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

[AllAboutAvs]

I am not 100% sold on Ritchie yet but trading him for Gibson would scare me quite a bit.

 

[Foppa2118]

The issue with a potential goalie trade is not the asset cost TBH. The issue is the cap, and options out there. Goalies just don't move the needle when it comes to trades in this day and age. Obviously if the Avs are extremely desperate teams can take a bit of an advantage.

Yeah, the main problem with trading Ritchie for a goalie, isn't trading their best cost controlled asset, it's that the Avs team building recipe under a cap system requires a cheap goalie.

If they're trading a good asset like Ritchie, it will likely either be for a relatively unproven cheaper goalie, or a more expensive veteran goalie. Both have big potential downsides where it doesn't work out and then you don't have that cheap top 6 forward to boot.

For all the CMac hate, it's not actually a bad strategy either. I think they could have won with Grubauer if the team was mature enough to know how to win then. They won with Kuemper. Last year Georgiev played pretty well in the playoffs.

Just because it doesn't work every time, doesn't mean it's a bad strategy. Same with their center depth strategy. Most of the time they have very good center depth. Can't expect a team to have all the holes filled every season under the cap.

They already have a D core that's lacking some quality. So with a more expensive goalie, they can't cut cost there. So spending more on a goalie would require them to lose quality and depth at forward. With their usual string of injuries, and a D core that needs improvement, they could end up at the bottom of the standings with a team built that way.

As painful as it can be at times, I think they have to continue this strategy of trying to find buy low candidates with potential at 1G.

 

[Balthazar]

I am not 100% sold on Ritchie yet but trading him for Gibson would scare me quite a bit.

I'd be a lot more comfortable with it if Mitts didn't sign for only 3 years...that's for sure.

 

[Foppa2118]

And why has Byram never been close to that good ever since? Sample size man.

Byram playing poorly was also a small sample size. He played pretty well after the trade last year, and has played pretty well so far this year.

Just like Zadorov was only 23.

It's widely recognized that Zadorov got better in all aspects of the game after 23.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Why are we so low on Ritchie when he's literally been better than the 3rd overall pick from last year's draft? Because he's 1 year older?

Their names are Jost and Newhook.

 

[CobraAcesS]

I am not 100% sold on Ritchie yet but trading him for Gibson would scare me quite a bit.

Agreed, find a different way to get him if you're going that way. The conversation might change further into the year.

We do need guys on ELCs that can contribute quickly.

Yeah, the main problem with trading Ritchie for a goalie, isn't trading their best cost controlled asset, it's that the Avs team building recipe under a cap system requires a cheap goalie.

If they're trading a good asset like Ritchie, it will likely either be for a relatively unproven cheaper goalie, or a more expensive veteran goalie. Both have big potential downsides where it doesn't work out and then you don't have that cheap top 6 forward to boot.

For all the CMac hate, it's not actually a bad strategy either. I think they could have won with Grubauer if the team was mature enough to know how to win then. They won with Kuemper. Last year Georgiev played pretty well in the playoffs.

Just because it doesn't work every time, doesn't mean it's a bad strategy. Same with their center depth strategy. Most of the time they have very good center depth. Can't expect a team to have all the holes filled every season under the cap.

They already have a D core that's lacking some quality. So with a more expensive goalie, they can't cut cost there. So spending more on a goalie would require them to lose quality and depth at forward. With their usual string of injuries, and a D core that needs improvement, they could end up at the bottom of the standings with a team built that way.

As painful as it can be at times, I think they have to continue this strategy of trying to find buy low candidates with potential at 1G.

No he didn't..

 

[nammerus]

Agreed, find a different way to get him if you're going that way. The conversation might change further into the year.

We do need guys on ELCs that can contribute quickly.



No he didn't..

I guess by playing well, he means he wasn’t the worst goalie in the playoffs last year. Just ranked 21 out of 27 (all goalies with a game in the playoffs) GSA expected/60 and 24 out of 27 for GSA expected total. Too bad CMac only had the whole off season to fix this issue.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Byram playing poorly was also a small sample size. He played pretty well after the trade last year, and has played pretty well so far this year.

