Speculation: 2025 Off-season Thread

[The Kingslayer]

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

All in on Bennett. Nelson aint the guy.

 

[the_fan]

All in on Bennett. Nelson aint the guy.

Yeah if Bennett is available, I rather give that guy 9 mill than Nelson 7 mill. We can never get big name free agents though, so I don’t really have much faith in getting a guy like Bennett. I hate to say it bro, but we’re f***ed. I mean I’ve said that 100 times already but yeah…we f***ed bud

 

[RoyIsALegend]

The crazy thing is that if we re-sign Nelson, the experts will probably all have Colorado as a top 3 Stanley Cup choice going into next season.

Full season of Landy, Blackwood, strong 1-4 C down the middle, etc.

I’m ready to be fooled again.

 

[missionAvs]

Yeah I'm pretty much accepting to the scenario where that bitch Nelson is the best realistic option out there. If that's the case, our hands are tied and you just have to bring him back. FFS though, do something else with the lines coach. I refuse to even type his name because I still want him fired and for us to bring Q back.

 

[EdAVSfan]

The crazy thing is that if we re-sign Nelson, the experts will probably all have Colorado as a top 3 Stanley Cup choice going into next season.

Full season of Landy, Blackwood, strong 1-4 C down the middle, etc.

I’m ready to be fooled again.

I know it sounds crazy, but with that 4C lineup, I have a little more faith that Bednar can manage ice time better. He would trust all the Cs in that lineup. That alone would help tremendously for the post season.

 

[shadow1]

The crazy thing is that if we re-sign Nelson, the experts will probably all have Colorado as a top 3 Stanley Cup choice going into next season.

Full season of Landy, Blackwood, strong 1-4 C down the middle, etc.

I’m ready to be fooled again.

It's an objectively good group. I'm not sure it's good enough to get it done in the playoffs, though.

 

[Grigowski]

It's an objectively good group. I'm not sure it's good enough to get it done in the playoffs, though.

You seem to forget that we wont get lucky again with our "injuries"....

 

[BaconNater]

Wonder what would have happened to the Avs if Byram was actually good?

 

[shadow1]

You seem to forget that we wont get lucky again with our "injuries"....

Lehkonen/MacKinnon/Necas
Landeskog/Nelson*/Nichushkin
Wood/Coyle/Colton
Kelly/Drury/O'Connor

If the Avs went into next season with that roster, it would be the best opening day lineup since 2021. Even the 2022 team wasn't that good on opening night. They'd be in a good spot to add an impact piece at the deadline.

 

[dahrougem2]

I know it sounds crazy, but with that 4C lineup, I have a little more faith that Bednar can manage ice time better. He would trust all the Cs in that lineup. That alone would help tremendously for the post season.

Lol.

You know that wouldn't happen. Within a couple of weeks MacKinnon would be playing 25+ minutes against the Ducks while whatever the "3rd" line is plays 7 minutes. Makar and Toews would be at 29 minutes as the 3rd pair doesn't see a shift in the final period.

This is Jared Bednar. This is all he knows.

 

[AslanRH]

People don't think Sakic would have been in a similar spot post cup and it is a CMac thing?
Getting a team to cup level grants some room for patience. Sakic went aggressive after the Avs won the President's cup and failed in the playoffs.
Post cup, in this grand window everyone insists is closing(ed), Sakic would have been shredded for going back to the patient mode by this board.
CMac was put in the position to continue swinging.
Did Sakic give CMac autonomy? If so, all the blame can fall on him. If not, should we fire Sakic as well?

 

[dahrougem2]

People don't think Sakic would have been in a similar spot post cup and it is a CMac thing?
Getting a team to cup level grants some room for patience. Sakic went aggressive after the Avs won the President's cup and failed in the playoffs.
Post cup, in this grand window everyone insists is closing(ed), Sakic would have been shredded for going back to the patient mode by this board.
CMac was put in the position to continue swinging.
Did Sakic give CMac autonomy? If so, all the blame can fall on him. If not, should we fire Sakic as well?

The ONLY thing I blame CMac/Sakic for is the offseason in 2022 when they chose to re-sign Manson immediately and leave Kadri hanging in EJ's limbo.

The easy solution was to dump J.T. Compher to whoever would take him since he left them next offseason anyways and not sign Rodrigues, thus bringing back Kadri and being able to keep Byram/other assets to improve the team elsewhere.

