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

[Grigowski]

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.

Or maybe he knows he will be out of gas in April and slows down a little bit. He has his Hart allready.

As long as he goes berzerk in Game 1, Round 1, all good. If there is one player who can have a slump its Mac.

Regarding Landeskog:
Either the AVS really go for a "Kucherov" and everyone is on board and informed to act clueless, or Landy is indeed done....

I hope for the "Kucherov", but my gut tells me we wont see the captain again.....

 

[shadow1]

Going against the grain, I think the Avs say no.

San Jose is out of retention slots, Colorado can't afford a $3.25M third-pairing defenseman.

If the idea is replacing Girard with Ferraro, that's crazy talk. Girard is a significantly better player than Ferraro, who's been an absolute disaster this year. He had a nice bounce back last season, but has probably been San Jose's worst defenseman the first third of this year.

 

[MacKaRant]

Georgiev + 2026 1st for Blackwood and Ferraro. Yay or nay?

We have a lot of trade proposals for Blackwood, which I understand is largely a function of him being a goaltender who is available.

I don't fully understand why though. During the year that the Devils broke out and made the playoffs (2022-2023), they preferred starting Vitek Vanacek over him in the net. And then when Vanacek faltered, they didn't go to Blackwood, but a recent callup Akira Schmid. This was because Blackwood was really bad in New Jersey, so much so that he didn't get a single minute of playoff hockey despite entering the year as their 1A or 1B and after the playoff loss they shot him to the sun and only got a sixth round pick from him.

Is the thinking that Blackwood might have found his pro game during the last year and a half in San Jose? I recall him having one super game against us, but I would be hesitant to declare him "the answer."

 

[MacKaRant]

We have a lot of trade proposals for Blackwood, which I understand is largely a function of him being a goaltender who is available.

I don't fully understand why though. During the year that the Devils broke out and made the playoffs (2022-2023), they preferred starting Vitek Vanacek over him in the net. And then when Vanacek faltered, they didn't go to Blackwood, but a recent callup Akira Schmid. This was because Blackwood was really bad in New Jersey, so much so that he didn't get a single minute of playoff hockey despite entering the year as their 1A or 1B and after the playoff loss they shot him to the sun and only got a sixth round pick from him.

Is the thinking that Blackwood might have found his pro game during the last year and a half in San Jose? I recall him having one super game against us, but I would be hesitant to declare him "the answer."

Heh, impeccable timing by me as always. Looks like we get to find out firsthand!

 

[JWK]

Georgiev should be most wanted commodity in my opinion, you trade for him and you automatically gets the best odds for that #1 pick. You want to outtank Chicago? There's the key piece

Mike Grier reads HF

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Mike Grier reads HF

Actually, I've often wondered if any players or management types skim through these boards.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Actually, I've often wondered if any players or management types skim through these boards.

The younger, lower-level management guys absolutely do. They're on Reddit too.

 

[JLo217]

The younger, lower-level management guys absolutely do. They're on Reddit too.

Hockey is a small world. I ski up in Tahoe quite a bit and have run into some Players/Management folks and they cruise around on here.

 

[Balthazar]

Didn't realize that all 3 were drafted by NJ and played for them

th

 

[Cypher]

Now go out and get Jake Evans, Avs need another forward with Wood out month-to-month and now with Kova gone. And if they're serious about keeping RosCo on the wing.

As it stands, Prish/Wagner playing until Wood is back. Both until Drouin comes back, and that's assuming Drouin comes back in ~2 weeks.

 

[Balthazar]

Now go out and get Jake Evans

Well..Justin Barron and Alex Newhook aren't doing well in Montreal.

Fans and journalists aren't happy....and all I'm hearing in the media these days is the Habs shouldn't take another phone call from the Avs ever again...

 

[Lonewolfe2015]

Now go out and get Jake Evans, Avs need another forward with Wood out month-to-month and now with Kova gone. And if they're serious about keeping RosCo on the wing.

As it stands, Prish/Wagner playing until Wood is back. Both until Drouin comes back, and that's assuming Drouin comes back in ~2 weeks.

I'd rather see a defender first. Go get a steady 3rd pairing guy to play with Malinski when Manson returns.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Now go out and get Jake Evans, Avs need another forward with Wood out month-to-month and now with Kova gone. And if they're serious about keeping RosCo on the wing.

As it stands, Prish/Wagner playing until Wood is back. Both until Drouin comes back, and that's assuming Drouin comes back in ~2 weeks.

Drouin will be back shortly and Rosco will be back to 3C.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Drouin will be back shortly and Rosco will be back to 3C.

Do you really put RosCo back at center when he's scoring at this clip on wing?

I'm torn. I know he was playing mostly wing for Tampa Bay and he basically started to learn how to play center at the NHL level after he was traded here. But he really hasn't clicked to become a a fearsome 3C. With our injuries always being the way they are, I'd almost be tempted to keep him as a wing and try and find a better 3C than Ivan/Parker before the deadline.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Drouin will be back shortly and Rosco will be back to 3C.

Or Drouin will be playing 2C while Mitts plays 3C.

 

[Avs9296]

Or Drouin will be playing 2C while Mitts plays 3C.

That ain't happening.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Do you really put RosCo back at center when he's scoring at this clip on wing?

Yup.

Drouin brings out the best version(Hart version) of MacKinnon.

Rantanen is a top 5 sniper in the world.

Nichushkin is the straw that stirs the drink or snorts the coke. Super important for us.

