Rumor: 2023-24 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Season Thread

[JH21]

Yeah I'm no Kane fan myself, but I won't deny his skill.

I do think Drouin gets a bit too much shit and absolutely zero recognition for signing litterally a nothing contract to play here. He may not be worth a ton, but I absolutely believe he could have gotten more from another team. Talk about seeing a opportunity and doing whatever it takes to seize it.

Drouin is lucky he got the contract he did. He's garbage.

He had 2 goals in 58 games last year and has 17 goals in his last 4 injury plagued years.

If not for Mackinnon throwing him a bone he would still be unsigned.

I'd wager a good amount of money he doesn't even make the team and I still say Colton will be playing on Mackinnon's wing like he did in TB with Stamkos.

Colton- Mackinnon- Nichushkin
Lehkonen- Johansen- Rantanen
Wood- Foudy- Cogliano
Olofsson- Meyers- O'Connor

 

[Foppa2118]

I do think Drouin gets a bit too much shit and absolutely zero recognition for signing litterally a nothing contract to play here. He may not be worth a ton, but I absolutely believe he could have gotten more from another team. Talk about seeing a opportunity and doing whatever it takes to seize it.

Yeah, I think it gets forgotten sometimes that he signed for only $50k more than league minimum. (cue the $50k too much jokes) He's very likely to surpass the expectations of that contract.

The concern with Drouin is whether he can stay healthy or not. But if he can, he's a lock for at least 40 points, and probably a fair bit more since he'll likely play a lot with MacKinnon, who's light years better than anyone he played in Montreal with.

Good chance Val is the other player on that line, and if he's got his head screwed on straight, he'll be better than anyone Drouin played with in Montreal too.

Drouin's most common line mates in recent years have been Josh Anderson, Hoffman, Dach, Dvorak, Kotkaniemi, and Suzuki who might be the most talented player he's played with recently, but is still only a 60 point guy.

None of his recent line mates are better than 20-25 goal kind of guys either and some worse than that. That's going to have an impact on the production from a guy like Drouin who's mostly a pure playmaker.

MacKinnon and Val are huge steps up in talent and goal scoring. Val's scored at a 70+ point and 26 and 33 goal pace the last couple seasons, and Nate generally produces at a 100+ point 40-50 goal pace.

Drouin Career Point Pace

2014-15: 37 pt pace
2015-16: 39 pt pace
2016-17: 60 pt pace
2017-18: 49 pt pace
2018-19: 54 pt pace
2019-20: 46 pt pace
2020-21: 43 pt pace
2021-22: 48 pt pace
2022-23: 41 pt pace

 

[NateTheGreat]

I certainly wouldn't say it'd putrid. But I think it lacks a true #1D which would slot everyone else down a spot into roles they'd be much better at. Particularly Rielly who has been miscast as a #1 guy his entire career in Toronto. He'd be great as a #2 though.

The issue for them is you can't exactly trade for #1 guys, they almost never become available and it's probably why they were linked to Karlsson so much before he ultimately went to Pittsburgh.


It'll be interesting to see what they do ultimately. A guy like Nylander could get them a really good Dman like Pesce, and if they decided then to sign Kane instead they wouldn't even lose much depth at forward. But at the end of the day I don't think Pesce moves the needle on the back end enough either.

I actually don’t even hate Rielly as a #1. I think he’d flourish with a legit top pairing partner. I see your point though of slotting everyone down if they acquired a #1D.

Definitely feels like a tipping point year in Leafs land. Nylander and Matthews at the end of their contracts, the back end getting older, and their goalie situation with Sammy(although Woll looks to be decent).

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I actually don’t even hate Rielly as a #1. I think he’d flourish with a legit top pairing partner. I see your point though of slotting everyone down if they acquired a #1D.

Definitely feels like a tipping point year in Leafs land. Nylander and Matthews at the end of their contracts, the back end getting older, and their goalie situation with Sammy(although Woll looks to be decent).

They should be just as good as in previous years and a top contender to win tbh.

The forwards are deeper then its ever been. And you dont need elite defense to win... They tend to play pretty good team defense as well for the most part.

Goaltending is definitely still an unknown though and of course what other trades they make between now and the playoffs will matter.

 

[Balthazar]

The issue with Drouin isn't that he isn't a good gamble, he's an excellent, no risk high reward gamble.

The thing is it seems like a lot of people (including management?) forget that he is a gamble and pencil him on the top line like he's sure to play well and stay healthy. He hasn't played well or stayed healthy in 4+ years.

