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

[hockeyfish]

Surprised how quiet it's been this week.

 

[ABasin]

The way goaltending was handled during the offseason should show you that there was/is a clear disconnect between CMac and Bednar.

I’m not sure I agree with this. The Avs had seen Giorgiev play both shitty and superbly at times over his first two years here. And Annunen did OK in his first chunk of NHL games, albeit against crud teams. Where was the disconnect? The vet was up and down, the rook was protected.

But I don’t believe anyone envisioned the complete collapse that happened at the goaltending position early in the season. That was amazing. In a bad way, obviously.

I give our GM credit for addressing it early and meaningfully.

(And hopefully correctly.)

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Surprised how quiet it's been this week.

Not enough sellers.

All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.

 

[Balthazar]

Not enough sellers.

All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.

Not those in the West but they are so shitty that they don't have anything good for sale.

All the good stuff is in the East.

 

[LOFIN]

I’m not sure I agree with this. The Avs had seen Giorgiev play both shitty and superbly at times over his first two years here. And Annunen did OK in his first chunk of NHL games, albeit against crud teams. Where was the disconnect? The vet was up and down, the rook was protected.

But I don’t believe anyone envisioned the complete collapse that happened at the goaltending position early in the season. That was amazing. In a bad way, obviously.

I give our GM credit for addressing it early and meaningfully.

(And hopefully correctly.)

The disconnect was with how the backup position was handled. Clearly, CMac saw Annunen taking that spot, and expected Bednar to give him more starts to start the season. That didn't happen, Bednar continued to play Annunen only when he absolutely had to, even when Georgiev stunk the joint out. Annunen didn't impress that much either. CMac then went out and got Kähkönen, as a "let's throw some shit on the wall and see if it sticks". Bednar basically threw him to the wolves by giving him one start after he practiced with the team for the first time on the same day, and after that start didn't go too well Bednar was done with him. Georgiev was still thrown out there most nights, even while Annunen had been slightly better. Bednar never showed any trust on Annunen.

After this, CMac got to work and overhauled the whole position. But I think had he known during the summer that Annunen was not going to be the proper backup because Bednar wouldn't play him, I think CMac would've taken a shot at Wedgewood or Lankinen at free agency. Or someone else.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Not enough sellers.

All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.

Unfortunately, at this point, the Avs are among those "shitty teams" that think they can make the playoffs.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Unfortunately, at this point, the Avs are among those "shitty teams" that think they can make the playoffs.

Nah.

 

[hockeyfish]

Not enough sellers.

All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.

Really wish they would get rid of the loser point. It props up too many bad teams and bunches up the standings.

 

[JLo217]

I wouldn't be opposed to a coaching shake up so the team can find ways to be more adaptable. Bednar kinda seems like a one trick pony.

Really wish they would get rid of the loser point. It props up too many bad teams and bunches up the standings.

Dallas Stars specialty.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Here's the plan, beat the absolute shit out of the Flames tonight, crush their spirits and then pounce to trade for Kadri and Andersson.

 

[hockeyfish]

This guy woud be a perfect fit considering our tendency to only play half a game.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Not enough sellers.

All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.

I just assumed there was a new rule that trades are only allowed on Friday nights

 

[ABasin]

Unfortunately, at this point, the Avs are among those "shitty teams" that think they can make the playoffs.

This.

Over the first 5 weeks of the season, the Avs were 9-9.
Over the next 6 weeks of the season, the Avs were 15-6.
Over the past 5 weeks of the season, the Avs were 7-7-2.

This is a playoff bubble team right now.

 

[LOFIN]

This.

Over the first 5 weeks of the season, the Avs were 9-9.
Over the next 6 weeks of the season, the Avs were 15-6.
Over the past 5 weeks of the season, the Avs were 7-7-2.

This is a playoff bubble team.

Our record would've been much better during the first 5 weeks if we had a goalie who could catch a f***ing beach ball. The team was actually playing pretty decent hockey despite all the injuries and missing Val with suspension.

The team has fallen off drastically in 2025.

 

[ABasin]

Nah.

Outside of a 6 week stretch, they have not played at a level that would gain them playoff access.

- They're 6th in the WC.
- Kings are 2 points behind them with 4 games in hand, will certainly pass them.
- Calgary and Vancouver are both 5 points behind them with 2 games in hand. Crawling right up their ass.

They're playoff bubble right now, my friend.

Our record would've been much better during the first 5 weeks if we had a goalie who could catch a f***ing beach ball.

Maybe so.

But what about the last 16 games?

Since the Avs got Blackwood, they've played almost exactly a third of a NHL hockey season, and they've gone 15-9-2. 32 points. That's about a 100 point pace, which is certainly solid, but not great (and trending the wrong way over the past 5 weeks).

