Speculation: 2025 Off-season Thread

[Foppa2118]

This Tweet will please @RoyIsALegend

The Power Play was 2nd overall after March 6th (day before deadline) at 30.9%.

I think not practicing more was probably a mistake too, but in the past they have practiced the PP in morning skate on game days, and might have done so with Dallas. Either way, the limited practice wasn't a problem before.

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[the_fan]

Ok, I’ve been on complete negative mode since game 7 loss. I need someone to give me a legit reason, and convince me why should I be positive for next year. We have the same GM, same coach and probably the same roster going into next year. Why should I believe things are gonna be different? I do wanna stop being negative, but can’t help myself because I’m not seeing the positive

 

[Foppa2118]

Ok, I’ve been on complete negative mode since game 7 loss. I need someone to give me a legit reason, and convince me why should I be positive for next year. We have the same GM, same coach and probably the same roster going into next year. Why should I believe things are gonna be different?

How do you feel when you're negative?

How do you feel when you're positive?

Landy will hopefully be with the team all year. Nate and Cale will be extra motivated not to lose again.

Avs had the same GM, same coach, and much of the same roster (there will be change somewhere this year) from the Game 7 loss to the Stars in 2000 and the Cup win in 2001.

Avs lost heartbreakers in 2000 and 2021, which felt hopeless at the time, but they came back the following year determined not to lose again. Nate and especially Cale may feel that way next year.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Ok, I’ve been on complete negative mode since game 7 loss. I need someone to give me a legit reason, and convince me why should I be positive for next year. We have the same GM, same coach and probably the same roster going into next year. Why should I believe things are gonna be different? I do wanna stop being negative, but can’t help myself because I’m not seeing the positive

Because your perbix will be fully healed by the time the season starts.

 

[the_fan]

How do you feel when you're negative?

How do you feel when you're positive?

Landy will hopefully be with the team all year. Nate and Cale will be extra motivated not to lose again.

Avs had the same GM, same coach, and much of the same roster (there will be change somewhere this year) from the Game 7 loss to the Stars in 2000 and the Cup win in 2001.

Avs lost heartbreakers in 2000 and 2021, which felt hopeless at the time, but they came back the following year determined not to lose again. Nate and especially Cale may feel that way next year.

Ok, this is a good try to convince me, but in 2000-2001 we had the one two punch at center Sakic and Forsberg, team just needed to make some minor tweaks if at all and just come back the following year and play better and we did.

We don’t have that one two punch at center anymore since letting Kadri go. So what now? This is where my negativity comes from. I just don’t believe in Nelson, and don’t think he should be re-signed

 

[Foppa2118]

Ok, this is a good try to convince me, but in 2000-2001 when had the one two punch at center Sakic and Forsberg, team just needed to make some minor tweaks if at all and just come back the following year and play better and we did.

We don’t have that one two punch at center anymore since letting Kadri go. So what now? This is where my negativity comes from. I just don’t believe in NEldon, and don’t think he should be re-signed

Different era. Other NHL teams aren't as stacked as teams like the Wings and Stars were back then either.

I'm still convinced the Avs don't need a high end 2C to win. They can win with a 60-65 point kind of guy, if they compete hard. The team around them is too good.

Nate, Cale, Landy, Val, Lehky, Toews, Manson, etc. These guys are among the best in the world, are proven playoff performers, and they have solid goaltending now.

The team just can't make as many mistakes at key times as they did no matter who the 2C is, and the 2C can't disappear and start turning over pucks over every other shift like Nelson and Mitts both did.

Avs beat the Stars 6 out of 7 games if they don't make those preventable mistakes. Even with Miro and Robertson, I think that shows the Avs still beat them.

 

[BaconNater]

The only positive I think of is after 2021 we were very down in the dumps and then 2022 happened. Probably a reach. But we need something lol

 

[AnimalMother73]

The one element they should have next year is improved team chemistry. No way they change the roster nearly as much as this season.

 

[Foppa2118]

What are you even saying?

It is a known fact that Colorado didn't have the cap for Kadri, that is why they were trying to move EJ.

Now, you can saw that maybe Colorado should have prioritized Kadri over Manson signing, or the Avs should have looked at moving someone else (Compher or Girard as what you said).

But how do you so confidently say "that's just not true" to me saying that the Avs didn't have the cap. I'm going to need you to provide some evidence to back up this assertion.

That's just the narrative here, but I don't think it's true. I agree with @the_fan, If they really wanted to keep Kadri, they could have found a way.

Avs could have kept all of EJ, Manson, and Kadri. Girard too if they wanted. And they'd still have Byram.

Even without Landy and Helm on LTIR.

The easiest way to do it would have been trading Compher, who they didn't really need, with Kadri at 2C, and Newhook at 3C where he played behind Compher.

I broke down the multiple ways they could have kept Kadri, along with the cap, in the GM thread.