Lehky is Bednar’s most trusted forward and used in all situations.

Those are our top 4 wingers.

 

[Avs9296]

If Colton goes back to center I'm interested to see how he plays. Does he continue his really good play this year? Or does he look like last year's Colton?

I'm curious how much of it is positional vs. just getting used to the new system/having a down year maybe.

We will see.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Or Drouin will be playing 2C while Mitts plays 3C.

Or hear me out...We actually build a third line that can play minutes.

Drouin-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittlestadt-Nichushkin
Lehkonnen-Landy/X-LOC
Wood-Ivan-Kivi

Yup.

Drouin brings out the best version(Hart version) of MacKinnon.

Rantanen is a top 5 sniper in the world.

Nichushkin is the straw that stirs the drink or snorts the coke. Super important for us.

Lehky is Bednar’s most trusted forward and used in all situations.

Those are our top 4 wingers.

Meh, I think if we can get a 3C (or if Landy comes back we can use him as 3C) we'd be better off with Colton as a winger and Lehky/Landy/LOC being a shutdown third line. Key being, Landy is capable or we get a 3C who can make Lehky-LOC work at the deadline.

 

[CobraAcesS]

That ain't happening.

Weirder shit has happened

Mitts is good defensively, and produces with grinders.

More likely they try to get some sort of hybrid thing going, and for all of the jokes Drouin might be the best candidate for that unless Landy really does return.

You could try it with Mitts and Ross together too. Mitts takes center in the D zone.

They'll try to find a way to keep Rosco scoring anywhere near as much.

Or hear me out...We actually build a third line that can play minutes.

Drouin-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittlestadt-Nichushkin
Lehkonnen-Landy/X-LOC
Wood-Ivan-Kivi


Meh, I think if we can get a 3C (or if Landy comes back we can use him as 3C) we'd be better off with Colton as a winger and Lehky/Landy/LOC being a shutdown third line. Key being, Landy is capable or we get a 3C who can make Lehky-LOC work at the deadline.

My brain wants to go there, but then I remember how much skating matters, and all things considered. It's hard to see Landeskog actually working there now.

However his intelligence might make it possible who knows.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Or hear me out...We actually build a third line that can play minutes.

Drouin-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittlestadt-Nichushkin
Lehkonnen-Landy/X-LOC
Wood-Ivan-Kivi


Meh, I think if we can get a 3C (or if Landy comes back we can use him as 3C) we'd be better off with Colton as a winger and Lehky/Landy/LOC being a shutdown third line. Key being, Landy is capable or we get a 3C who can make Lehky-LOC work at the deadline.

Gabriel Landeskog playing center?

The guy with knee transplants who hasn’t played a game of hockey in 2.5 years?

I understand you’re trying to accommodate Colton on a heater, but the best version of this roster doesn’t have him playing in the top 6. Just my opinion, I’m happy to be proven wrong.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Gabriel Landeskog playing center?

The guy with knee transplants who hasn’t played a game of hockey in 2.5 years?

I understand you’re trying to accommodate Colton on a heater, but the best version of this roster doesn’t have him playing in the top 6. Just my opinion, I’m happy to be proven wrong.

Actually...I do believe Gabe would be fine as a 3C. Not as a 1C or 2C but as a defensive 3C running with Lehky and LOC? Yeah, I can see that working.

I think you are being too hard on what to expect from Gabe. Of course, I absolutely know you have a better ear for what is actually going on, but I just can't see Gabe coming back but not being good enough to center a 3rd line.

Like...seriously, what is he wanting to accomplish with a comeback if he's not capable of skating on a 3rd line?

 

[CobraAcesS]

Yup.

Drouin brings out the best version(Hart version) of MacKinnon.

Rantanen is a top 5 sniper in the world.

Nichushkin is the straw that stirs the drink or snorts the coke. Super important for us.

Lehky is Bednar’s most trusted forward and used in all situations.

Those are our top 4 wingers.

While I agree with you.. It has been a long time since we've had a third line that can actually take some minutes away from the top two.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Actually...I do believe Gabe would be fine as a 3C. Not as a 1C or 2C but as a defensive 3C running with Lehky and LOC? Yeah, I can see that working.

I think you are being too hard on what to expect from Gabe. Of course, I absolutely know you have a better ear for what is actually going on, but I just can't see Gabe coming back but not being good enough to center a 3rd line.

Like...seriously, what is he wanting to accomplish with a comeback if he's not capable of skating on a 3rd line?

I think there’s a big difference being a center and a winger in terms of the skating required, especially in our own zone.

The C is working the down low trio on the cycle, constant changes of movement and covering the whole zone. The winger is generally responsible for covering his D and a much smaller area of ice.

That stuff takes a toll over time.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Actually...I do believe Gabe would be fine as a 3C. Not as a 1C or 2C but as a defensive 3C running with Lehky and LOC? Yeah, I can see that working.

I think you are being too hard on what to expect from Gabe. Of course, I absolutely know you have a better ear for what is actually going on, but I just can't see Gabe coming back but not being good enough to center a 3rd line.

Like...seriously, what is he wanting to accomplish with a comeback if he's not capable of skating on a 3rd line?

I don't think he's going to be back in time to know we don't need a 3C if you want to keep Colton at wing, but I also don't know how they afford that. You'd have to pay through the nose, and get retention while also sending out the assets for a defender.

It will be interesting to see if they can actually solve the two issues in a meaningful way.