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Rumor: 2024-2025 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Talk | The Slow Crawl to the Season

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MarkT said:
I'm equating injury to what happened with Val because they both result in the same thing - the player is suddenly and unexpectedly unavailable. The rest is all subjective.

As was already pointed out, the fact that the Seattle series even went to game 7 is the problem. Yes, Nuke could have made a difference in both series. No one is disputing that. I'm disputing the narrative that he was the main factor in losing those series, which is what is implied when anyone claims he cost the team two wasted years. I see that idea all the time around here. Yeah, his actions were a factor, but again, if one top six winger is the difference between winning and losing, there are more problems than just him.

I get why you'd be angry about this, and if your view of drug addicts is they are selfish pieces of shit, then it makes some sense. But that's not the only way to look at it. Heck, lots of people think Nuke was only playing so well because of the drugs - maybe he thought he was actually helping the team, and never expected to get caught. It's not like the NHL has a strong history of catching people for drug use.

I don't think it takes any extraordinary leadership to say something like, "OK guys, I know this sucks. I know a lot of you are angry. But nothing outside this room matters. We have to find a way to win with the people in this room. It's next man up. Let's go!"

Now, that alone wouldn't do it. You would need a strong culture already in place, and the person saying that would need to be a leader everyone respects. Being able to adjust to sudden changes and roll with the punches is something this team had during the cup run.

Maybe we disagree on this, but I thought that third suspension was based more reputation than anything else. In any case, are you trying to say that it was the right move for the Leafs to trade Kadri? Because that's my point. I believes it was a mistake for the Leafs to trade Kadri based on a narrative, just as it would be a mistake for the Avs to trade Nuke based on a narrative.


I think you're confusing correlation with causation. We don't know why MacKinnon started slumping at that time. Maybe he was dealing with an injury. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he had something going on in his personal life. Maybe it was bad luck. To act like Nuke is the only possible reason for this slump is a sign that you're replaced your logical thinking with this narrative you have going.


Alternate theory: Bednar believes that the team isn't going anywhere this season with Annunen as their starter. He has seen Georgiev play well in the past, and since he's not the GM, his only choice it to try his best to rehabilitate Georgiev's game. So, when the team plays really well in front of Annunen and he has a good game, Bednar decides to put Georgiev in net and hopes the team plays as well with him in as they did with Annunen.

Plus, let's imagine CMac recognizes the issue and is working the phone trying to trade away Georgiev and get a new starter. Would it help or hurt the GM if the head coach is repeatedly criticizing the player he is trying to trade?

I'm not saying that my theory is right, but what you're saying is not the only way to interpret events.
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He asked a question about why people are also blaming Bednar. I was just answering his question with the general bullet points. It’s hard to know conversations behind scenes. But there’s an element fairness here which is that your theory explains why Bednar doesn’t criticize Georgiev. But it doesn’t explain why he is criticizing Annunen. In theory, he doesn’t need to explain either. And it was actually Annunen who was the one that was traded (so why was he openly criticized according to your theory?). The lack of fairness in scapegoating rubs people the wrong way.
 
Hey yall. Any updates on Landeskog? Been stashing him on IR in my fantasy league and was wondering if it’s even worth it. Haven’t found much info so I figured I’d hit up the COL HF insiders. ✌🏼
 
Kupo said:
Hey yall. Any updates on Landeskog? Been stashing him on IR in my fantasy league and was wondering if it’s even worth it. Haven’t found much info so I figured I’d hit up the COL HF insiders. ✌🏼
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He’s disappeared again for over 3 weeks now.

At this point, we literally have no clue. Could be back in early 2025, maybe playoffs, maybe never.

The Avs wouldn’t be able to fit him under the cap as it is so if you see some trade where we ship out a bunch of salary(at least 4m), that could be a sign. Don’t expect it anytime soon though.
 
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Gotta say, as much as some people think Mack’s slumping started when Nume came back, I think that’s off.

My guess: he started slumping because the team got bad news from Landy. The timeline lines up perfectly with the last time he was on the ice on November 12th.
 
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RECKLESS said:
Everyone gets in a slump sometimes. The season is a long grind.

I don't buy into any story behind Mack. He's a dawg not a machine.
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I was assuming that the heavy knock he took on his knee in that collision is still somewhat bothering him
 
EdAVSfan said:
Gotta say, as much as some people think Mack’s slumping started when Nume came back, I think that’s off.

My guess: he started slumping because the team got bad news from Landy. The timeline lines up perfectly with the last time he was on the ice on November 12th.
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People seem deadest on making the inference that he has a grievance against Nichushkin’s presence on the team. And that might be true. But it also might be true that he’s allowed himself to exhale once reinforcements arrived. The first 10 games of the season, the Avs scored enough to be 8-2 or 9-1. But because of the bad goaltending and guys being on injury/suspension holiday, the top guys were doing a huge chunk of heavy lifting. Because of the bad goaltending, they’re still logging heavy minutes. And even though and because they’re logging heavy minutes, they might be internally doing load mgt by regulating their amount of exertion to a degree.
 