Byram started off well points wise. But he was bleeding scoring chances, shots against and his xGF% was not good(42.71%). This year has been a slight improvement, but the numbers aren't good still.

 

[Foppa2118]

Byram started off well points wise. But he was bleeding scoring chances, shots against and his xGF% was not good(42.71%). This year has been a slight improvement, but the numbers aren't good still.

Even some of his bigger critics have said recently he's been playing very well though.

The points weren't just at the beginning, he had 3 goals and 8 points in 9 games recently. Small sample size obviously, but he's on a 47 point pace a 1/4 into the season.

Haven't watched much of the games so can't comment, but analytics can be misleading. Especially shot and scoring chances against as a defenseman on a team that's not very good.

 

[nammerus]

Even some of his bigger critics have said recently he's been playing very well though.

The points weren't just at the beginning, he had 3 goals and 8 points in 9 games recently. Small sample size obviously, but he's on a 47 point pace a 1/4 into the season.

Haven't watched much of the games so can't comment, but analytics can be misleading. Especially shot and scoring chances against as a defenseman on a team that's not very good.

Tags Thompson is luck boxing his way to a 61% xGF. Dahlin and Tuch are fluking there way to a 55% xGF. I think they play on the same team as Byram.

 

[Foppa2118]

No he didn't.. (That George played well in the playoffs)

I've seen this mentioned a few times this year. Didn't see it mentioned really during the playoffs. Plenty to criticize with his regular season play though.

I remember him being one of their best players in the playoffs and making a lot of great saves off breakaways and odd man rushes from bad pinches and turnovers by Girard, Walker, Toews, Makar, etc.

I've been feeling like we just reverted back to the Georgiev narrative, so I went back and watched all the goals from the Dallas series, since I assume that's what we're talking about. I counted two 'maybe he could have made a save' goals, and the rest were from bad defense and nearly unstoppable. Lots of goalies in the playoffs gave up much worse goals, including the ones George played against.

I added the links so you could watch easily. We can discuss if you like if you disagree?

Game 1 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Four man screen couldn’t see anything. Also might have been deflected. Not much chance.
• Goal 2 - Deflection off Makar’s stick in the slot. Again not much chance.
• Goal 3 - Three man scree on the PP and deflection by Benn. Once again not much chance.

Game 2 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Very fast cross ice pass and one timer on the PP. Nearly unstoppable.
• Goal 2 - Terrible rush defense. Pass from the top of the slot to a man wide open below the circle. Not much chance at all.
• Goal 3 - Perfect screen by Benn a foot in front of George on the PP and also a deflection at the point. Can’t fault him.
• Goal 4 - 3 on 1. Goergiev made the first two saves, but not the third, because none of the Avs could play defense or knock someone on their ass. Again can’t fault him.
• Goal 5 - Empty Net

Game 3 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Maybe you can fault him slightly here, becasue the puck went 7 hole, but the shot also came from the low slot, and it was right after a terrible turnover by Toews.
• Goal 2 - Cross ice pass back door off the rush after a band pinch by Cogs and Toews and Walker couldn’t block the pass. Not much fault here.
• Goal 3 - Empty net.
• Goal 4 - Empty net.

Game 4 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Bad turnover by Makar behind the net on the PP breakout, then bad/soft defense again. George makes two saves, but can’t make the third. Can’t fault him.
• Goal 2 - Slap pass one timer on the PP. Lehky no stick and Girard doesn’t even try to block the pass. Unstoppable.
• Goal 3 - Maybe could have stopped this but it would have been a great save. Turnover by Walker behind the net, two man screen, and the puck went off the side of the mask, which is obviously a tough place to save.
• Goal 4 - Again makes the first two saves but can’t make the third. Soft defense by Walker in front of the net and Mitts lost his man off the wall. No fault here.
• Goal 5- Empty net.

