys who are looking like top pairing futures. The top 4 guys are likely done by mid 20s. Centers are heavily weighted to the top of the draft. There are ~4 guys who legitimately look like top line future guys, and they'll go top 5. A couple more guys with top line upside, but more likely to fall short. Then another 4-6 that are 2nd line upside guys who may or may not make it at center.

Where this draft is deep is at wing. There is going to be guys who are drafted in the 3rd to 5th rounds that end up top 6 wings. Not unreasonable to grab a rather risky guy like Perron at the tail end of the 2nd who might become a top liner. That is really where the strength of this draft is (also in net too).

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Newhook for all his warts looks like an actual NHL player in ways Jost never did.

It's a really big mistake to not get a C this offseason. Between Horvat a the deadline and PLD and Lindholm there's 3 legit #2Cs that have been moved.

The Avs don't have the prospects but they have their first rounders. Unless these teams really want to retool and need NHLers they can just empty the cubbard.

Would two firsts and two seconds and OO for Lindholm retained get it done? Then sign him to a new deal.

 

[redacted]

Bednar would shift Newhook down to the 3rd line and move Kampf up to his spot in period #3 of the very first game of that experiment.

I don't disagree with you that it would give Newhook the best opportunity but to me part of giving the kid an actual chance is to stick with something for 5-6 games to allow him to try and build some confidence.

Newhook got (a lot) more than 5-6 games as a 3C and he showed he really wasn't up to the task in my opinion. I really think if you want to pry Newhook's offensive ability out of him, you have to plant him at the wing in the top 6. For Newhook to stick there, he's gotta learn how to win some battles.

 

[dahrougem2]

Newhook got (a lot) more than 5-6 games as a 3C and he showed he really wasn't up to the task in my opinion. I really think if you want to pry Newhook's offensive ability out of him, you have to plant him at the wing in the top 6. For Newhook to stick there, he's gotta learn how to win some battles.

That's just not going to happen. I don't know that I've seen a player with less pushback than Alex Newhook in all my time watching hockey.

I joked about it during the Seattle series but it was true: any time there was a battle in front or a scrum after the whistle Newhook would just get his shit pushed in and take it, then skate back to the bench with his head down.

 

[Muffin]

That's just not going to happen. I don't know that I've seen a player with less pushback than Alex Newhook in all my time watching hockey.

I joked about it during the Seattle series but it was true: any time there was a battle in front or a scrum after the whistle Newhook would just get his shit pushed in and take it, then skate back to the bench with his head down.

I think Newhook is on track to have a Compher like career.

 

[redacted]

Newhook for all his warts looks like an actual NHL player in ways Jost never did.

It's a really big mistake to not get a C this offseason. Between Horvat a the deadline and PLD and Lindholm there's 3 legit #2Cs that have been moved.

The Avs don't have the prospects but they have their first rounders. Unless these teams really want to retool and need NHLers they can just empty the cubbard.

Would two firsts and two seconds and OO for Lindholm retained get it done? Then sign him to a new deal.

I'd actually argue Jost showed more long-term NHLer than Newhook has. Newhook is a slightly better skater and has a more powerful (but less accurate) shot. Jost had a better motor and much better defensive awareness (he's actually really solid defensively). What Jost is better at, makes him much more of an option in a bottom 6 role. In fact, he's likely carved out a 3rd line spot for the foreseeable future in Buffalo where he's a top PK option up front. If Newhook's offense doesn't come around, you have a defensively lacking, poor battling, and rather low motor bottom 6 guy... those players don't stick forever. Newhook needs to be scoring 45+ points a season to stick long-term in the NHL as nobody is going to keep around a 30 point wing who can't PK or play a defensive role.

 

[Bender]

LeBrun: Rumblings on Johansen, Krug, DeAngelo, Dubois and more as the NHL kicks off draft week

Predators GM Barry Trotz explains his thinking on Ryan Johansen, plus the latest on Torey Krug, Tony DeAngelo and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

theathletic.com

I don't really believe this for a second.

I believe that this is what the Avs are saying publicly because they never want to look bad publicly or make it look like they aren't giving a long-time player a chance to stay and they probably don't want to close any doors but I believe the JTC is like plan E.

On the other side, I think they know that JTC is looking at a 5X5 contract at minimum and a team like Chicago would probably love to bring him home. I don't see the Avs wanting to match that kind of deal... maybe they are trying to squeeze the blackhawks for a draft pick to ensure they get their guy (as they have EIGHT picks within the first 3 rounds coming up).

 

[redacted]

That's just not going to happen. I don't know that I've seen a player with less pushback than Alex Newhook in all my time watching hockey.

I joked about it during the Seattle series but it was true: any time there was a battle in front or a scrum after the whistle Newhook would just get his shit pushed in and take it, then skate back to the bench with his head down.

I tend to agree with you, but that's what has to happen for Newhook to really have an impact. I personally think is focus needs to be on slimming down and putting a ton of work in on his edges. Win battles like Point does by being first and working the angles. He's not going to overpower anybody in the NHL, so don't even try... work the best with what you got.

I don't really believe this for a second.

I believe that this is what the Avs are saying publicly because they never want to look bad publicly or make it look like they aren't giving a long-time player a chance to stay and they probably don't want to close any doors but I believe the JTC is like plan E.

On the other side, I think they know that JTC is looking at a 5X5 contract at minimum and a team like Chicago would probably love to bring him home. I don't see the Avs wanting to match that kind of deal... maybe they are trying to squeeze the blackhawks for a draft pick to ensure they get their guy (as they have EIGHT picks within the first 3 rounds coming up).

LeBrun is really the only guy I believe nationally with the Avs. Pagnotta if the player's agent is Brisson. I tend to believe what he puts out there personally.