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

[EdAVSfan]

For once, I think Colorado would have the edge in a bidding war.

Lou and Roy will never rebuild, they'll always retool. I can see the logic of "Mittelstadt is 26, doesn't have that many fewer points than Nelson, so we still have a chance down the stretch. Plus we get a draft pick." (assuming deal was Mitts + pick)

I think it would be absolutely nuts to move Mitts for Nelson.

There needs to be some type of mid to long term value coming from a Mitts trade. Not 20 games worth of a rental.

I think we’re severely undervaluing Mitts. We may not like him, he may not fit here, but we need to stop pretending like he’s a worthless asset that requires compensation to trade him away. (FYI this isn’t targeted at you, just in general to the board)

Didn’t we see that there’s like only 10 2Cs who have more points than him this season?

 

[hockeyfish]

I think it would be absolutely nuts to move Mitts for Nelson.

There needs to be some type of mid to long term value coming from a Mitts trade. Not 20 games worth of a rental.

I think we’re severely undervaluing Mitts. We may not like him, he may not fit here, but we need to stop pretending like he’s a worthless asset that requires compensation to trade him away. (FYI this isn’t targeted at you, just in general to the board)

Didn’t we see that there’s like only 10 2Cs who have more points than him this season?

Mitts is currently 70th in points scored among players listed as C on Natural Stattrick. So no, he has been quite bad.

 

[Gruyeriev]

I'll even add a COL 2025 7th as a show of good faith.


Is Jared McCann someone who could play center? He'd be a great add depending on the fit.

No. McCann is soft as butter. He’s a wing in the NHL. Seattle used him there last year out of desperation but he is not the answer.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Mitts is currently 70th in points scored among players listed as C on Natural Stattrick. So no, he has been quite bad.

A month ago, he was 66th, now he's 70th. It's getting worse.

There's 32 teams in the NHL. 64 centers that would be 1st or 2nd line on their teams.

Mitts is no longer even a 2nd line center.

 

[Andrew Wiggin]

Mitts is currently 70th in points scored among players listed as C on Natural Stattrick. So no, he has been quite bad.

Most of those arent playing C this year with any frequency or at all and alot of them are within a few points of Mitts so seems a little misleading. Not trying to prop him up but lets be fair.

 

[EdAVSfan]

Mitts is currently 70th in points scored among players listed as C on Natural Stattrick. So no, he has been quite bad.

Any chance we can see the list? Because I’ve noticed lots of these places list a bunch of wingers as centers also

 

[EdAVSfan]

A month ago, he was 66th, now he's 70th. It's getting worse.

There's 32 teams in the NHL. 64 centers that would be 1st or 2nd line on their teams.

Mitts is no longer even a 2nd line center.

Even if that’s the case, again, we keep acting like Mittlestadt is worthless.

35 year old expiring Gustav Nyquist, with 21 points this year, was traded for a 2nd.

Whether we like Mittlestadt or not doesn’t take away from the fact that a BUNCH of teams are looking for 2Cs. There’s a clear reason. Everyone has inflated expectstions from their 2C that the market can’t supply.

 

[hockeyfish]

A month ago, he was 66th, now he's 70th. It's getting worse.

There's 32 teams in the NHL. 64 centers that would be 1st or 2nd line on their teams.

Mitts is no longer even a 2nd line center.

Not to pile on him even further, but since November 1st, he's tied at 97th in points. Along with Coyle, Wennberg, Kotkaniemi, Pinto and Stankoven. One ahead of Avalance great Newhook.

Any chance we can see the list? Because I’ve noticed lots of these places list a bunch of wingers as centers also

Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

Obviously there are certainly a handful of wingers stuck in there. I'm not going to spend a day picking though the list. It's just an peak at how it's going.

 

[TheForsbergShow]

Any chance we can see the list? Because I’ve noticed lots of these places list a bunch of wingers as centers also

It includes players like Toffoli, Schwartz, RNH, Huberdeau, Palmieri, Guentzel, Duchene etc... So yah its def not a good representation of his overall production as a C. Heck it has Necas in there, 2c problem solved i guess.

 

[shadow1]

I think it would be absolutely nuts to move Mitts for Nelson.

There needs to be some time of mid to long term value coming from a Mitts trade. Not 20 games worth of a rental.

I think we’re severely undervaluing Mitts. We may not like him, he may not fit here, but we need to stop pretending like he’s a worthless asset that requires compensation to trade him away. (FYI this isn’t targeted at you, just in general to the board)

Didn’t we see that there’s like only 10 2Cs who have more points than him this season?

