Rumor: 2024-2025 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Talk | Part Deux

[Balthazar]

Their GM, Tom Fitzgerald, was on Real Kyper & Bourne yesterday and was asked about the JT Miller rumours.

He didn’t confirm or deny them but said they absolutely have the bullets in the chamber to go big game hunting and acquire a player “like a JT Miller.”

I know they are still early in their window but...

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Nemec for Miller just sounds like a trade that makes too much sense for both sides quite frankly.

 

[LOFIN]

Nemec for Miller just sounds like a trade that makes too much sense for both sides quite frankly.

Until you remember a thing called "the salary cap"

 

[Avs_19]

I just found out Kovalchuk is still on the books for NJ when looking at their cap.

 

[Pokecheque]

Until you remember a thing called "the salary cap"

It's obviously going to include a big salary, which I'd say is likely Meier.

That said, I would assume a defenseman is coming with Miller in that event, not sure who though.

Nemec is signed for two more years to his ELC, which has a base of less than $1 million. I assume bonuses push it well past that though.

 

[AvsMakar08]

I can see Malinski going the other way for a 4/5 dman. He's an RFA and he's expendable.

My hunch is the Avs bring in 2 dmen, and ship Malinski out.

NJ Devils are trying to ship Nemec (German) to Colorado for Malinski.

 

[Balthazar]

Don't know if it was posted or not but he posted this yesterday

 

[hockeyfish]

Don't know if it was posted or not but he posted this yesterday

Oh Dater, stirring the pot even more.

 

[Gumballhead]

Not if Timo Meier is going with Nemec.

Man, I’ve completely forgotten about how he used to a good player.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

NJ Devils are trying to ship Nemec (German) to Colorado for Malinski.

Oh, are they?

 

[Avs_19]

 

[Bender]

MacKinnon hasn't looked quite right in awhile either. Still putting up points, because he is who he is. But doesn't look the same.

The team as is, isn't winning anything. They're really looking more and more like 1st round fodder.

I don't know about that but I do think this whole team is out of sync.

Mack started the year on fire - playing like an MVP but since mid-November has been uneven with his performances.

Makar started the year on fire - playing insanely well but has cooled off of late.

Mittelstadt started the season with 16 points in 15 games only to go into a 2 month slump looking like a shade of his former self.

Toews wasn't great to start the season and finally has looked like himself over the past 3 weeks.

The goaltending was abysmal to start only to become a strength the last month or so.

Throughout all that, we have injury after injury after injury. Just seems like if everyone was back and all trending the same way, we'd be extremely hard to beat. Is that gonna happen, I don't know.

Still, my personal belief that the team as it is made-up is stale and there needs to be an influx of new blood and an outflux of a few guys who don't fit what this team is trying to accomplish.

 

[Foppa2118]

TBF, these questions were pretty hard to listen to as well. Some of these reporters seem like they just like to listen to themselves talk.

30 seconds to ask a question about whether he's injured or not when you know he's not going to say yes if he is.

Not to mention these reporters are fishing for juicy quotes from him going against his coach or teammates and he knows it. Annoying game they're playing.

 

[Balthazar]

Rants 17M X 8

 

[willy702]

MacKinnon hasn't looked quite right in awhile either. Still putting up points, because he is who he is. But doesn't look the same.

The team as is, isn't winning anything. They're really looking more and more like 1st round fodder.

The team, as it is, is missing an important piece. The guy you love to hate better come back healthy and make it through the playoffs this time around.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I don't even care anymore. Please find a way to get Miller for Mittlestadt +. Our margin for error was so small in a trade and it's looking like Cmac and the pro scouts whiffed on this one. Infuriating we gve up our best trade piece for a guy who turned into a pumpkin overnight.

I mean... sure if you want your team to be not only terrible but also unlikeable go for it.

 

[the_fan]

I’d do Mitts+ for JT Miller. I think all the Miller is not a good locker room guy is overblown. Whenever I hear him give interviews, yeah he seems intense, but all he’s talking about is winning. He’d also be so similar to when we had Kadri. Similar style with grit, but Miller is better offensively and he’s 3 years younger than Naz. If Miller went to a winning environment like the Avs have, and the leadership of Landy, Nate, Cale, Toews and Mikko, I think he’d do well and keep it under control

 

[expatriatedtexan]

JT Miller is a talented jackass with questionable work ethic and a known propensity for atracting drama.

I get people are upset with the Avs performances...but wanting to introduce JT f***ing Miller and his drama on top of this? It would be better to trade all of MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanene and Gabriel MFIN Landeskog than bringing him aboard.

