Toggle sidebar

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

It seems like a no-brainer to me. MacKinnon is a zone entry beast, and Necas (much to my utter delight) is also a zone entry beast. Mittelstadt in his current form is definitely not that. So yeah, split them up, and I'd try Drouin with Mitts and Lehkonen with MacKinnon.
 
Richard88 said:
Depth wouldn't have been an issue of Mikko signed for $11.6m. It would have been a problem if he had signed for closer to $13-14m.
Click to expand...
Cant be serious.
As if those 2 additional millions (literally sinlge contract for third-line level of talent) were somehow difference between having a problem with depth and not having it. Necas for Mikko i get, thats 6 millions+ to be played with. But Pettersson vs Mikko, just no.
 
EdAVSfan said:
I think the Avs have put themselves in a spot that they have to take chances rather than go for the sure thing. The sure things cost peak prices. And the Avs simply don’t have the assets to fix the 2C, fix the depth, add the defensemen, etc.

At best, they can go for the sure thing at 2C. But I’m not sure where that is. Who’s the sure thing 2C that’s available, that’s affordable, that’s the right age, that’s cost controlled, that doesn’t liquidate all our best assets.

The AVS are going to have to take chances in places. It’s their only chance to attempt to fill the depth spots without paying through the nose for them
Click to expand...

That's why I'm in favor of riding things out with Mittelstadt. He was really good for a while, until he wasn't. I'm not willing to roll the dice on a guy like Frost, and I'm not in favor of an older rental like Nelson. My tune might change on the latter point, but that's only if MacFarland upgrades the rest of the roster so significantly that this becomes an all-in year.

For the rest of the roster, I think solid veterans could raise the floor quite a bit. Ceci (3rd), Dumoulin (4th), Maatta (3rd) cost relatively little via trade, and that type of veteran defenseman would be a significant upgrade on Colorado's third pair. The Avs should have enough flexibility in the post-Mikko era that they no longer need to settle on riding league-minimum guys into the ground.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CobraAcesS
SoundwaveIsCharisma said:
It is where you allocate funds. Having high paid players that facilitate plays means they can do a lot of the heavy lifting. My issue with paying Rantanen what he was wanting was that he was progressively turning from a play driver to a complimentary piece (likely the best complimentary piece in the whole league, but still...). There's no guarantee that EP40 would be able to turn it around, but he's shown that he can be a upper echelon player carrying significantly lesser players (he had Kuzmenko looking like a potential star, now Kuzmenko looks like he should probably head back to Russia). So it's the gamble that you acquire this guy and he fills in spectacularly as a 2-way stud that can carry another line.
Click to expand...
So despite Mikko having like twice as many points than Pettersson this year, you still somehow feel Pettersson is a better player.
 
The Merchant said:
Another mediocre depth forward that can't play defense. No thank you
Click to expand...
Dude was money for the Avs in his one postseason run, but he was slow back then, has a penchant for taking shifts off, and well, didn't exactly have great things to say about the organization once he arrived in St. Louis. I don't see him returning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bender, CobraAcesS and The Merchant
Miri said:
Cant be serious.
As if those 2 additional millions (literally sinlge contract for third-line level of talent) were somehow difference between having a problem with depth and not having it. Necas for Mikko i get, thats 6 millions+ to be played with. But Pettersson vs Mikko, just no.
Click to expand...
Make your roster for the next 3 years with Mikko making 14M.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CobraAcesS
EdAVSfan said:
Saad was an excellent skater, wonder if he still is.
Click to expand...
What...?

Miri said:
So despite Mikko having like twice as many points than Pettersson this year, you still somehow feel Pettersson is a better player.
Click to expand...
I'll answer this one even though I wasn't asked. I'm good at stuff like that.

Anyway, if, and this is a very big if, Pettersson returns to form, he is a much, much better player than Rantanen. No question. He's an elite, gamebreaking forward in all three zones, and he plays a more important position.

Now if he doesn't return to form and there's no huge decline in Mikko's game, then the opposite is true.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CobraAcesS
Pokecheque said:
What...?


I'll answer this one even though I wasn't asked. I'm good at stuff like that.