I totally get where you're coming from, but at this point I think there's sunk cost with Mittelstadt.

Let's say Colorado hangs onto Mittelstadt and take it to its most logical conclusion. The narrative around the team will once again revolve around the 2C position all summer and into next year. And if the season starts and Mittelstadt still isn't producing (3G, 12A in his last 42GP), Colorado will still need to address the position and Mittelstadt's value will have depreciated further.

 

[Ararana]

I think it would be absolutely nuts to move Mitts for Nelson.

There needs to be some type of mid to long term value coming from a Mitts trade. Not 20 games worth of a rental.

While I would normally agree with this, I think it's a bigger failure to throw away another year of prime 29/8 than it would be to accept that you badly lost the Byram trade and walk away from it.

cMac is going to eat shit one way or another. At least this way you give your superstars another chance to win while they can. Then regroup in the summer and, for the love of god, please finally get a real 2c.

 

[EdAVSfan]

While I would normally agree with this, I think it's a bigger failure to throw away another year of prime 29/8 than it would be to accept that you badly lost the Byram trade and walk away from it.

cMac is going to eat shit one way or another. At least this way you give your superstars another chance to win while they can.

I don’t disagree with the overall premise, but I definitely take issue with turning the sunk cost into 0 value past this season. That’s ridiculous IMO. This team will be literally the exact same next year. We’re losing no one important. To suggest that we should just give Mittlestadt away for 20 games of Nelson just tot have a shot for one season, it’s moronic in my opinion.
In the offseason, take Mittlestadt, add your 1st, add a prospect and search for an alternative.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Not to pile on him even further, but since November 1st, he's tied at 97th in points. Along with Coyle, Wennberg, Kotkaniemi, Pinto and Stankoven. One ahead of Avalance great Newhook.

Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

Obviously there are certainly a handful of wingers stuck in there. I'm not going to spend a day picking though the list. It's just an peak at how it's going.

There are at least 10 wingers on that list ahead of Mitts that I spotted, and I didn't look that hard

 

[EdAVSfan]

I totally get where you're coming from, but at this point I think there's sunk cost with Mittelstadt.

Let's say Colorado hangs onto Mittelstadt and take it to its most logical conclusion. The narrative around the team will once again revolve around the 2C position all summer and into next year. And if the season starts and Mittelstadt still isn't producing (3G, 12A in his last 42GP), Colorado will still need to address the position and Mittelstadt's value will have depreciated further.

I have zero problems with trading Mittlestadt. I most DEFINITELY have a problem with turning mitts into a 20 game rental. That’s a bad decision on multiple levels. In the summer, you make a trade. There’s many more options and you’ll be able to get a hockey trade done. Add assets if necessary.

Under your scenario, we’ll still be in the exact same position this summer with no 2C AND no Mitts.

 

[Ararana]

I don’t disagree with the overall premise, but I definitely take issue with turning the sunk cost into 0 value past this season. That’s ridiculous IMO. This team will be literally the exact same next year. We’re losing no one important. To suggest that we should just give Mittlestadt away for 20 games of Nelson just tot have a shot for one season, it’s moronic in my opinion.
In the offseason, take Mittlestadt, add your 1st, add a prospect and search for an alternative.

In terms of impact you'll receive from trading Mittlestadt, it might not get better than loading up a true 2C for a valid cup run.

If he finishes out the rest of the year and postseason as terribly as he has so far, I doubt he brings back much in the summer. Definitely not the kind of impact Nelson would have this season.

 

[shadow1]

I have zero problems with trading Mittlestadt. I most DEFINITELY have a problem with turning mitts into a 20 game rental. That’s a bad decision on multiple levels. In the summer, you make a trade. There’s many more options and you’ll be able to get a hockey trade done. Add assets if necessary.

Under your scenario, we’ll still be in the exact same position this summer with no 2C AND no Mitts.

IMO, there's no point it keeping Mittelstadt around if they spend big on someone, rental or no rental. Barring an unforeseen turnaround, he can't handle the 2C job on this team. So whether he's in Colorado or not, the issue persists.

Look, I don't love the idea of trading Bowen Byram and ending up with Brock Nelson. But Colorado is kinda screwed here. MacKinnon is about to win his 2nd straight MVP and the season is destined to end poorly.

CMac, for his many faults, is extremely aggressive. He was in on J.T. Miller and now there's smoke around Nelson. He'll find someone.

 

[EdAVSfan]

In terms of impact you'll receive from trading Mittlestadt, it might not get better than loading up a true 2C for a valid cup run.