 

[the_fan]

JT Miller is a talented jackass with questionable work ethic and a known propensity for atracting drama.

I get people are upset with the Avs performances...but wanting to introduce JT f***ing Miller and his drama on top of this? It would be better to trade all of MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanene and Gabriel MFIN Landeskog than bringing him aboard.

That’s overreaction bro. He’s not that bad. He might have intensity and some attitude, but it’s not that bad

 

[Hasbro]

Don't know if it was posted or not but he posted this yesterday

Bozak + 2nd

 

[hockeyfish]

JT Miller is a talented jackass with questionable work ethic and a known propensity for atracting drama.

I get people are upset with the Avs performances...but wanting to introduce JT f***ing Miller and his drama on top of this? It would be better to trade all of MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanene and Gabriel MFIN Landeskog than bringing him aboard.

He’s also by far the best top 6 center available right now. I can’t really think of another.

 

[Foppa2118]

Don't know if it was posted or not but he posted this yesterday

Was Mikko centering the 2nd line or double shifting centering the 3rd line?

Thought it had LOC and Kivi at wing, but it's hard to tell what the 2nd and 3rd lines are these days. Maybe Ross got demoted briefly too?

 

[expatriatedtexan]

You two have been here as long or longer than myself so I really respect the opinions but I do have to ask a few questions....

MacKinnon hasn't looked quite right in awhile either. Still putting up points, because he is who he is. But doesn't look the same.

The team as is, isn't winning anything. They're really looking more and more like 1st round fodder.

I agree. But what's the solution? Trade every player and start the rebuild or get a new coach and voice in the locker-room and see if that can establish a new vision/identity. Or something else? The only real adjustment I've seen Bednar make this year is that the forwards don't leave the dmen pinned in for nearly as long before skating back from the other blueline to help out. The forwards don't seem to be bailing on the dmen as quickly this year. But that doesn't mean they've helped in the breakout. <---- This is about the team in general, not the top five. Bednar treats his top line, Makar and Toews completely differently than he does any other player or line. Feels like if a player doesn't contribute 20+ minutes a night, Bednar really doesn't give a whole lot of shit about them. He'll praise them for their good efforts but blame them when the top unit doesn't produce while owning damn near 50% of the ice time in a game.

As much as the Avs have ALWAYS emphasized speed, transistion, scoring and when possible run and gun play... they are kind of lacking in the defensive metrics. Bednar preaches dedication to defense leading to offense, but this team is doing anything but providing good defense leading to offense. This team is trying to take short cuts at every possible opportunity rather than putting in the work and getting their chances honestly. The problem is all those gambles that don't pay off end up with sustained time in our own zone pretty quickly.

I don't know about that but I do think this whole team is out of sync.

Mack started the year on fire - playing like an MVP but since mid-November has been uneven with his performances.

Makar started the year on fire - playing insanely well but has cooled off of late.

Mittelstadt started the season with 16 points in 15 games only to go into a 2 month slump looking like a shade of his former self.

Toews wasn't great to start the season and finally has looked like himself over the past 3 weeks.

The goaltending was abysmal to start only to become a strength the last month or so.

Throughout all that, we have injury after injury after injury. Just seems like if everyone was back and all trending the same way, we'd be extremely hard to beat. Is that gonna happen, I don't know.

Still, my personal belief that the team as it is made-up is stale and there needs to be an influx of new blood and an outflux of a few guys who don't fit what this team is trying to accomplish.

Here's the thing... through all of the ups and downs over the last many years there have been some constants... MacKinnon, Rantanen, Toews, Makar. There have also been some inconsistent presences: Landeskog, Nuke.

I would pack up Rants' shit, unpack it at the destination and help with the remodel of his new digs if we could trade him in order to get a healthy Landy and/or Nuke back.

Toews...I honestly believe we should be trying to trade his ass. He makes entirely too much money to be an also ran on the top unit. Everytime he's been on the second pair and tasked with anchoring it, it has not ended well. Girard has proven the ability to play up with Makar, but Toews has not shown the ability to play down and be worth 7M.

The Avs got screwed by finding a bunch of complimentary players who together are a beast. It really is like Voltron...except we are paying each individual player as if they were the main character in the story.

 

[hockeyfish]

Was Mikko centering the 2nd line or double shifting centering the 3rd line?

Thought it had LOC and Kivi at wing, but it's hard to tell what the 2nd and 3rd lines are these days. Maybe Ross got demoted briefly too?

Who the hell knows with the blender.

 

[the_fan]

I’d say don’t wait for the trade deadline to fix the 2C. That position is too important and we’ll lose bunch of games from now until the deadline without it