Game 5 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Another D man turnover behind the net by Manson and Mitts can’t block the pass. Bang bang redirect from the side of the net to the slot, No chance.
• Goal 2 - 2 on 0 pass for goal on PP. Lehky and Girard caught flat footed on the zone entry. No chance.
• Goal 3 - Another unforced D man turnover by Toews, then the point shot redirects off a leg in the slot. No chance.

Game 6 - NHL

• Goal 1 - 2 on 1 essentially. Great back pass by Dadonov and a great forehand backhand deke by Benn to finish. Would have been an unreal save.
• Goal 2 - Bit of a broken play on the doorstep. MacKinnon, Manson, Girard, and Lehky can’t find the puck. Not much chance.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

I've seen this mentioned a few times this year. Didn't see it mentioned really during the playoffs. Plenty to criticize with his regular season play though.

I remember him being one of their best players in the playoffs and making a lot of great saves off breakaways and odd man rushes from bad pinches and turnovers by Girard, Walker, Toews, Makar, etc.

I've been feeling like we just reverted back to the Georgiev narrative, so I went back and watched all the goals from the Dallas series, since I assume that's what we're talking about. I counted two 'maybe he could have made a save' goals, and the rest were from bad defense and nearly unstoppable. Lots of goalies in the playoffs gave up much worse goals, including the ones George played against.

I added the links so you could watch easily. We can discuss if you like if you disagree?

Game 1 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Four man screen couldn’t see anything. Also might have been deflected. Not much chance.
• Goal 2 - Deflection off Makar’s stick in the slot. Again not much chance.
• Goal 3 - Three man scree on the PP and deflection by Benn. Once again not much chance.

Game 2 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Very fast cross ice pass and one timer on the PP. Nearly unstoppable.
• Goal 2 - Terrible rush defense. Pass from the top of the slot to a man wide open below the circle. Not much chance at all.
• Goal 3 - Perfect screen by Benn a foot in front of George on the PP and also a deflection at the point. Can’t fault him.
• Goal 4 - 3 on 1. Goergiev made the first two saves, but not the third, because none of the Avs could play defense or knock someone on their ass. Again can’t fault him.
• Goal 5 - Empty Net

Game 3 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Maybe you can fault him slightly here, becasue the puck went 7 hole, but the shot also came from the low slot, and it was right after a terrible turnover by Toews.
• Goal 2 - Cross ice pass back door off the rush after a band pinch by Cogs and Toews and Walker couldn’t block the pass. Not much fault here.
• Goal 3 - Empty net.
• Goal 4 - Empty net.

Game 4 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Bad turnover by Makar behind the net on the PP breakout, then bad/soft defense again. George makes two saves, but can’t make the third. Can’t fault him.
• Goal 2 - Slap pass one timer on the PP. Lehky no stick and Girard doesn’t even try to block the pass. Unstoppable.
• Goal 3 - Maybe could have stopped this but it would have been a great save. Turnover by Walker behind the net, two man screen, and the puck went off the side of the mask, which is obviously a tough place to save.
• Goal 4 - Again makes the first two saves but can’t make the third. Soft defense by Walker in front of the net and Mitts lost his man off the wall. No fault here.
• Goal 5- Empty net.

Game 5 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Another D man turnover behind the net by Manson and Mitts can’t block the pass. Bang bang redirect from the side of the net to the slot, No chance.
• Goal 2 - 2 on 0 pass for goal on PP. Lehky and Girard caught flat footed on the zone entry. No chance.
• Goal 3 - Another unforced D man turnover by Toews, then the point shot redirects off a leg in the slot. No chance.

Game 6 - NHL

• Goal 1 - 2 on 1 essentially. Great back pass by Dadonov and a great forehand backhand deke by Benn to finish. Would have been an unreal save.
• Goal 2 - Bit of a broken play on the doorstep. MacKinnon, Manson, Girard, and Lehky can’t find the puck. Not much chance.

Good stuff

 

[Freaky Styley]

I don't think there's any question Ritchie should be on the block at the deadline, but his name shouldn't be mentioned for a marginal upgrade (if at all) in goal.

