This EA Sports style Avs deadline, is the only way I see trading Mikko making sense.
- Mikko + Gulyayev for Svechnikov + Nikishin (Svech is built for the playoffs, and at 24 years old could be a good deal at $7.75M through his prime for the next 4 years)
- Ritchie + Malinksi + 2027 1st for Crosby (asks to be traded to Avs)
- 2026 1st + Behrens for Oleksiak (can play both sides)
- Sign Klingberg
Bring over Nikishin for the playoffs and let him compete with Klingberg for a spot. Mitts, Colton, and Wood are options to move in the off season for assets to shed cap space. Re-sign Crosby to $7M x 3 and Drouin to $5M x 4. Keep Landy and Val. Parsinnen can play 3C if needed.
Drouin - MacK - Lehky
Val - Crosby - Svech
Landy - Mitts - Colton
Wood - Pars - LOC
Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
Oleksiak - Klingberg
Blackwood
Wedgewood
Extra F - Kivi, Kelly, Innala
Extra D - Nikishin, Middleton, CDH
I believe this is about a $94.5M 20 man roster (CapWages GM mode isn't great) next year with Landy, without Mitts, with Nikishin instead of Klingberg, with Kelly at 4C, and Middleton and a league min F as scratches. They can also move Wood or Colton for assets if needed and keep Mitts at 3C.
Alan Walsh says the cap will go up to $97M. This would give them room to accrue cap space for the deadline again, or run a 21/22 man roster and a ton of injury callups without needing LTIR.
All hinges on whether Crosby wants to be traded, which he probably doesn't. Without him, the Avs downgrade too much. With him, Nate gets another buddy and they can re-sign Drouin to make up for losing Mikko, and they set themselves up to possibly be better this year, and the next few with much needed better depth at forward and D if Nikishin pans out well.
This is the only kind of way moving Mikko makes sense to me. They have to upgrade 2C AND bring in a ppg or near ppg winger with size to replace Mikko AND improve their depth at F and D.
Otherwise you keep Mikko for another Cup run, and let him walk if need be, then replace him with a cheaper UFA like Boeser or Brock Nelson. Would much prefer Boeser. Then trade Mitts or Colton in a package to upgrade 2C.