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

[LOFIN]

Sam Girard currently ranks:

- 46th among Dmen for points
- 26th among Dmen for Even Strength Points
- 71st for TOI among Dmen
- 49th for Even Strength TOI
- 46th for Shifts Per Game
- 57th for SAT%(Mininum 10 games played)

He is quite literally a 2/3D in every which way you look at it. And quite frankly closer to the 2, then a 3. Especially if you're someone who believes there's 32 #1D, 32 #2D, etc.

100%, have not been interested in moving Girard ever since he came back from the program. He has played great hockey since, well worth the contract and then some.

 

[Pokecheque]

Lindgren is a worse defenceman than anyone we've played at defence this year, so f*** that. CHD is Cale Makar compared to him.

I feel like he started out pretty well but injuries have really taken a toll.

 

[Hasbro]

He is quite literally a 2/3D in every which way you look at it.

Except if you see him walking out of a 7-11 and that he's 5'11" on the height sticker.

 

[CobraAcesS]

So you answered with no answer... Good stuff.


Sam Girard currently ranks:

- 46th among Dmen for points
- 26th among Dmen for Even Strength Points
- 71st for TOI among Dmen
- 49th for Even Strength TOI
- 46th for Shifts Per Game
- 57th for SAT%(Mininum 10 games played)


He is quite literally a 2/3D in every which way you look at it. And quite frankly closer to the 2, then a 3. Especially if you're someone who believes there's 32 #1D, 32 #2D, etc.

You missed the entire point. The idea is to find another Toews type trade, maybe not that level of a steal lol, or that level of player, but to pay the price for a younger D that has some team control left.

Me dumping on Girard was my hyperbolic response. He's been good this year.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Lindgren is a worse defenceman than anyone we've played at defence this year, so f*** that. CHD is Cale Makar compared to him.

I was gonna say. Everyone keeps saying Lindgren, but he sucks… Feel like Fox made him look far more passable than he really is.

 

[LOFIN]

I feel like he started out pretty well but injuries have really taken a toll.

He was legit good a few years ago, but it has been a constant downhill for some time now. Most Rangers fans wanted him gone during the summer.

 

[hockeyfish]

Can we go back to the well one more time and land Lauzon. I don't see any reason he would be available, but who knows with the way Nashville is being run.

 

[PAZ]

Can we go back to the well one more time and land Lauzon. I don't see any reason he would be available, but who knows with the way Nashville is being run.

Lauzon is garbage outside of fantasy banger leagues. He chases hits like no tomorrow, Bednar would have him scratched within 10 games.

 

[EdAVSfan]

I think we need to be careful assessing how players, especially dmen, play on other teams. The AVS really have different requirements of their dmen. They want them mobile, responsable defensively, and able to make good passes. Teams don’t always utilize these dmen the same way we do. Some teams like their dmen to stay at home, take no risk, don’t jump up much. So it’s entirely possible dmen can look horrible (or great) in other systems, and then look great (or horrible) here.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Don't worry folks, Avs will trade for Adam Fox to prove to the world that Makar is actually just the 3rd best dman in the league (we already know Hughes is better, and Fox will clearly take over as 1D and lead the team to glory).

 

[UncleRisto]

Yeah but in his case, it's all of them

Like I always say, you can only eat 6 or 7 steaks in one sitting.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Like I always say, you can only eat 6 or 7 steaks in one sitting.

It’s true, you always say that.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Like I always say, you can only eat 6 or 7 steaks in one sitting.

You could probably swing 8 if they’re covered in ketchup

 

[UncleRisto]

You could probably swing 8 if they’re covered in ketchup

You're playing a joke on me because when are steaks not covered in ketchup.


I feel bad just writing that.

 

[licanin]

 

[Gumballhead]

Assuming this is real, and even if it specifically isn’t like it says but it’s happening soon, it’s going to be weird to have such certainty and clarity about our goalering.

 

[MarkT]

I understand that they want to get more defense depth, but I for one would wait. Put Keaton Middleton on the left side next to Malinski and see if that works. He's big, tough, he kills penalties, and appears to be able to skate and pass pretty well for his size. CHD is a perfect option for 7th D during the regular season.

Then just watch for discounts and underrated players. Lindgren could be a buy low option if he tracks to be healthy by the playoffs.

As for forwards, Evans would of course be an awesome add and fit into this team like a glove. Whatever line he's on would end up as the de-facto 2nd line a lot of nights.

Armia, heck no. He's simply too slow for Bednar's system. When he's on, he's good along the boards and controlling play, but his whole shtick, even when he's playing well, is to slow things down. Absolutely the opposite kind of player to Evans in terms of fitting in with the team.

 

[Cypher]

I understand that they want to get more defense depth, but I for one would wait. Put Keaton Middleton on the left side next to Malinski and see if that works. He's big, tough, he kills penalties, and appears to be able to skate and pass pretty well for his size. CHD is a perfect option for 7th D during the regular season.

Then just watch for discounts and underrated players. Lindgren could be a buy low option if he tracks to be healthy by the playoffs.

As for forwards, Evans would of course be an awesome add and fit into this team like a glove. Whatever line he's on would end up as the de-facto 2nd line a lot of nights.