Hindsight is 20/20, though. But I'm not upset at CMac and the roster he built.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Lehkonen/MacKinnon/Necas
Landeskog/Nelson*/Nichushkin
Wood/Coyle/Colton
Kelly/Drury/O'Connor

If the Avs went into next season with that roster, it would be the best opening day lineup since 2021. Even the 2022 team wasn't that good on opening night. They'd be in a good spot to add an impact piece at the deadline.

They can't keep Wood and Colton and re-sign both Nelson and Malinski. At least one of them has to go (preferably Wood). And if they want to keep Lidgren, Nelson, and Malinski, they both have to go. The problem with not re-signing Lindgren is that they'll have Middleton as full-time LD all year. They'll have options at 3rd and 4th wingers, either cheaper via UFA or via prospects. Ivan, Prishchepov, and Bardakov could all potentially play on the 3rd or 4th line.

 

[shadow1]

People don't think Sakic would have been in a similar spot post cup and it is a CMac thing?
Getting a team to cup level grants some room for patience. Sakic went aggressive after the Avs won the President's cup and failed in the playoffs.
Post cup, in this grand window everyone insists is closing(ed), Sakic would have been shredded for going back to the patient mode by this board.
CMac was put in the position to continue swinging.
Did Sakic give CMac autonomy? If so, all the blame can fall on him. If not, should we fire Sakic as well?

IMO, the distinction between the two is Sakic laid his foundation in the off-season. When the team was ramping up, he added Calvert, Cole, Grubauer. Next off-season was Bellemare, Burakovsky, Donskoi, Kadri, Nichushkin. Next off-season was Saad, Toews. His final off-season, his quietest, was Helm, Kuemper, MacDermid, Murray.

MacFarland has been the opposite. He had the busy, but overall disaster off-season two summers ago with Colton, Drouin, Johansen, Tatar, Wood. The year before was the failed game of chicken with Kadri/only brought in E-Rod (Georgiev was technically on Sakic's watch). Last summer only added Brannstrom, de Haan, Kelly. And then every year it's been a mad scramble in season to add a bunch of talent at the last minute.

 

[shadow1]

They can't keep Wood and Colton and re-sign both Nelson and Malinski. At least one of them has to go (preferably Wood). And if they want to keep Lidgren, Nelson, and Malinski, they both have to go. The problem with not re-signing Lindgren is that they'll have Middleton as full-time LD all year. They'll have options at 3rd and 4th wingers, either cheaper via UFA or via prospects. Ivan, Prishchepov, and Bardakov could all potentially play on the 3rd or 4th line.

You're right, they need some breathing room. Probably Colton is dealt for breathing room and is replaced by a budget free agent (Jeannot type?).

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Just a thought, that 1996 Cup Team, with its young core, didn't win another Cup for 5 years. If we're keeping score, that would be 2027 for this current core.

That young Penguins team that won it in 2009 didn't win another until 2016, 7 years later. Just saying...

 

[dahrougem2]

IMO I think the Avs shake out like this next season (lines because Bednar is a moron):

Lehkonen (4.5M) - MacKinnon (12.6M) - Necas (6.5M)
Landeskog (7M) - Nelson (6.25M) - Nichushkin (6.125M)
Drouin (2.25M) - Coyle (5.25M) - Colton (4M)
Kelly (825K) - Drury (1.725M) - O'Connor (2.5M)

Toews (7.25M) - Makar (9M)
Girard (5M) - Manson (4.5M)
Middleton (775K) - Malinski (1.25M)

Blackwood (5.25M)
Wedgewood (1.5M)

Scratches: EJ (775K), Wagner (775K)

Cap Space: 25K lol

Miles Wood I'm convinced is going to be punted to some rebuilding team looking for NHL players this offseason. I don't think, with a greatly rising cap, that it'll be difficult to move on from him, either.

Nelson gets 6.25M for the term provided, Malinski gets "bridged".

The Avs will need to trade for a 3LD at the TDL which I don't believe will be difficult given the abundance of those types come deadline.

Essentially, the Avs are running it back with the same roster. I'll bet Drouin takes a cheap contract again because I can't see any teams offering him big money/term after the season he just had.