 

[Bender]

I've seen this mentioned a few times this year. Didn't see it mentioned really during the playoffs. Plenty to criticize with his regular season play though.

I remember him being one of their best players in the playoffs and making a lot of great saves off breakaways and odd man rushes from bad pinches and turnovers by Girard, Walker, Toews, Makar, etc.

I've been feeling like we just reverted back to the Georgiev narrative, so I went back and watched all the goals from the Dallas series, since I assume that's what we're talking about. I counted two 'maybe he could have made a save' goals, and the rest were from bad defense and nearly unstoppable. Lots of goalies in the playoffs gave up much worse goals, including the ones George played against.

I added the links so you could watch easily. We can discuss if you like if you disagree?

Game 1 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Four man screen couldn’t see anything. Also might have been deflected. Not much chance.
• Goal 2 - Deflection off Makar’s stick in the slot. Again not much chance.
• Goal 3 - Three man scree on the PP and deflection by Benn. Once again not much chance.

Game 2 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Very fast cross ice pass and one timer on the PP. Nearly unstoppable.
• Goal 2 - Terrible rush defense. Pass from the top of the slot to a man wide open below the circle. Not much chance at all.
• Goal 3 - Perfect screen by Benn a foot in front of George on the PP and also a deflection at the point. Can’t fault him.
• Goal 4 - 3 on 1. Goergiev made the first two saves, but not the third, because none of the Avs could play defense or knock someone on their ass. Again can’t fault him.
• Goal 5 - Empty Net

Game 3 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Maybe you can fault him slightly here, becasue the puck went 7 hole, but the shot also came from the low slot, and it was right after a terrible turnover by Toews.
• Goal 2 - Cross ice pass back door off the rush after a band pinch by Cogs and Toews and Walker couldn’t block the pass. Not much fault here.
• Goal 3 - Empty net.
• Goal 4 - Empty net.

Game 4 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Bad turnover by Makar behind the net on the PP breakout, then bad/soft defense again. George makes two saves, but can’t make the third. Can’t fault him.
• Goal 2 - Slap pass one timer on the PP. Lehky no stick and Girard doesn’t even try to block the pass. Unstoppable.
• Goal 3 - Maybe could have stopped this but it would have been a great save. Turnover by Walker behind the net, two man screen, and the puck went off the side of the mask, which is obviously a tough place to save.
• Goal 4 - Again makes the first two saves but can’t make the third. Soft defense by Walker in front of the net and Mitts lost his man off the wall. No fault here.
• Goal 5- Empty net.

Game 5 - NHL

• Goal 1 - Another D man turnover behind the net by Manson and Mitts can’t block the pass. Bang bang redirect from the side of the net to the slot, No chance.
• Goal 2 - 2 on 0 pass for goal on PP. Lehky and Girard caught flat footed on the zone entry. No chance.
• Goal 3 - Another unforced D man turnover by Toews, then the point shot redirects off a leg in the slot. No chance.

Game 6 - NHL

• Goal 1 - 2 on 1 essentially. Great back pass by Dadonov and a great forehand backhand deke by Benn to finish. Would have been an unreal save.
• Goal 2 - Bit of a broken play on the doorstep. MacKinnon, Manson, Girard, and Lehky can’t find the puck. Not much chance.

Personally, I don't have to go back and see any of it... I remember my assessment after the playoffs and that was :

Except for Game #1 vs the Jets, George played well in the playoffs for the most part and wasn't the reason we lost in Round #2.

At the same time, he wasn't the reason we won any games that we should have lost had he not played 'out of his mind' and my personal opinion is that sometimes, you need that from your starter.

 

[Foppa2118]

Tags Thompson is luck boxing his way to a 61% xGF. Dahlin and Tuch are fluking there way to a 55% xGF. I think they play on the same team as Byram.

Casey Mittelsdadt has the 5th worst xGF% on the Avs with 45.93% and Ross Colton leads the team with 68.41%.

I think we know who's better defensively and offensively.

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to prove my point though.