If he can't make the top 6 then who's going to replace him in the top 6? Colton?

If Colton isn't playing on the 3rd line that means that our bottom 6 is utter garbage again.

 

[thedoctor]

The issue with Drouin isn't that he isn't a good gamble, he's an excellent, no risk high reward gamble.

The thing is it seems like a lot of people (including management?) forget that he is a gamble and pencil him on the top line like he's sure to play well and stay healthy. He hasn't played well or stayed healthy in 4+ years.

If he can't make the top 6 then who's going to replace him in the top 6? Colton?

If Colton isn't playing on the 3rd line that means that our bottom 6 is utter garbage again.

I think you'd see us try some of the kids in the top 6, just as a long shot type thing, like Newhook got a look but shorter. If that didn't pay off at all, you'd see Wood or some other grinder type in there a la when Hinote would shift up into the top 6 in the good ole days.

Then as we get towards the deadline we get trade help, which, for a wing, that's not a big deal.
It's fine. It's as good as you can do without a ton of top guys on rookie/discount deals. We're a real contender, just need some luck.

 

[JH21]

Yeah, I think it gets forgotten sometimes that he signed for only $50k more than league minimum. (cue the $50k too much jokes) He's very likely to surpass the expectations of that contract.

The concern with Drouin is whether he can stay healthy or not. But if he can, he's a lock for at least 40 points, and probably a fair bit more since he'll likely play a lot with MacKinnon, who's light years better than anyone he played in Montreal with.

Good chance Val is the other player on that line, and if he's got his head screwed on straight, he'll be better than anyone Drouin played with in Montreal too.

Drouin's most common line mates in recent years have been Josh Anderson, Hoffman, Dach, Dvorak, Kotkaniemi, and Suzuki who might be the most talented player he's played with recently, but is still only a 60 point guy.

None of his recent line mates are better than 20-25 goal kind of guys either and some worse than that. That's going to have an impact on the production from a guy like Drouin who's mostly a pure playmaker.

MacKinnon and Val are huge steps up in talent and goal scoring. Val's scored at a 70+ point and 26 and 33 goal pace the last couple seasons, and Nate generally produces at a 100+ point 40-50 goal pace.

Drouin Career Point Pace

2014-15: 37 pt pace
2015-16: 39 pt pace
2016-17: 60 pt pace
2017-18: 49 pt pace
2018-19: 54 pt pace
2019-20: 46 pt pace
2020-21: 43 pt pace
2021-22: 48 pt pace
2022-23: 41 pt pace

Who cares what he paced for? He can't stay healthy and isn't that good even if he is healthy.

But let's say he does stay healthy....what contending team has a top line LW score 40 points?

If we are relying on Drouin to be a LW1 we are in deep trouble.

 

[Foppa2118]

I don't see an issue with how Drouin has produced when healthy.

Pacing at 41-54 points the last five years playing with 3rd liners and average 2nd liners, who don't score a lot of goals, while Drouin's a passer not a shooter, is a solid contribution.

Most think he'll start in a top line role because Nate pushed the team to sign him, wants to help his career, and Drouin's generally not a great fit in a traditional bottom 6 role. It also gives Nate a playmaker which allows Mikko (who's both a passer and a shooter) to drop down to Johanssen's wing to help him get back to form and spread out the scoring.

RyJo and Drouin are unlikely to start together on the second line, because they're both pass first players. So the most likely thing that happens is Drouin gets a short but consistent look with Nate on the top line, and they re-evaluate his fit there a couple weeks or a month into the season.

If Drouin doesn't work on the top line, then Lehky/Nuke probably moves up to play on the top line, and either Wood moves up to the 2nd line, and/or they make a waiver pickup or small trade for the 2nd/3rd line.

And even if Drouin ends up on the third line, he might fit ok there too with Colton, who's a good shoot first skilled center. The Avs don't usually play their 3rd line like a traditional bottom six line. It's almost like a poor man's 2nd line kind of scoring role with a skill element. So I'm not sure he's a top six or bust guy on this Avalanche team, but we'll have to see.

My only concern with Drouin is if he can stay healthy, but I have the same concern with the entire rest of the team, so I'm less concerned with the 40+ point guy making $825k, since he won't be taking up much cap space if he gets hurt, and he'll produce well if healthy.

 

[JH21]

I don't see an issue with how Drouin has produced when healthy.