Anyway, if, and this is a very big if, Pettersson returns to form, he is a much, much better player than Rantanen. No question. He's an elite, gamebreaking forward in all three zones, and he plays a more important position.

Now if he doesn't return to form and there's no huge decline in Mikko's game, then the opposite is true.
Click to expand...
Avs9296 said:
Excellent skater?! Maybe he was once in a straight line. But his overall skating was never good.

I think he's even lost that straight line speed now too.
Click to expand...
Guess I’m having an aneurysm. I always remembered him as being a very capable skater.
 
Lots of thoughts:

- Saad would be a great Wood replacement at 4LW at league min. Signing him would allow us to move Wood and not look for a replacement F. Obviously not as physical but doesn't other nice things

- Drouin hasn't been great with Mack-Necas IMO. If Bednar is so adamant about them together, at least try someone like Colton up there to see if he can find his groove from early in the season. Allows you to run Lehky - Mitts -Dru second line. Or Parssinen. Give one of these guys an opportunity to succeed. Overall Bednar just needs to try a lot of different combos pre-playoffs since he has a new toy, he needs to see the possibilites.

- Agree with @shadow1 that if the Avs move on from Mitts it will be for a sure thing, not guys like Morgan Frost (more below)

- Jones is definitely not overrated, people hate on him because of his contract. Very few RHD options out there that can play in all situations. He's having a great year statistically, retention is just the issue.

- Overall, Kadri + Andersson is the best option IMO to fill our holes to compete this season and next. I'm still dubious that it will make a difference this year by shaking up the team so much. But that's the package I'd be aggressive with and give Conroy 'and offer he can't refuse'. There's even a decent chance we could re-sign Rasmus when his contract is up and Manson is gone.

- Jones is the next best option, but it means we stick with Mitts at 2C I think. I don't see a realistic sure upgrade that would be available with the cap space needed to bring in Jones. At that point I'd try Necas at 2C as well for a stint and have Mitts and Drury move down. Would be something like this:

Drouin - Mack - Nuke
Parssinen - Necas - Lehkonen
Landeksog? - Mitts - LOC
Kelly - Drury - Kivi (assumes Wood + Colton is moved in the Jones deal)
Saad?

Also opens up options of trading for a cheaper middle 6LW at the deadline.

And last but not least, to follow @Richard88 analysis of our D options, here are some realistic C options given the standings of today:

East:

Three of the bold teams will make the POs, I put a * around the ones I expect at this point

OTT*
BOS
TB*
CBJ*
DET
MTL
NYR
PHI
NYI - Nelson
PIT -Malkin
BUF

I don't see the top 7 teams having realistic options for us, either because they lack C depth themselves or there's not a clear Mitts upgrade. That leaves pretty much NYI, Pitt & BUF as options. BUF probably not realistic either good fit but Nelson or Malkin are the names that jump out on the bottom 2. Who knows what Lou is thinking though.

West:
only one spot up for grabs in the West barring an Avs and/or LA meltdown

CGY - Kadri
VAN - Miller/EP (no)
STL
UTA
ANA
SEA - McCann, Gourde, Stephenson
NSH - O'Reilly (no)
CHI - Maybe Kurashev/Dickinson as add-ons in a Jones deal
SJS - Granlund

The names that jump out to me here are Kadri. McCann (is he playing C?), Granlund.

Granlund I don't love stylistically and size wise, although he's a good player. I'd more look to bring him as a 3C option to supplement Mitts (ala Gourde, and at that point I'd choose Gourde).

Like Kadri, McCann is a shooter. He makes less than Mitts and is only 2 years older. Would be a good fit if he's playing C and maybe the Kraken entertain it to get a little younger. I'd say Chandler Stephenson is a darkhorse. I really don't like that contract but it won't be as bad with a rising cap, and he showed he can handle top 6 minutes with Vegas. Has speed and is a playoff performer. Maybe Kraken have some buyers remorse.

Curious who you guys like and if I missed anyone. More options open up for forwards if Necas can be a fit at C. Even a guy like Marchand, for example.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Foppa2118, The Moops, expatriatedtexan and 2 others
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom