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

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Val Nichushkin is the 2nd most impactful forward this organization has. I realize he’s been hurt and off doing rails and stuff but he’s still needed beyond belief. Moving on from him or trading him can’t be an option unless it’s part of an upgrade which I doubt.
It doesn't matter how impactful he is if he's only here half the time.

Give me a worse player who is actually in the lineup contributing.
 
I just don't know what else Bednar can do with this roster. If Sakic fired him after the Vegas choke job in 2021, I wouldn't have agreed with it, but I would've understood it.

I don't think Jon Cooper would do any better with the '25 Avalanche. There are only four forwards and two defensemen who can score. The rest of the line-up is clock killers.
 
Wouldn't spend at the deadline. This team is going nowhere this season.

Even if they went wild there is just too much to fix. #2C and top 4D are an absolute minimum to contend. Good luck getting them both this deadline.
 
I just don't know what else Bednar can do with this roster. If Sakic fired him after the Vegas choke job in 2021, I wouldn't have agreed with it, but I would've understood it.

I don't think Jon Cooper would do any better with the '25 Avalanche. There are only four forwards and two defensemen who can score. The rest of the line-up is clock killers.
I think part of the logic is that Bednar is, possibly, smothering the offense of some of these plug level players. His system doesn't allow for non-skill players to score. They just take nondangerous perimeter shots and skate around doing nothing
 
I just don't know what else Bednar can do with this roster. If Sakic fired him after the Vegas choke job in 2021, I wouldn't have agreed with it, but I would've understood it.

I don't think Jon Cooper would do any better with the '25 Avalanche. There are only four forwards and two defensemen who can score. The rest of the line-up is clock killers.
Well some coaches can get performances out of low skill players. Bednar is not one of those coaches. Either you can play the Jared way or it will probably be a disaster.

Mitts was really solid the last two seasons. Now he looks like a complete bum. That's not even a low skill level player.
 
Well some coaches can get performances out of low skill players. Bednar is not one of those coaches. Either you can play the Jared way or it will probably be a disaster.

Mitts was really solid the last two seasons. Now he looks like a complete bum. That's not even a low skill level player.
Not gonna blame Bednar for Mittelstadt. I think this one's on the player. The entire bottom 2 lines not scoring ever is on Bednar though for sure.
 
We're right back in 2023 - unless they bring in at least a legit 2C (that isn't available) at the deadline the season is over in March. We know it, the players know it. You think they're playing bad now? Wait until after the trade deadline.

People need to realize how significant of a failure it is to have traded both Byram, Rantanen, and a 1st rounder and still not resolve the biggest hole in your roster.

I'm starting to think cMac was very effective CBJ trojan horse.
 
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Well some coaches can get performances out of low skill players. Bednar is not one of those coaches. Either you can play the Jared way or it will probably be a disaster.

Mitts was really solid the last two seasons. Now he looks like a complete bum. That's not even a low skill level player.

Mittelstadt was also solid to end last season, in the playoffs, and to start this season. All under Bednar.

This is a player issue.
 
If you take away Mittelstadt’s hot start (15 points in 13 games) he’s since scored:

3 goals, 14 assists in 46 games. He’s playing at a 30 point pace since then.

3 GOALS SINCE OCTOBER FROM YOUR 2C lmao

Management, out of all the C options in the NHL, somehow replaced RyJo with someone smaller, and just as slow.
 
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This does seem like a tough spot for the avs. There doesnt seem to be too many options at the main problem area of 2C. There are no clearly available options as the Ilses are attempting to re-sign Nelson, there would be a bidding war if he became available and hes a pure rental. Kadri could be an option if he becomes available the Flames have shown they are willing to retool on the fly. But it might be a mistake to push the chips in this season in either of those ways.

I am fully on the replace Bednar train but with the Rantanen move already being a shock to the team, a coaching change should be an off season move.

I like the idea of a retool with a team in an even worse situation than the Avs the Bruins. See if a change of scenery or shake up with Colton and Wood for Coyle who is also underperforming.

Avs trade:
Colton, Wood, Malinski and whatever we need to add at this point.

Bruins trade:
Coyle, Peeke

Bruins get a little more breahing room against the cap and get a little younger. Avs get to chang things up a little and get an ex Jacket, as it is written.

Pick up a versitle bottom six player in Jake Evans and get him signed, some Lehky in his game but maybe not the top six tools.

Coyle is somewhat Mittelstadt insurance as a stop gap for playoffs, not a truly successful 2C but could allow for rolling of lines 2 - 4 behind the top line or just try Necas there with Coyle on the RW. Him and Evans are bargain bin duscount insurance for Nuke too on RW.

Druion/MacK/Nuke
Lehky/Necas/Coyle
Pars/Mittelstadt/Evans
Kivi/Drury/LOC

Toews/Makar
Girard/Manson
Middleton/Peeke

3 things to find out for playoffs is can Nuke make it through without imploding, can Landy make it back this year, can Bednar put up a good showing with the tools he has.
 
I think part of the logic is that Bednar is, possibly, smothering the offense of some of these plug level players. His system doesn't allow for non-skill players to score. They just take nondangerous perimeter shots and skate around doing nothing
Well some coaches can get performances out of low skill players. Bednar is not one of those coaches. Either you can play the Jared way or it will probably be a disaster.

Mitts was really solid the last two seasons. Now he looks like a complete bum. That's not even a low skill level player.

That's definitely possible. But the reason I'm pro-Bednar is because I keep going back to the track record.

Specifically, I can think of many players who've come to Colorado and significantly elevated their game (Burakovsky, Drouin, Lehkonen, Nichushkin, Toews, etc). But I can't think of anyone who's left and has done that. Guys like Byram, Compher, Kadri, Rodrigues, etc. have more-or-less stayed the same. But other players like Burakovsky, Newhook, Trenin, Walker, etc. have struggled. Same could be said with the goalies (Grubauer/Kuemper).
 
You can be pro-Bednar but still recognize that he has issues adapting, and that includes to players (so not just against opposing coaches).

Mittlestadt has a skillset that should be able to work here, but Bednar has to be willing to bend and find a way to incorporate him in a manner that best suits his skills.

Additionally, I would say there's a big disconnect between the type of team that CMac wants to build and how those players are deployed. MacFarland goes out and gets a certain type of player but they don't fit with the way Bednar wants to employ those players. Duhaime & Trenin spring to mind from last year's deadline. Those guys had their biggest attributes relatively neutered by him.

I think Bednar has hitched everything to MacKinnon & Makar (and I thought this prior to Mikko being traded and always excluded him), and anyone who isn't able to keep up with that just sort of gets lost by the wayside.
 
32T this morning, Elliotte mentioned Florida as a team that could go for Jones. They are looking, and have been looking all year, for a RD. If M. Tkachuk is out for the rest of the regular season, they could make it work. After this year, Bennett is up, and Ekblad is up, and they could fit him in.
 
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Mittelstadt was also solid to end last season, in the playoffs, and to start this season. All under Bednar.

This is a player issue.
I'd guess it's a conditioning issue.

We're right back in 2023 - unless they bring in at least a legit 2C (that isn't available) at the deadline the season is over in March. We know it, the players know it. You think they're playing bad now? Wait until after the trade deadline.

People need to realize how significant of a failure it is to have traded both Byram, Rantanen, and a 1st rounder and still not resolve the biggest hole in your roster.

I'm starting to think cMac was very effective CBJ trojan horse.
Rantanen move was lateral at worst, no reason to count that against Cmac.

Mitts fell off mid-season. Everyone was happy with him before that and believed he was a good 2C. This season Cmac has improved on 1RW, 3C, 1G, 2G with mid-season moves. That is already very impressive, though it is him fixing his own mistakes in roster building. I just want to say that it's not easy to make moves mid-season. I definitely think there's still more to come before TDL.

What I do agree with is that without 2C the season is over. Right now we're in a worse situation than when we had Compher as 2C. And that is f***ing terrifying.
 
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You can be pro-Bednar but still recognize that he has issues adapting, and that includes to players (so not just against opposing coaches).

Mittlestadt has a skillset that should be able to work here, but Bednar has to be willing to bend and find a way to incorporate him in a manner that best suits his skills.

Additionally, I would say there's a big disconnect between the type of team that CMac wants to build and how those players are deployed. MacFarland goes out and gets a certain type of player but they don't fit with the way Bednar wants to employ those players. Duhaime & Trenin spring to mind from last year's deadline. Those guys had their biggest attributes relatively neutered by him.

I think Bednar has hitched everything to MacKinnon & Makar (and I thought this prior to Mikko being traded and always excluded him), and anyone who isn't able to keep up with that just sort of gets lost by the wayside.

Mittelstadt was working really well for a while. I agree he's not the best fit for the system, but the problem feels like it's deeper than that right now. He loses so many puck battles and his decision-making has been terrible lately. I remember a couple egregious turnovers from yesterday's game alone, but that's not to say this is a new issue that's just popping up.