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MacKaRant said:
I was assuming that the heavy knock he took on his knee in that collision is still somewhat bothering him
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This. He got hurt.

Same with Cale when he was playing off, same with Toews, and same with Mittelstadt. People lose their minds when someone has games in a row where they look off, and instead of just following the breadcrumbs and finding exactly where they got hurt, they call for a trade or claim the contract is bad, etc
 
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Kupo said:
Hey yall. Any updates on Landeskog? Been stashing him on IR in my fantasy league and was wondering if it’s even worth it. Haven’t found much info so I figured I’d hit up the COL HF insiders. ✌🏼
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They've had to amputate. Sell sell sell.
 
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John Mandalorian said:
People seem deadest on making the inference that he has a grievance against Nichushkin’s presence on the team. And that might be true. But it also might be true that he’s allowed himself to exhale once reinforcements arrived. The first 10 games of the season, the Avs scored enough to be 8-2 or 9-1. But because of bad goaltending. Because of the bad goaltending and guys being on injury/suspension holiday, the top guys were doing a huge chunk of heavy lifting. Because of the bad goaltending, they’re still logging heavy minutes. And even though and because they’re logging heavy minutes, they might be internally doing load mgt by regulating their amount of exertion to a degree.
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For sure. Tons of reasons why he may be a bit down. That’s why I think it’s a foolish game to even attempt to lay the struggle to one specific thing with literally no evidence.
 
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For all the criticism around Nuke and cocaine, I think we have the perfect setup for a redemption story brewing.

First weeks back, of course there is going to be some skepticism and tension in the workplace. Everyone else was working extremely hard, putting in overtime (and not even getting paid for it!), while their coworker was just out having fun.

As November turns until December and December turns into January, there is gradually more acceptance as his teammates realize that things just seem to get done better when Nuke is around. Especially since other people on the team seem to make a habit of taking extended time off for other reasons (bruised ribs, tiny hairline fracture in wrist, sore groin).

Meanwhile, Nuke is feeling pride in his role on the team, and the newfound stability that the six rigorous months in the Players Assistance Program has given him. True, it feels like there is something missing in his life, but regular trips to the Colorado River with his newborn child helps to put things in perspective.

As the trade deadline approaches, MacFarland needs to decide whether this is an "all in" year or whether to just reacquire Lars Eller and call it a day. He goes around, talks to the team brain trust and the leaders on the players side, and decides that, yes, thanks to the Selke-level play of a certain Russian winger that this opportunity is too good to pass up. While the Avs are projected to be a wild card team, that's okay, because that's largely a function of the injury- and Georgiev-riddled first months of the season. Key acquisitions are made.

Playoffs roll around and Bednar makes it clear in the room that the everyone needs to look within themselves to skate even harder and find a new level. Bednar locks eyes with Nuke. Nuke locks back. Nuke knows what to do.

Nuke and his favorite thing in the whole wide world are united again for the playoff run with the randomized testing occurring on the morning skate after a rare two-day gap between games. The results come back clean (in Evan Rawal's book on the 2025 Cup win, "Avalanche Rising Again," there are hints that it was actually Captain Landeskog's urine that was secretly used for the test).

Cocaine-fueled Nuke wins the Conn Smythe and leads the Avalanche to their second Cup in four seasons.

The Nuke and cocaine redemption arc is now complete.
 
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RoyIsALegend said:
I’d take Caleb Jones back over all of CdH/Kylie/Lud.

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I thought he was still injured.

I'd claim him and waive Ludvig. John has kinda disappointed me. I really though he was going to be more physical (3rd pairing Manson), not sure how I developed that image, probably reading too much into some post on the Panthers board.

Caleb can play either side just as ineffectively and I have no problems with him clocking in on the 4th line as forward over say Tynan, Polin or Bradley.
 
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Murzu said:
Georgiev + 2026 1st for Blackwood and Ferraro. Yay or nay?
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I'd do it, especially if we can talk to Blackwood's agent and get a sense there's a good chance of re-signing him. Then we could move Girard in the offseason if Ferraro looks good and Kylington keeps playing well if/when he returns from injury.

It would be pretty funny though if we ended up with the 2020-2022 New Jersey goalies as our two guys heading into the playoffs.
 
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RoyIsALegend said:
I’d take Caleb Jones back over all of CdH/Kylie/Lud.

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I agree with all that except Kylington. He was looking really good before his injury. Jones knows the system though so him and Middleton could be a solid third pair till Manson comes back. CDH is the perfect guy to sit in the press box. Ludvig goes on waivers - he reminds me a lot of Anton Lindholm (whose name I honestly forgot just now).
 
Murzu said:
Georgiev + 2026 1st for Blackwood and Ferraro. Yay or nay?
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Id do it without Ferraro. This season is more precious than that 1st. We shouldn’t be waiting until the tdl either. If you fix the goal tending and course correct the season, no one will miss that 1st.
 
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