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

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Plenty of names on Frank's list that would potentially interest the Avs, though there's not a whole lot of options at the two positions they need most (2C and RHD).

Frank's list by position:

C
Nelson
Mittelstadt
Pettersson
Cozens
Gourde
Donato
Frederic
Evans
Pageau

Avs dont really need a bottom 6 C given that they have Drury, Colton, Parssinen, and Kelly, so it seems unlikely that they'd be interested in Gourde, Frederic, Evans, or Pageau. Gourde and Pageau have been declining so although they might have been considered as passable 2C's they definitely are not that today. Pageau also has two years left at $5m which makes him unviable. Donato could potentially be of interest, but is he really an upgrade on Mittelstadt? Doubtful. Maybe you could slot him at 3C and try to do 2C by committee and push Drury down to 4C, but Drury seems to be doing well so that seems unnecessary. As a 3rd line winger perhaps Donato could be useful, especially at his low caphit, but there are other forwards who'd be better stylistic fits than him (see further down).

Cozens would be interesting in theory but I'm not sure the Avs can take that gamble right now, or if they even have the assets to pull it off. Pettersson would obviously be ideal but it seems highly unlikely that Alvin will trade him at the TDL having just moved Miller. Nelson would be a good get, and is probably the only realistic and viable 2C on the list, but it would be quite unlike CMac to trade for a big fish who's purely a rental. At this point it looks unlikely that the Avs trade for a C unless someone unexpected becomes available.

FWD
Tanev
Bjorkstrand
Nyquist
Palmieri
Armia
Quinn
Brazeau
Robertson
Josh Anderson

Avs don't have the time to roll the dice on Robertson or Quinn so those seem unlikely. Brazeau isn't a fit or need due to bad skating. Tanev, Bjorkstrand, Nyquist, or Armia would be of most interest here if the Avs opt to add a bottom 9 forward. Bjorkstrand has the Columbus connection but also an extra year of term which might make it more, or less, appealing depending on what moves are made on D. Josh Anderson with 2 years left at $5.5m is probably out of the question, especially with his low production this year, but we know he's a guy the Avs have had their eyes on before.

LHD
Lindgren
K'Andre Miller (RFA)
Byram
Oleksiak
Dumoulin
Provorov
Zac Jones (RFA)

Some interesting names. Byram obviously ain't happening. Provorov would be great but will be too expensive (assets and caphit) for the 3LHD role as a likely rental. Lindgren and Dumoulin seem like the most likely targets given the manageable caphits, and in Lindgren's case the skating ability. Oleksiak would be a solid get too, and would give the Avs some size that they need.

K'Andre Miller is a curious one too. The Avs often like to take advantage of RFA situations with arbitration rights (eg. Burakovsky, Mittelstadt, Lehkonen, Toews) and that seems like one such situation. That said, Miller's next contract will probably make it unviable to have him playing behind Toews and Girard.

I'm also low-key intrigued by Zac Jones. He obviously has good skating and offensive instincts which the Avs like from their Dmen, and if there's any org in the league who are willing to overlook size limitations it's the Avs. It probably isn't the sort of move a contender typically makes, but if the Avs were to add Seth Jones maybe they'd throw NYR a mid/late round pick for Zac Jones too to test him out as a partner for Manson on the bottom pairing. That would be more of an off-season trade or signing though, similar to Brännström and Kylington last year.

RHD
Seth Jones
Murphy
Ristolainen
Savard

Slim pickings. Ristolainen sucks. Savard is too old and not the best skater to begin with. Murphy would potentially be interesting but he's not that good of a skater. Jones is far and away the best option.

G
Vladar

Avs thankfully don't need a goalie, though if they did decide to add it would be more of a 3rd goalie type so Vladar wouldn't be that guy.
 
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There's a thread on the main board about Josh Anderson's value at 50% retained.

At $5.5m x2.5 it isn't viable, but at 50% ($2.75m aav) it would be pretty interesting imo.

His real salary is also lower in the last two years, at $5m and $3.5m, so at 50% that's $2.5m and $1.75m in the last two years.

The main issue would be Montreal's retention slots. They'd probably prefer to use them on their pending UFA's like Evans, Savard, Dvorak, or Armia this year. But if they'd get a decent enough return (eg. a 1st) maybe that's something they'd consider.

A 1st would seem unlikely from the Avs perspective, but something centered around the NYR 2025 2nd might be close enough as a main piece.

Anderson's defensive game has improved and he's a good PK'er, and he'd slot in at 3RW next to Drury.

Drouin - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen - Mittelstadt - Necas
Colton - Drury - Anderson
Wood - Kelly - O'Connor
Kiviranta/Parssinen

With ~$5.6m in capspace that would leave 2.85m left to spend on a Dman. For example you could still fit Dumoulin at 50% ($1.575m) or Lindgren at 50% ($2.25m).

Or alternatively you ship Colton to NJ and treat Anderson as his replacement, using the ~$1.25m savings towards Seth Jones.
 
If Bednar tries Necas at 2C and he works then it opens up so many possibilities.

For starters, you could trade Mittelstadt and have $12.2m in capspace to use to fill 2RHD and a top 6 forward spot. So for example, $8m on Seth Jones and $4.2m on a forward of which there are plenty available.

Drouin - Mackinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen - Necas - xxxxx
Colton - Drury - Parssinen
Wood - Kelly - O'Connor
Kiviranta

Toews - Makar
Girard - xxxx
DeHaan - Manson
Kylington

Alternatively, you drop Mittelstadt down to 3C and have deep center depth:

Drouin - Mackinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen - Necas - xxxxx
Colton - Mittelstadt - O'Connor
Wood - Drury - Parssinen
Kelly/Kiviranta

.... or trade Colton to create capspace for Jones and/or a top 6 forward.

Hope that's something Bednar tries in the next few games to give CMac an idea of whether or not Necas can be a viable option at 2C.
 
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