If there is a disconnect between Bednar and MacFarland, the thing I don't understand is why. The Avs were the best team in the league and one Erik Johnson clause waive away from running things back in 2023 with Kadri, a very similar lineup sans some auxiliary pieces (Burakovsky, NAK, Sturm, etc.). Instead, CMac started adding poor stylistic fits (i.e. Eller, Johansen, Mittelstadt) and everything has culminated to this point. If CMac's goal really was to reshape the Avalanche, that feels like a solution looking for a problem.
 
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Mittelstadt was working really well for a while. I agree he's not the best fit for the system, but the problem feels like it's deeper than that right now. He loses so many puck battles and his decision-making has been terrible lately. I remember a couple egregious issues from yesterday's game alone, but that's not to say this is a new issue that's just popping up.

If there is a disconnect between Bednar and MacFarland, the thing I don't understand is why. The Avs were the best team in the league and one Erik Johnson clause waive away from running things back in 2023 with Kadri, a very similar lineup sans some auxiliary pieces (Burakovsky, NAK, Sturm, etc.). Instead, CMac started adding poor stylistic fits (i.e. Eller, Johansen, Mittelstadt) and everything has culminated to this point. If CMac's goal really was to reshape the Avalanche, that feels like a solution looking for a problem.
Would be nice if members of media would ask both Bednar and CMac if they consult with each other regarding signing and/or trading for players. I believe Bednar said earlier this year, and correct me if I am wrong, that he is not asked his opinions on players before they are brought in. I swear that Joe did consult with him, but maybe he didn't. Regardless, you would think they would work together, especially with UFAs, before they sign them. I understand trades are harder to do this with.
 
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I think Cmac has just been taking long shots, due to cap restraints and it's not working. Too many players who were not at the time what you expected them to turn into failing.

Cotton, Mitts, RyJo, Parssinen all brought in and failed.

Newhook at 2C? Lol

It's hilarious, and Drury brought in to be the 3C is practically the 2C.

At some point trying to get the deal, ends up with your house chalk full of trash.
 
You can be pro-Bednar but still recognize that he has issues adapting, and that includes to players (so not just against opposing coaches).

Mittlestadt has a skillset that should be able to work here, but Bednar has to be willing to bend and find a way to incorporate him in a manner that best suits his skills.

Additionally, I would say there's a big disconnect between the type of team that CMac wants to build and how those players are deployed. MacFarland goes out and gets a certain type of player but they don't fit with the way Bednar wants to employ those players. Duhaime & Trenin spring to mind from last year's deadline. Those guys had their biggest attributes relatively neutered by him.

I think Bednar has hitched everything to MacKinnon & Makar (and I thought this prior to Mikko being traded and always excluded him), and anyone who isn't able to keep up with that just sort of gets lost by the wayside.
Players as bad as Mittelstadt should not require a coach having to adapt and change his successful system to suit his abilities.

I agree with your notion in general. But that has to be for outlier situations for specific high caliber, unique players. Not for Casey f***ing Mittelstadt. 3 goals or whatever it is since November is not on Bednar and his lack of adaptation.
 
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We're right back in 2023 - unless they bring in at least a legit 2C (that isn't available) at the deadline the season is over in March. We know it, the players know it. You think they're playing bad now? Wait until after the trade deadline.

People need to realize how significant of a failure it is to have traded both Byram, Rantanen, and a 1st rounder and still not resolve the biggest hole in your roster.

I'm starting to think cMac was very effective CBJ trojan horse.
It's wild just how impossible it is for CMac to get a #2C. Like wtf man.

To make it worse he inherited one, but allowed the guy to walk. Epic L.
 
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Players as bad as Mittelstadt should not require a coach having to adapt and change his successful system to suit his abilities.

I agree with your notion in general. But that has to be for outlier situations for specific high caliber, unique players. Not for Casey f***ing Mittelstadt. 3 goals or whatever it is since November is not on Bednar and his lack of adaptation.
Mitts has not been good but the entire bottom 9 have been much more unproductive than in years past. I'm not sure what's going on but even with Ryjo they were playing better than they are now.
 
I think Cmac has just been taking long shots, due to cap restraints and it's not working. Too many players who were not at the time what you expected them to turn into failing.

Cotton, Mitts, RyJo, Parssinen all brought in and failed.

Newhook at 2C? Lol

It's hilarious, and Drury brought in to be the 3C is practically the 2C.

At some point trying to get the deal, ends up with your house chalk full of trash.
Wtf do you mean Parssinen failed??
 
If you take away Mittelstadt’s hot start (15 points in 13 games) he’s since scored:

3 goals, 14 assists in 46 games. He’s playing at a 30 point pace since then.

3 GOALS SINCE OCTOBER FROM YOUR 2C lmao
Damn. That has to be worse than even Johansen.
 

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