Pacing at 41-54 points the last five years playing with 3rd liners and average 2nd liners, who don't score a lot of goals, while Drouin's a passer not a shooter, is a solid contribution.

Most think he'll start in a top line role because Nate pushed the team to sign him, wants to help his career, and Drouin's generally not a great fit in a traditional bottom 6 role. It also gives Nate a playmaker which allows Mikko (who's both a passer and a shooter) to drop down to Johanssen's wing to help him get back to form and spread out the scoring.

RyJo and Drouin are unlikely to start together on the second line, because they're both pass first players. So the most likely thing that happens is Drouin gets a short but consistent look with Nate on the top line, and they re-evaluate his fit there a couple weeks or a month into the season.

If Drouin doesn't work on the top line, then Lehky/Nuke probably moves up to play on the top line, and either Wood moves up to the 2nd line, and/or they make a waiver pickup or small trade for the 2nd/3rd line.

And even if Drouin ends up on the third line, he might fit ok there too with Colton, who's a good shoot first skilled center. The Avs don't usually play their 3rd line like a traditional bottom six line. It's almost like a poor man's 2nd line kind of scoring role with a skill element. So I'm not sure he's a top six or bust guy on this Avalanche team, but we'll have to see.

My only concern with Drouin is if he can stay healthy, but I have the same concern with the entire rest of the team, so I'm less concerned with the 40+ point guy making $825k, since he won't be taking up much cap space if he gets hurt, and he'll produce well if healthy.

Who cares what he has paced for? That means nothing. The dude can't stay healthy.

He's averaged 40 games over the past 4 seasons. If he plays anything more than that I'd be shocked.

 

[Foppa2118]

Who cares what he paced for? He can't stay healthy and isn't that good even if he is healthy.

But let's say he does stay healthy....what contending team has a top line LW score 40 points?

If we are relying on Drouin to be a LW1 we are in deep trouble.

He is good when healthy though. That's why his 41-54 point pace recently is important.

40 points is the low end of his production rate in Montreal. He can and my guess will produce at a higher rate in Colorado, because that's historically true for skilled forwards. Especially on a top line with MacKinnon and Nuke, which is why I pointed out the difference in their production, and the guys Drouin played with in Montreal.

We're not relying on Drouin to be LW1. He just might start the season there. They have other options like Lehky/Nuke moving up, Mikko moving up with Lehky/Nuke shifting to LW, and/or they make a waiver pickup or small trade for the 2nd/3rd line, which they're usually good at early in seasons.

They just have to get to the deadline in position to make the playoffs, where they'll have more options on cheap prorated contracts to fit under the cap, and fill holes on the team.

They should be able to do this, even with Drouin struggling. Even with more injuries than usual last year, no Landy, Makar playing with a bad hip, Toews having a subpar year, and Compher at 2C, they still won the division.

 

[MacKaRtin]

Yeah, they don't even put that much work into the Stanley Cup videos. Although some add scientists probably told ESPN everyone has ADD now so keep it short, and keep your money.

Wait, what did the scientists tell ESPN?

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Drouin is as soft as melted ice cream, doesn't give two shits about two-way play and gets injured all the time. Hopefully he is just here until they get proper additions near the deadline.

 

[NorthernAvsFan]

I think 1st line duty for Drouin all year is pretty unlikely. What I’d like to see is him splitting time with MacKinnon and Colton in games. Both guys are great shot generators and Drouin is a very good facilitator.

I don’t know why some people on here think he’s a complete bum. That’s never been the case in his entire NHL career. Obviously he hasn’t lived up to 3rd overall pick status, but he’s had plenty of solid seasons.

He signed for nothing because he wanted to play for Colorado. He left money on the table to be an Av.

 

[AvsMakar08]

Yeah, I think it gets forgotten sometimes that he signed for only $50k more than league minimum. (cue the $50k too much jokes) He's very likely to surpass the expectations of that contract.

The concern with Drouin is whether he can stay healthy or not. But if he can, he's a lock for at least 40 points, and probably a fair bit more since he'll likely play a lot with MacKinnon, who's light years better than anyone he played in Montreal with.

Good chance Val is the other player on that line, and if he's got his head screwed on straight, he'll be better than anyone Drouin played with in Montreal too.

Drouin's most common line mates in recent years have been Josh Anderson, Hoffman, Dach, Dvorak, Kotkaniemi, and Suzuki who might be the most talented player he's played with recently, but is still only a 60 point guy.

None of his recent line mates are better than 20-25 goal kind of guys either and some worse than that. That's going to have an impact on the production from a guy like Drouin who's mostly a pure playmaker.

