Rumor: 2023-24 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Part Deux

[henchman21]

Substance with Byram? What substance? Byram is just having an off year so far. Wait until you see him play in playoffs before jumping the ship.

The funny thing is, I’m not jumping ship at all. I’ve said many times throughout many years of what I think Byram will be with strengths and weaknesses. I still think he’s a great player… just this superstar elite guy that people project isn’t and never has been a reality.

It also isn’t just this year… last season too where he also wasn’t that good in the playoffs or regular season.

 

[ABasin]

Byram's play during the run was very good. That doesn't change the level of play right now though. Right now, Byram is a flashy but flawed middle pairing defensemen whose game is not rounding out as quickly as expected. The Byram Bunnies paint the picture of Byram as an elite shutdown defender who is just power play time away from being Makar offensively... when the reality is just so much different.

Squishmallows and now Byram Bunnies.

Good times….

 

[Richard Doll]

Anyone expecting Byram to be Makar is being delusional and unfair to Byram.

The hope is that he turns into a top pair defenseman, hopefully an all-star, but to hope he becomes an equal to arguably the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL is completely unfair.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Anyone expecting Byram to be Makar is being delusional and unfair to Byram.

The hope is that he turns into a top pair defenseman, hopefully an all-star, but to hope he becomes an equal to arguably the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL is completely unfair.

True. He is not on Makars level and that's no shame.

 

[Ararana]

Anyone expecting Byram to be Makar is being delusional and unfair to Byram.

The hope is that he turns into a top pair defenseman, hopefully an all-star, but to hope he becomes an equal to arguably the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL is completely unfair.

This. No one is coming close to Makar. However I'd actually be shocked if Byram didn't become clear top pair defenseman as some point in his career. I've argued Byram needs to get himself off the Avs if he wants to have the best shot at that, and I still believe that. His growth is limited too much on the Avs with 8 and 7 above him for at least the next three years.

The Wild refuse to rebuild, they could really use a blue chip offensive LHD with Brodin aging out. I don't know a ton about JEE, but if others on this board are right about him a Byram/JEE swap could benefit both clubs in the trajectory they're heading.

But in reality I fully expect the Avs to keep Byram, eventually trade Girard, and we'll toil away at 2C until the window is over after next year. Byram will eventually earn the top pair spot as Toews starts to age out after the window. And we'll finally get the Byram-Makar pairing when the Avs are a team stuck in the middle.

 

[Murzu]

Good news we can sign Corey Perry now

Do you want to lose in the finals

 

[John Mandalorian]

This. No one is coming close to Makar. However I'd actually be shocked if Byram didn't become clear top pair defenseman as some point in his career. I've argued Byram needs to get himself off the Avs if he wants to have the best shot at that, and I still believe that. His growth is limited too much on the Avs with 8 and 7 above him for at least the next three years.

The Wild refuse to rebuild, they could really use a blue chip offensive LHD with Brodin aging out. I don't know a ton about JEE, but if others on this board are right about him a Byram/JEE swap could benefit both clubs in the trajectory they're heading.

But in reality I fully expect the Avs to keep Byram, eventually trade Girard, and we'll toil away at 2C until the window is over after next year. Byram will eventually earn the top pair spot as Toews starts to age out after the window. And we'll finally get the Byram-Makar pairing when the Avs are a team stuck in the middle.

It won’t be closed after next year because Ritchie will be ready and a high level 2C exactly as Johansen’s deal expires.

Management’s succession planning was off with Jost and Newhook. But they’ll be right about Ritchie. At least they likely believe this.

 

[henchman21]

It won’t be closed after next year because Ritchie will be ready and a high level 2C exactly as Johansen’s deal expires.

Management’s succession planning was off with Jost and Newhook. But they’ll be right about Ritchie. At least they likely believe this.

That's how the Avs operate. For better or for worse, they'll expect Ritchie to be the 2C in his +3 season. I personally wouldn't say Ritchie has looked that great to start, but some rust is expected.

 

[Bender]

Guys, I've got a GREAT IDEA for our #2C...
.
.
.
CALE MAKAR !

 

[AvalancheSpeedsters]

Guys, I've got a GREAT IDEA for our #2C...
.
.
.
CALE MAKAR !

Change your name to Phillip J Fry

 

[NateTheGreat]

It won’t be closed after next year because Ritchie will be ready and a high level 2C exactly as Johansen’s deal expires.

Management’s succession planning was off with Jost and Newhook. But they’ll be right about Ritchie. At least they likely believe this.

Ritchie will be expected to take that 2C spot following RyJo’s contract expiring whether he’s ready for it or not. On the plus side he’s had a strong start to his season coming back from injury.

 

[BobRossColton]

Colton will just end up at 2c one season.

 

[EscapedGoat]

Substance with Byram? What substance? Byram is just having an off year so far. Wait until you see him play in playoffs before jumping the ship.

Can you change your name to Byram Bunny? Please?

I can photoshop a picture of his head onto a rabbits body for your profile pic. I'll even put a C on the rabbits chest since we all know that Byram is going to be the captain one day.