Armia, heck no. He's simply too slow for Bednar's system. When he's on, he's good along the boards and controlling play, but his whole shtick, even when he's playing well, is to slow things down. Absolutely the opposite kind of player to Evans in terms of fitting in with the team.

MIddleton is not an NHL player.
CDH and Kylington should be 7/8 dman on the roster.
Avs need a better 3rd pairing LHD.

 

[Foppa2118]

Like I always say, you can only eat 6 or 7 steaks in one sitting.

Q: Is UncleRisto coming over for Christmas?
A: Yes of course, he always does.
Q: Is he gonna tell us the story about trying to eat more than 6 or 7 steaks in one sitting again?
A: Yes of course, he always does.

 

[ABasin]

None of these depth signings (6D, 3C, etc) matter one whit, if they don't get Mittelstadt fixed.

 

[AnimalMother73]

It feels like whack a mole….get the tending finally fixed only to have your 2c lose all ability to play said position.

 

[Puckstop40]

Outside of getting everyone healthy, what should be the priority at the deadline to put us over? Rewatched 2022 and man that team was special. We hit a home run on almost every trade.

 

[VikingAv]

Outside of getting everyone healthy, what should be the priority at the deadline to put us over? Rewatched 2022 and man that team was special. We hit a home run on almost every trade.

Defense. Atleast a 3rd pairing LHD.

 

[MarkT]

MIddleton is not an NHL player.
CDH and Kylington should be 7/8 dman on the roster.
Avs need a better 3rd pairing LHD.

I have a feeling that in 2019 you'd be saying Devon Toews is not an NHL player simply because he'd been in the AHL up until that point. You know that thing about defensemen not figuring things out until about game 300? Middleton has played 345 pro games at this point. I'm basing my opinion on the 9 games he's played with the Avs this season, and in that time period, he's shown me that he's much better than Calvin de Haan, and that was while playing the right side as a lefty (and paired with CDH as well!). There's obviously nothing flashy about his game, and the offense isn't there, but he can clear the front of the net, intimidate opponents, make a decent first pass, and skate at least as well as CDH. Meanwhile, CDH appears prone to making absolutely terrible defensive reads despite him being a veteran NHLer. He's got a bit more offense to him, but nothing to earn him a roster spot. Kylington meanwhile looked great, but I don't think there's a spot for him with Makar, Toews, Girard, Manson, and Malinksi all able to move the puck well. What the team needs is a physical, reliable player to pair with Malinksi and kill penalties. That's Middleton until they can find someone better.

While I agree that the Avs should explore a trade for a better LD, until that point, they should see if Middleton can keep improving with more time on the roster. It would be nice to know if they can use him to replace some of what Manson brings long-term if there's another injury or they need to trade him.

 

[Richard88]

Outside of getting everyone healthy, what should be the priority at the deadline to put us over? Rewatched 2022 and man that team was special. We hit a home run on almost every trade.

Here's a comparison of the 2022 and 2025 rosters:

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Lehkonen - Kadri - Nichushkin
Burakovsky - Compher - NAK
Cogliano - Helm - LOC
Newhook

Toews - Makar
Byram - Manson
Girard - EJ
JJ

Kuemper
Francouz

------------------

Drouin - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Lehkonen - Mittelstadt - Nichushkin
Wood - Colton - LOC
Kelly - Parssinen - Kiviranta
Ivan

Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
DeHaan - Malinski
Kylington

Blackwood
Wedgewood

-------------------

The biggest differences in the top 6/top 4:

Landeskog ---> Drouin
Kadri ---> Mittelstadt
Byram ---> Malinski

All three are notable downgrades.

Burakovsky was a huge luxury on the 3rd line, and scored lots of clutch goals. The 3rd line now doesn't have a game-breaking scorer like that.

The 4th line in 2022 was a lot more experienced.

In 2022 the Avs 3rd pairing was like an extra 2nd pairing, at least before Girard's injury.

The Avs D group in 2022 had a lot more size, with Manson, EJ, and JJ all built for the playoffs. Now the only big guy is Manson.

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The 2022 roster was historically stacked, statistically speaking, but to match up this roster would need the following:

Another forward to be the "Burakovsky" luxury depth piece. If Landeskog comes back, and in reasonable shape, then that would be a huge boost, and effectively Drouin would then become to the 2025 roster what Burakovsky was to the 2022 roster.

An experienced 4th liner, akin to Helm or Cogliano. Colton is basically this teams Compher, but he doesn't kill penalties, so ideally a RHS 4C who can PK.

Mittelstadt probably wouldn't need to reach Kadri's near 100 PPG rate in 2022 given that he plays better defense, but he'd probably need to be close to PPG at least.

The bottom pairing would need to add a lot more size. The 3LHD especially needs a huge upgrade. Stylistically Malinski is this year's Byram but the drop in size and ability from EJ/JJ to DeHaan/Kylington is big.

The 2022 team overcame some bad goaltending, and it wouldn't be that difficult for Blackwood to beat Kuempers playoff numbers. If he does maybe the Avs could afford to not do all of the aforementioned upgrades.

------

TLDR:

To match the 2022 team I'd say that the Avs need:

- a 2nd line clutch goalscorer (Landeskog if he returns)
- experienced RHS 4C (Evans?)
- a no.4/5 LHD with size (Ferraro?)
- ideally a 7D with more size than DeHaan/Kylington