MacKinnon and Val are huge steps up in talent and goal scoring. Val's scored at a 70+ point and 26 and 33 goal pace the last couple seasons, and Nate generally produces at a 100+ point 40-50 goal pace.

Drouin Career Point Pace

2014-15: 37 pt pace
2015-16: 39 pt pace
2016-17: 60 pt pace
2017-18: 49 pt pace
2018-19: 54 pt pace
2019-20: 46 pt pace
2020-21: 43 pt pace
2021-22: 48 pt pace
2022-23: 41 pt pace

Suzuki sucks, he is the most overhyped piece of s**** in Montreal Canadians.

 

[niwotsblessing]

Suzuki sucks, he is the most overhyped piece of s**** in Montreal Canadians.

Newhook will quickly displace Suzuki's popularity with Habs fans.

 

[AvalancheSpeedsters]

Jonathan Drouin: « Thank goodness I’m out of the harsh media and fan environment of Montreal . Denver and Avs fans should be much better for me , maybe I’ll check the Avs page on HFBoards.. »



Tough crowd here lol

I just hope he plays hard and is in a better place mentally . It could turn out like Yakupov but it also could be a pleasant surprise . No one knows . I personally wish him well

 

[redacted]

I think 1st line duty for Drouin all year is pretty unlikely. What I’d like to see is him splitting time with MacKinnon and Colton in games. Both guys are great shot generators and Drouin is a very good facilitator.

I don’t know why some people on here think he’s a complete bum. That’s never been the case in his entire NHL career. Obviously he hasn’t lived up to 3rd overall pick status, but he’s had plenty of solid seasons.

He signed for nothing because he wanted to play for Colorado. He left money on the table to be an Av.

I'd say first line duty is pretty likely unless (until?) he fails. He's being brought in to play next to MacK and to see if the chemistry is still there. It isn't a secret that MacK is the reason Drouin is here... not his talent, not his style of play, not his production, etc. It is simply MacK wanted him here and vouched for him. In doing so, he's going to ride or die with MacK. I do agree with the all year portion though... I think odds are high he fails and ends up an extra forward.

If he fails, he's simply not a fit on a checking or energy line type. It won't work with Colton and Wood... it certainly won't work on the 4th line. Bendar wants a style of play out of those guys... and if Newhook fails out of that, you can be damn sure Drouin will too. His effort, battle and dirty area play is just not acceptable for those roles.

People will probably hate this... but Drouin is Kerfoot that is WAY softer, and doesn't play defense. He doesn't shoot, he doesn't go into dirty areas, he doesn't battle... he is good with the puck on his stick and passing. That is all he is today. A guy who can pass the puck.

Since his major wrist injury in Nov 19, he's played 144 games. That's practically 2 seasons worth . He's scored 10 goals in that time and shooting at about a 4.5% rate. Prior to that injury, he was about a 10% guy. He also had this worked on again in 22. To me, this is a crystal clear BC/AD delineation and why I think it is a fool's errand to look at his production prior to that time. His assist production isn't that much different... even his shot production isn't that much different. He just can't beat goalies with his shot anymore. You combine that with his soft nature... you have a very one dimensional player. We will be VERY lucky if he puts up 10 goals... the expectation should be 5-7 with 30-35 assists if he keeps a larger role and plays a near full season. If he doesn't, he's likely buried and replaced at that the deadline.

Saying all of that... Drouin's success or not is really not a huge deal. If he succeeds, great the Avs don't have to address a top 6 wing spot. If he fails, ether Landy has to be back for the playoffs and ready to go day 1... or the Avs have to pick up a top 6 winger at the deadline. Top 6 wingers are available all the time and the Avs can choose to address it then.

RyJo's play is just far, FAR more important to the success of the team this season.

 

[nammerus]

Luckily we have the organizational depth to make up for an empty first line winger spot if Cmacs dumpster diving doesn’t work out.

 

[willy702]

Jonathan Drouin: « Thank goodness I’m out of the harsh media and fan environment of Montreal . Denver and Avs fans should be much better for me , maybe I’ll check the Avs page on HFBoards.. »



Tough crowd here lol

I just hope he plays hard and is in a better place mentally . It could turn out like Yakupov but it also could be a pleasant surprise . No one knows . I personally wish him well

More like...I got to Denver and looked for the media and didn't find it. Funny they were all over at a preseason training camp for the football team and went as a horde to watch a meaningless game in Arizona.