 

[henchman21]

Ritchie will be expected to take that 2C spot following RyJo’s contract expiring whether he’s ready for it or not. On the plus side he’s had a strong start to his season coming back from injury

Expectations are a funny thing... I would say Ritchie's start is below what I'd expect for a top 6 forward prospect in their +1 season. If you go just by scoring (and production isn't the end all be all, but is needed in a top 6 guy). With the scoring in today's OHL (it is so much more than even 5 years ago)... 1.5+ppg should be what you'd expect. His 1.4 is acceptable (I'd say 1.3s are the floor), but not what I'd term strong. Cowan/Musty are strong. Rehkopf is great.

It is a 5 games though, way too early to tell... pacing can change either way very quickly. His games against Ottawa left a lot to be desired and while he had 3 points the other night, I thought his game was actually rather poor. We aren't in Sale (or previously OO) territory of a this is a bad sign... but I wouldn't say it is extremely positive either.

IMO if you can't hit 1.4+ in a post draft year for a full season in the OHL, you probably don't have top 6 chops. It isn't 100%, but pretty close.

Colton will just end up at 2c one season.

I could see it happening and I think it would be an enormous problem.

 

[Rumplesnipeskin]

Anyone expecting Byram to be Makar is being delusional and unfair to Byram.

The hope is that he turns into a top pair defenseman, hopefully an all-star, but to hope he becomes an equal to arguably the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL is completely unfair.

My hope is that Byram is one of the best #3s in the league, eventually, and can lead the second pairing lock-down consistently. PP2 leadership from the point would also be nice, eventually.

First pairing will likely belong to Makar and Toews for the foreseeable future, but that actually works well, as Byram's got potential to be that solid anchor on the second pairing. Takes pressure off of him, while still allowing him as large a role as he can handle. We do need that RD for Bo, at some point, unless Manson rejuvenates.

My hope is that G comes back perfectly healthy and mentally well, when he is ready, but that Bo has stepped up in the interim and owns the left side of the second pairing. In this idealistic scenario, we send G to Buffalo for a reunion with EJ (and some sort of asset in return).

As an aside, if I had been in Girard's shoes, the pressure and anxiety of realizing that despite your play, you are likely to be pushed down to the third pairing in the next 1-2 seasons... it would eat at me also (at that point you realize you are overpaid for your role, albeit not necessarily ability, and that while you're overpaid others are taking "team friendly" deals). Losing his partner in EJ was icing on the cake, and of course as an organization Avs should stand by G come what may as he recovers; however, in a scenario where the team composition and where he slots in was causing this distress, that stress is unlikely to change, and the solution could be a change of scenery / opportunity to be that second paring D-Man.

 

[missionAvs]

Guys, I've got a GREAT IDEA for our #2C...
.
.
.
CALE MAKAR !

Finally. Someone has the balls to say what we've all been thinking.

 

[JH21]

This. No one is coming close to Makar. However I'd actually be shocked if Byram didn't become clear top pair defenseman as some point in his career. I've argued Byram needs to get himself off the Avs if he wants to have the best shot at that, and I still believe that. His growth is limited too much on the Avs with 8 and 7 above him for at least the next three years.

Byram doesn't need to be on the top pair to be effective.

We won two Cups with Bourque/Blake/Foote and Makar/Toews/Byram

Most teams don't have two top minute guys and we have arguably 5 if you include Girard and Manson. This team is built on the backend and I don't think we will sacrifice that time get forward depth.

 

[BobRossColton]

@henchman21 yep I also see this as an issue, unless 3rd time is truly the charm. 1st. Jost 2nd. newhook 3rd. Ritchie

 

[the_fan]

Guys, I've got a GREAT IDEA for our #2C...
.
.
.
CALE MAKAR !

And we trade for Hughes to be the #1 D

Boom

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

And we trade for Hughes to be the #1 D

Boom

Jack Hughes right?

 

[John Mandalorian]

That's how the Avs operate. For better or for worse, they'll expect Ritchie to be the 2C in his +3 season. I personally wouldn't say Ritchie has looked that great to start, but some rust is expected.

To their credit, they gave Jost four or so years. Then they only gave Newhook two years. So at least they’re improving on being stubborn about it. The question is, are they learning by -2 years or minus half. Minus half would mean they give Ritchie 1 year and minus 2 years would mean they’re willing to pivot before that.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Byram doesn't need to be on the top pair to be effective.

We won two Cups with Bourque/Blake/Foote and Makar/Toews/Byram

Most teams don't have two top minute guys and we have arguably 5 if you include Girard and Manson. This team is built on the backend and I don't think we will sacrifice that time get forward depth.

Byram has the talent and skill set to be effective off the top pair. But he has to actually show that he can do that on a consistent basis.

 

[JH21]

Byram has the talent and skill set to be effective off the top pair. But he has to actually show that he can do that on a consistent basis.

He's 22 years old man

 

[Pokecheque]

He's 22 years old man

Here we go...

 

[The Abusement Park]

He's 22 years old man

So? He’s a 4OA pick. His expectations are higher than most. By 22 guys like that should be really settling into high levels of play. Obviously development isn’t linear, but at 22 his play getting more erratic is certainly not ideal.