Last year, 100 points got you tied for 5th place in the conference, but only two points above 8th place. Two years ago, 100 points got you tied for 7th in the conference. In other words, getting close to the playoff bubble.

 

[LOFIN]

But what about the last 16 games?

Managed to edit my post before you replied. Yes, it's a pretty drastic drop off. But it really has started in 2025. We played the first half of the season pretty well considering the injuries and lacklustre goaltending. So I think this is more about how we have entered a slump, instead of us being inconsistent all season.

 

[dahrougem2]

There is absolutely a disconnect between CMac and Bednar on personnel but despite me liking how active CMac has been since last January, if we're talking player evaluations I'm begrudgingly siding with the coach.

I don't like f***ing idiot hockey players. Colton, Wood, Trenin, Duhaime are examples of players that will get pucks deep and crash/bang with regularity but ask them to take two seconds to think and they can't.

Bednar wants players that:

- Have tremendous speed
- Hound pucks
- Overwhelm offensively
- Can think

Colton is pretty much average to below average in all those things. Wood skates fast north/south but that is it and might be one of the dumbest players in hockey.

There's a reason Bednar LOVES his current 4th line and has quickly fallen in love with Drury. They check all the above boxes minus the "overwhelm offensively" because the 4th line struggles to score.

CMac seems to want crash and bang big boy hockey, and Bednar seems to want a roster similar to how we won in 2022.

Time will tell who wins out.

 

[ABasin]

Managed to edit my post before you replied. Yes, it's a pretty drastic drop off. But it really has started in 2025. We played the first half of the season pretty well considering the injuries and lacklustre goaltending. So I think this is more about how we have entered a slump, instead of us being inconsistent all season.

I think that's fair. But goaltenders are also part of the hockey team.

It kind of begs the question: how many positions on the ice can a GM fix mid-season?

I still feel that @Bender has been correct since October. There's something wrong/stale/off about this team. And it's been that way for most of this season.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

There is absolutely a disconnect between CMac and Bednar on personnel but despite me liking how active CMac has been since last January, if we're talking player evaluations I'm begrudgingly siding with the coach.

I don't like f***ing idiot hockey players. Colton, Wood, Trenin, Duhaime are examples of players that will get pucks deep and crash/bang with regularity but ask them to take two seconds to think and they can't.

Bednar wants players that:

- Have tremendous speed
- Hound pucks
- Overwhelm offensively
- Can think

Colton is pretty much average to below average in all those things. Wood skates fast north/south but that is it and might be one of the dumbest players in hockey.

There's a reason Bednar LOVES his current 4th line and has quickly fallen in love with Drury. They check all the above boxes minus the "overwhelm offensively" because the 4th line struggles to score.

CMac seems to want crash and bang big boy hockey, and Bednar seems to want a roster similar to how we won in 2022.

Time will tell who wins out.

I think the big problem is Bednar’s ideal players are expensive, and their availability is limited

 

[ABasin]

There is absolutely a disconnect between CMac and Bednar on personnel but despite me liking how active CMac has been since last January, if we're talking player evaluations I'm begrudgingly siding with the coach.

I don't like f***ing idiot hockey players. Colton, Wood, Trenin, Duhaime are examples of players that will get pucks deep and crash/bang with regularity but ask them to take two seconds to think and they can't.

Bednar wants players that:

- Have tremendous speed
- Hound pucks
- Overwhelm offensively
- Can think

Colton is pretty much average to below average in all those things. Wood skates fast north/south but that is it and might be one of the dumbest players in hockey.

There's a reason Bednar LOVES his current 4th line and has quickly fallen in love with Drury. They check all the above boxes minus the "overwhelm offensively" because the 4th line struggles to score.

CMac seems to want crash and bang big boy hockey, and Bednar seems to want a roster similar to how we won in 2022.

Time will tell who wins out.

I think having 18 cerebral skaters on the team is a pipe dream.

 

[dahrougem2]

I think the big problem is Bednar’s ideal players are expensive, and their availability is limited

I think the Avs of 2019-2022 definitely targeted those sorts of players - especially up front - when we consider the trades/signings of Kadri, Nichushkin, Burakovsky, Saad, Donskoi, Cogliano, Helm, Lehkonen, and Aube-Kubel.