He seems pretty typical of offensive talent in the NHL. When the shots are going in, the game is good. He's had two seasons with under 3% shooting percentage and probably just became a shell of what he could be. With veteran leaders around and a coach that doesn't take a bad effort, he'll be pushed into a better showing. If he doesn't take that, they'll cut ties with him with little lost and he's pretty much going to run out of chances.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I kind of want the Avs to sign O'Brien, there's a good chance he's nothing, but a small chance he can be some depth

 

[CobraAcesS]

Drouin is lucky he got the contract he did. He's garbage.

He had 2 goals in 58 games last year and has 17 goals in his last 4 injury plagued years.

If not for Mackinnon throwing him a bone he would still be unsigned.

I'd wager a good amount of money he doesn't even make the team and I still say Colton will be playing on Mackinnon's wing like he did in TB with Stamkos.

Colton- Mackinnon- Nichushkin
Lehkonen- Johansen- Rantanen
Wood- Foudy- Cogliano
Olofsson- Meyers- O'Connor

Don't bother quoting me with stupid shit like this.

Yeah, I think it gets forgotten sometimes that he signed for only $50k more than league minimum. (cue the $50k too much jokes) He's very likely to surpass the expectations of that contract.

The concern with Drouin is whether he can stay healthy or not. But if he can, he's a lock for at least 40 points, and probably a fair bit more since he'll likely play a lot with MacKinnon, who's light years better than anyone he played in Montreal with.

Good chance Val is the other player on that line, and if he's got his head screwed on straight, he'll be better than anyone Drouin played with in Montreal too.

Drouin's most common line mates in recent years have been Josh Anderson, Hoffman, Dach, Dvorak, Kotkaniemi, and Suzuki who might be the most talented player he's played with recently, but is still only a 60 point guy.

None of his recent line mates are better than 20-25 goal kind of guys either and some worse than that. That's going to have an impact on the production from a guy like Drouin who's mostly a pure playmaker.

MacKinnon and Val are huge steps up in talent and goal scoring. Val's scored at a 70+ point and 26 and 33 goal pace the last couple seasons, and Nate generally produces at a 100+ point 40-50 goal pace.

Drouin Career Point Pace

2014-15: 37 pt pace
2015-16: 39 pt pace
2016-17: 60 pt pace
2017-18: 49 pt pace
2018-19: 54 pt pace
2019-20: 46 pt pace
2020-21: 43 pt pace
2021-22: 48 pt pace
2022-23: 41 pt pace

Yeah there are definitely a few teams out there who would have given him more, especially on a one year deal. That's obvious, if a line needs a playmaker he produces that way at a legit level.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Wait, what did the scientists tell ESPN?

Oh it's just a joke I make these days because there are people who's job it is to tell big companies things like that, and they definitely have made shit annoying as hell, and worse trying to cater to and trick target audiences, as well as shave every damn dime off the back end of whatever product makes money.

It's called consumer psychology in advertising.

 

[redacted]

I kind of want the Avs to sign O'Brien, there's a good chance he's nothing, but a small chance he can be some depth

O'Brien has flashes that you really think he could be a solid 200' 3C... then you see his meh skating and small frame. It isn't outright impossible for him to be a more defensively slanted 3C even with his lack of ideal skating/size combo though... I think he's one worth a shot, even if the odds are that he's just an okay 2C at the AHL level.

 

[JH21]

Don't bother quoting me with stupid shit like this.



Yeah there are definitely a few teams out there who would have given him more, especially on a one year deal. That's obvious, if a line needs a playmaker he produces that way at a legit level.

Legit level?? Legit as in .47 PPG if he played a full 82 games which he never has? Hell, even Compher averaged the same PPG and he never played top line minutes and is 100x better as an overall player.

Drouin will be lucky to make this team. And if he does Bednar will not stand for his style of play for more than 10 games. Book it. He is an Alex Galchenyuk level player. Nothing more.

There isn't one team that would give him more money. He would have been lucky to get a PTO if not for Mackinnon.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Legit level?? Legit as in .47 PPG if he played a full 82 games which he never has? Hell, even Compher averaged the same PPG and he never played top line minutes and is 100x better as an overall player.

Drouin will be lucky to make this team. And if he does Bednar will not stand for his style of play for more than 10 games. Book it. He is an Alex Galchenyuk level player. Nothing more.

There isn't one team that would give him more money. He would have been lucky to get a PTO if not for Mackinnon.

Saving this post to look back on it later.