Spoiler: Kadri Plan

Seen a lot of comments about EJ not waiving his NTC, or Manson being re-signed, being the cause for Kadri not being brought back.

I don't think Manson or EJ actually prevented Kadri from being brought back.

First of all, EJ had a 19 team NTC he wasn't obligated to waive anyway. But if they wanted to, they 100% could have retained 50%, or spent some assets to get a second team to retain 50% if needed. Seems doubtful none of those 13 teams would take EJ at $1.5M after that Cup win. Buffalo signed him for $2M the year after and he said he turned down bigger offers elsewhere.

They also could have bought him out, though I'm not sure Kroenke would have.

More importantly though, they could have kept all three of EJ, Manson, and Kadri if they really wanted to.

One of the ways was to trade Compher and plan on starting the season with a 21 man lineup with MacDermid capable of playing F or D, and just figuring it out later. Waited to see if other options presented themselves, or someone went on LTIR. They went with 21 man rosters during seasons before to juggle the cap with the Eagles right down the road.

They could have done this easily, because with Kadri they wouldn't have needed JTC at 2C, and Newhook played 3C anyway. Plus they'd have picked up assets.

Not to mention they likely knew Helm's $1.25M was gonna start on LTIR during the summer. Which would have allowed them to go with a 22 man roster.

This doesn't even include Landy going on LTIR to start the season, which opened up $7M more. So they definitely wouldn't even have needed to go with a 21 man roster anyway.

This is why they had an additional $2M to give ERod in September.

The following season EJ's $6M came off the books, the cap went up $1M, and Landy's $7M stayed on LTIR.

The bonuses for Byram ($2.5M) and Newhook ($450k) fell well under the 7.5% bonus cushion in 22-23 ($6,187,500) that you're allowed to go over the cap with during the season, and they didn't hit their bonuses anyway.

If they really wanted to keep Kadri they could have.

Here's the players that started that season and their cap hits. The cap in 22-23 was $82.5M.

1	Rantanen	$9.25M
2	Makar	$9M
3	Landeskog	$7M
4	Kadri	$7M
5	MacKinnon	$6.3M
6	Nichushkin	$6.125M
7	E. Johnson	$6M
8	Girard	$5M
9	Manson	$4.5M
10	Lehkonen	$4.5M
11	Toews	$4.1M
12	Georgiev	$3.4M
13	Francouz	$2M
14	Cogliano	$1.25M
15	Helm	$1.25M
16	LOC	$1.05M
17	MacDermid	$987,500
18	Newhook	$908,333
19	Byram	$894,167
20	League Min	$750,000
21	League Min	$750,000
	TOTAL	$82,015,000

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/cap/_/year/2022

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Great minds think alike.

We made more changes than any other contender and refused to practice.

It’s just mind boggling.

The Stars having full, mandatory practices between games 5-6 and games 6-7 while we did optional practices with 4-5 guys showing up pissed me the f*** off.

Do "Fire Bednar" signs show up at training camp or do folks wait for 10 games?

 

[The Merchant]

 

[the_fan]

Different era. Other NHL teams aren't as stacked as teams like the Wings and Stars were back then either.

I'm still convinced the Avs don't need a high end 2C to win. They can win with a 60-65 point kind of guy, if they compete hard. The team around them is too good.

Nate, Cale, Landy, Val, Lehky, Toews, Manson, etc. These guys are among the best in the world, are proven playoff performers, and they have solid goaltending now.

The team just can't make as many mistakes at key times as they did no matter who the 2C is, and the 2C can't disappear and start turning over pucks over every other shift like Nelson and Mitts both did.

Avs beat the Stars 6 out of 7 games if they don't make those preventable mistakes. Even with Miro and Robertson, I think that shows the Avs still beat them.

I’m really not asking us to get a 100 point 2C or anything, but we do need someone who can battle in the playoffs and produce. I just didn’t see that from Nelson

 

[dahrougem2]

I like Aarif, but I couldn't disagree with him more in this article re: Bednar and MacFarland.

CMac has done EVERYTHING possible to find a roster that works for Bednar both last season and this season.

Last season obviously injuries/off-ice issues took over and caused us to lose. This season? No excuses. Yet he suggests CMac is the one doing a bad job and Bednar has been outstanding.

No, my friend. Bednar was gifted arguably the deepest roster in the league against a team missing two of its top three skaters and STILL lost. That is on the coach.

 

[Alienblood]

I would send all remaining assets to Boston and get Pastrnak. Probably not available, but that would be it for me. For example:

Landeskog - Necas - Pastrnak as 2nd line.

I'm in

 

[Balthazar]

I like Aarif, but I couldn't disagree with him more in this article re: Bednar and MacFarland.

CMac has done EVERYTHING possible to find a roster that works for Bednar both last season and this season.