If he finishes out the rest of the year and postseason as terribly as he has so far, I doubt he brings back much in the summer. Definitely not the kind of impact Nelson would have this season.

Fantastic. Where does the 2C come from next summer?

Already teams are desperate for 2Cs. Where are we getting one without even being able to give them back a potential center option.

I just feel like some of you guys have gone a little nuts with maximizing this one run. The Rantanen trade changed everything. It gave the Avs a legitimate chance next year too, with a full team and a lot more cap space to work with.

 

[davalanche96]

Who is the best for our 2C ???

Nelson
Schenn
Peterka
Zacha
Bennett
McCann
Gourde
Zibanejad
Backlund
Or someone else

How much it will coast ?

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Even if that’s the case, again, we keep acting like Mittlestadt is worthless.

35 year old expiring Gustav Nyquist, with 21 points this year, was traded for a 2nd.

Whether we like Mittlestadt or not doesn’t take away from the fact that a BUNCH of teams are looking for 2Cs. There’s a clear reason. Everyone has inflated expectstions from their 2C that the market can’t supply.

Yeah Mitts would still fetch a pretty sizable return.

Centers are extremely valuable right now. Factor in that he's a younger C, on a good contract especially with the rising cap... Teams will absorb some risk to get a ~25 year old 2C with potential to produce 60+ points at under $6M.


It's also probably why the Avs are seemingly not interested in moving him unless it's for a real and legitimate upgrade at 2C. The potential value Mitts has if he can turn it around is well worth waiting on.

 

[John Mandalorian]

I don’t disagree with the overall premise, but I definitely take issue with turning the sunk cost into 0 value past this season. That’s ridiculous IMO. This team will be literally the exact same next year. We’re losing no one important. To suggest that we should just give Mittlestadt away for 20 games of Nelson just tot have a shot for one season, it’s moronic in my opinion.
In the offseason, take Mittlestadt, add your 1st, add a prospect and search for an alternative.

Nelson is NYI getting something for an expiring contract. But there’s the other end of the spectrum with teams possibly wanting to get out of longer term contracts with older players...like a Kadri or a Zibanejad.

I agree about not wasting another year of 29’s and 8’s better years. Health is not a guarantee next year either. I’m ok with either appproach but im not ok with waiting for the summer. If you’re trading for Nelson, why not also consider Bennett? They let a guy walk wanting 13+ so they can have depth. So trade for a rental and open up the checkbook for once.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Ararana]

Fantastic. Where does the 2C come from next summer?

cMac f***ed this team's future over the last two years. All that's left to do is to take the best swings with what they have left.

They have zero resources to pull in a long term 2C and they can't win without one. UFAs aren't lining up for Denver and even if they were the Avs wouldn't pay them.

Amazing that they gave up multiple 1sts, Byram and Rantanen and still never filled their largest roster hole. It's just been failure after failure.

 

[JLo217]

who is the under the radar 2C or Lehky type get?

 

[Sea Eagles]

He was one of the money changers that Giguerre kicked out of the temple that started the turn around after the lost decade.

As far as I'm concerned JSG deserves a ring and place on the Cup for that act.

I swear (and I know I say this a lot), but Jiggy was one of my all time favorites. I remember him calling out the teams culture and attitude at one point (advertised in the Denver Post). Guy was such a competitor.

 

[EdAVSfan]

cMac f***ed this team's future over the last two years. All that's left to do is to take the best swings with what they have left. What doesn’t exist now is availability. There’s literally only a handful of teams even willing to sell. The offseason opens up to the entire league.

They have zero resources to pull in a long term 2C and they can't win without one. UFAs aren't lining up for Denver and even if they were the Avs wouldn't pay them.

Amazing that they gave up multiple 1sts, Byram and Rantanen and still never filled their largest roster hole. It's just been failure after failure.

I completely disagree.

They have assets to pull in a 2C. They still have Mitts, 2 upcoming firsts and Ritchie. They most definitely have the necessary assets.

I think some people have simply taken a sky is falling approach to this team when it’s not in an unhealthy position.
I think they should add this deadline. I don’t think they should move mitts unless you get a solution.

The AVS top 6 is all signed except for Drouin. The AVS top 4 is all signed. The avs goaltending is set (despite you thinking it sucks)

And they’ll have cap space.

Because here’s what I do know. Everyone bitching about not getting Nelson for Mitts, will be the same people bitching in the offseason when it didn’t work and we have nothing to show for it.