Since that cup win the Avs have traded for or signed:

Evan Rodrigues
Dennis Malgin
Matt Nieto
Lars Eller
Ross Colton
Jonathan Drouin
Miles Wood
Ryan Johansen
Casey Mittelstadt
Yakov Trenin
Brandon Duhaime
Zach Parise
Joel Kiviranta
Parker Kelly
Martin Necas
Jack Drury

How many of the players acquired the last three seasons seem to fit the mold of the players acquired the previous three seasons? I don't see very many, but the players acquired in those three earlier seasons weren't the most expensive pieces in the world. Kadri was traded for Barrie, our current version is Mittelstadt for Byram - a clear miss on what Bednar wants. Burakovsky was an RFA they took a chance on, similar to Nichushkin (who admittedly is a once-in-a-blue-moon signing), Saad didn't cost much, others were UFAs.

I think having 18 cerebral skaters on the team is a pipe dream.

I don't think it is. It's a matter of player identification.

 

[Cypher]

Surprised how quiet it's been this week.

Isn't there some sort of roster freeze cause of the Four Nations Cup? Thought I heard some vids briefly mentioning it.

 

[LOFIN]

Isn't there some sort of roster freeze cause of the Four Nations Cup? Thought I heard some vids briefly mentioning it.

Technically no, there is no roster freeze. Practically, I think everyone wants to avoid making trades and causing trouble for the players who are either taking a vacation, or representing their country.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Would any Avs fans want to do a deal around Josh Norris and Mittelstadt?

Outside of a 6 week stretch, they have not played at a level that would gain them playoff access.

- They're 6th in the WC.
- Kings are 2 points behind them with 4 games in hand, will certainly pass them.
- Calgary and Vancouver are both 5 points behind them with 2 games in hand. Crawling right up their ass.

They're playoff bubble right now, my friend.


Maybe so.

But what about the last 16 games?

Since the Avs got Blackwood, they've played almost exactly a third of a NHL hockey season, and they've gone 15-9-2. 32 points. That's about a 100 point pace, which is certainly solid, but not great (and trending the wrong way over the past 5 weeks).

Last year, 100 points got you tied for 5th place in the conference, but only two points above 8th place. Two years ago, 100 points got you tied for 7th in the conference. In other words, getting close to the playoff bubble.

Also keep in mind Blackwood has played stellar pretty much negating how bad Georgiev was.

 

[Bender]

There is absolutely a disconnect between CMac and Bednar on personnel but despite me liking how active CMac has been since last January, if we're talking player evaluations I'm begrudgingly siding with the coach.

I don't like f***ing idiot hockey players. Colton, Wood, Trenin, Duhaime are examples of players that will get pucks deep and crash/bang with regularity but ask them to take two seconds to think and they can't.

Bednar wants players that:

- Have tremendous speed
- Hound pucks
- Overwhelm offensively
- Can think

Colton is pretty much average to below average in all those things. Wood skates fast north/south but that is it and might be one of the dumbest players in hockey.

There's a reason Bednar LOVES his current 4th line and has quickly fallen in love with Drury. They check all the above boxes minus the "overwhelm offensively" because the 4th line struggles to score.

CMac seems to want crash and bang big boy hockey, and Bednar seems to want a roster similar to how we won in 2022.

Time will tell who wins out.

I think you're correct in your assessment but at the same time, it's the coach's responsibility to work with what he has and HIS BOSS' VISION of how he wants the team to play and play players to their strengths - not try to change who they are to fit what he's trying to do.

For me, it's this inflexibility that probably makes Bednar's days numbered as the Avs head coach.

Like I said after the playoffs - CMac made some great trades at the TDL - giving us the kind of depth and players who are known to be 'hard to play against' that you need to go deep in the playoffs. When that shitbag jamie benn cheap-shotted Devon Toews, that should have signaled to Bednar "oh yeah you f***ing piece of shit? Your teammates are going to HATE you because we're going to do the same to heiskanen and lindell and tanev and those guys are gonna finish the series on IR" all because of you.

But no...that is not the Bednar way. It's the traditional hockey way but Bednar doesn't want to win games or series that way apparently even though other teams do it to us. (Imagine Patrick Roy turning the other cheek?? Yeah, I don't f***ing think so)

So then he tried to turn Trenin and Duhaime into Matt Nieto types - guys that skate around pretty fast but don't do a hell of a lot out there. WTF is CMAC supposed to do, CLONE 7-8 Lehkonens??? Those players don't actually exist.

So then the decision has to be - does CMAC want to build a team that will be able to defend itself when the opposition is taking liberties against their best players and 'give as good as they get' or fill the bottom part of the roster with Parker Kellys and Kivirantas? Because when someone cheap shots and injures one of your best players - if you've got a team full of those Nieto types, you end up with a team that folds. They turn it down. They don't want it bad enough.

I've ALWAYS hated that about Bednar and his 'no retribution' garbage. It deflates the players and they feel like he doesn't have their back instead of jacking them up, using it as a rallying point.