Last season obviously injuries/off-ice issues took over and caused us to lose. This season? No excuses. Yet he suggests CMac is the one doing a bad job and Bednar has been outstanding.

No, my friend. Bednar was gifted arguably the deepest roster in the league against a team missing two of its top three skaters and STILL lost. That is on the coach.

I agree with this part though:

"To me, MacFarland is developing a bit of a reputation of constantly putting out fires he created.

The Byram trade tree is an epic failure. Why was Coyle acquired without salary retention? How do you commit to a third-line center at $5.25 million when you already have MacKinnon at $12.6 million and no 2C? Are you planning on playing Coyle at 2C?

The moves he made around the deadline this year mortgaged quite a bit of assets. I knew back then that he was overpaying while fixing mistakes he created in the past."

 

[Alienblood]

I agree with this part though:

"To me, MacFarland is developing a bit of a reputation of constantly putting out fires he created.

The Byram trade tree is an epic failure. Why was Coyle acquired without salary retention? How do you commit to a third-line center at $5.25 million when you already have MacKinnon at $12.6 million and no 2C? Are you planning on playing Coyle at 2C?

The moves he made around the deadline this year mortgaged quite a bit of assets. I knew back then that he was overpaying while fixing mistakes he created in the past."

He sucks

 

[Balthazar]

He sucks

We like him because he's aggressive but when you take a step back and look at the situation he's a major reason why he has to make all these desperate moves in the first place.

 

[the_fan]

CMac is single handedly closing the contention window of this core. Slowly but surely it’s happening

 

[Foppa2118]

We like him because he's aggressive but when you take a step back and look at the situation he's a major reason why he has to make all these desperate moves in the first place.

Many people blamed CMac for previous losses because he didn't go "all in" every year, even when the team didn't look like it was in shape to contend, because of injuries, and other reasons.

Then he made three very aggressive trades (Mitts, Nelson, Necas) and those are the ones that put them in the hole they're in now, without many assets or options, and a big reason why the team didn't advance this year.

Sakic rightfully gets adulation from the moves he made to build a Cup winner, but they were mostly from being patient, picking the right targets, and negotiating good prices.

Unfortuatnely, CMac doesn't have the luxury of being patient anymore. He's got some big decisions to make this off season. Hopefully he can get some hits on his swings this summer.

 

[The Merchant]

CMac is single handedly closing the contention window of this core. Slowly but surely it’s happening

It's been all hubris since winning the Cup. Got promoted, then immediately galaxy-brained himself into cratering their asset pool more and more, year after year, with little to nothing to show for it.

 

[JasenR]

Avs as a roster haven't had this good starting point to a new season in a quite a long time.

Team is mostly set up. No one is suspended or injured long time. No more Georgiev. Landy back.

There is basically no 2C available and if content window is 4 seasons anyway give Nelson the money x4 if no valid replacement in sight. No more half measures.

Stanley Cup is a hard trophy to win so might as well try to have a team play for the whole season before playoffs together.

If they boot a bunch of players and get a ton of new its more the same.

Bednar just needs a reset on player usage or boot..

 

[The Kingslayer]

Avs as a roster haven't had this good starting point to a new season in a quite a long time.

Team is mostly set up. No one is suspended or injured long time. No more Georgiev. Landy back.

There is basically no 2C available and if content window is 4 seasons anyway give Nelson the money x4 if no valid replacement in sight. No more half measures.

Stanley Cup is a hard trophy to win so might as well try to have a team play for the whole season before playoffs together.

If they boot a bunch of players and get a ton of new its more the same.

Bednar just needs a reset on player usage or boot..

The only thing you give Nelson is Metamucil and a map with directions to Long Island. f*** that guy. Go get a real 2C who plays with some heart and maybe a dirty f*** I dont care.

 

[JasenR]

The only thing you give Nelson is Metamucil and a map with directions to Long Island. f*** that guy. Go get a real 2C who plays with some heart and maybe a dirty f*** I dont care.

Unfortunately I have 0 confidence on Cmac delivering that with the cubboards empty without making a deal with the devil or selling your left leg.

Maybe they trade Necas since everything else is held together with bandade, damaged goods or core piece.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Unfortunately I have 0 confidence on Cmac delivering that with the cubboards empty without making a deal with the devil or selling your left leg.

Maybe they trade Necas since everything else is held together with bandade, damaged goods or core piece.

Now we're talking. I do not want to pay this guy if hes going to continue to show that he disappears in the playoffs.

 

[the_fan]

The only thing you give Nelson is Metamucil and a map with directions to Long Island. f*** that guy. Go get a real 2C who plays with some heart and maybe a dirty f*** I dont care.

Do you really want CMac to trade for another 2C? I mean the guy has already emptied our picks and prospect pool and nothing to show for. We have a 1st and a 2nd in 2027, nothing before that. I also don’t want him to re-sign Nelson, so it’s just a f***ed up situation.