 

[Grigowski]

Just a thought, that 1996 Cup Team, with its young core, didn't win another Cup for 5 years. If we're keeping score, that would be 2027 for this current core.

I really dont like comparing the "no cap era" to the actual......

In hindsight, that 1996 team even failed more than the current one because they basically bought whatever star they wanted back then and failed with stacked teams.....

 

[The Moops]

Just a thought, that 1996 Cup Team, with its young core, didn't win another Cup for 5 years. If we're keeping score, that would be 2027 for this current core.

That young Penguins team that won it in 2009 didn't win another until 2016, 7 years later. Just saying...

Sure, but the Avs weren't exactly young when they won in 2022. And all the core players are all getting to be on the wrong side of 30 now

 

[Grigowski]

IMO I think the Avs shake out like this next season (lines because Bednar is a moron):

Lehkonen (4.5M) - MacKinnon (12.6M) - Necas (6.5M)
Landeskog (7M) - Nelson (6.25M) - Nichushkin (6.125M)
Drouin (2.25M) - Coyle (5.25M) - Colton (4M)
Kelly (825K) - Drury (1.725M) - O'Connor (2.5M)

Toews (7.25M) - Makar (9M)
Girard (5M) - Manson (4.5M)
Middleton (775K) - Malinski (1.25M)

Blackwood (5.25M)
Wedgewood (1.5M)

Scratches: EJ (775K), Wagner (775K)

Cap Space: 25K lol

Miles Wood I'm convinced is going to be punted to some rebuilding team looking for NHL players this offseason. I don't think, with a greatly rising cap, that it'll be difficult to move on from him, either.

Nelson gets 6.25M for the term provided, Malinski gets "bridged".

The Avs will need to trade for a 3LD at the TDL which I don't believe will be difficult given the abundance of those types come deadline.

Essentially, the Avs are running it back with the same roster. I'll bet Drouin takes a cheap contract again because I can't see any teams offering him big money/term after the season he just had.

I doubt Nelson is going to stay. He goes right into FA. I dont know, but i get the feeling he doesnt fit here.

EJ: Sorry. I love the Condor, but no. Its over. No more "feel good" stories.

 

[Avs_19]

Every mock line up I see with that scrub Brock Nelson penciled in…..

 

[dahrougem2]

Every mock line up I see with that scrub Brock Nelson penciled in…..

View attachment 1032159

It has to be Nelson. It's not going to be Bennett or Tavares, we have no tradeable assets for a good center, and it sure as f*** can't be Coyle.

 

[JasenR]

Every mock line up I see with that scrub Brock Nelson penciled in…..

View attachment 1032159

I'm not laughing since the alternative is Mack-Coyle-Drury-Kelly That perimeter skating Necas is not the answer...

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

It has to be Nelson. It's not going to be Bennett or Tavares, we have no tradeable assets for a good center, and it sure as f*** can't be Coyle.

He's their best option, barring some unforeseen trade that comes out of the blue. And you sure as shit don't wanting him to end up in Minnestoa and pushing your shit in multiple times every year, which we all know will happen in that scenario, ala Duchene and Mikko. I know people are way down on him, worse than Mitts, which I don't understand at all. I have a feeling that he will make a lot of people eat crow if he re-signs. He's a lot better than what we saw. Reminds me of Naz those first couple of years where he sucked donkey balls (which seemingly everyone conveniently forgets) before he figured it out.

 

[Balthazar]

IMO I think the Avs shake out like this next season (lines because Bednar is a moron):

Lehkonen (4.5M) - MacKinnon (12.6M) - Necas (6.5M)
Landeskog (7M) - Nelson (6.25M) - Nichushkin (6.125M)
Drouin (2.25M) - Coyle (5.25M) - Colton (4M)
Kelly (825K) - Drury (1.725M) - O'Connor (2.5M)

Toews (7.25M) - Makar (9M)
Girard (5M) - Manson (4.5M)
Middleton (775K) - Malinski (1.25M)

Blackwood (5.25M)
Wedgewood (1.5M)

Scratches: EJ (775K), Wagner (775K)

Cap Space: 25K lol

Avs don't have the assets to pay a team to take Miles Wood and don't have the cap space to take another bad contract back.

It won't be as easy as you guys think. If bad teams want bad contracts they don't have to take one that has 4 years left. I simply don't see any team touching that one for free.

IMO Colton is significantly more likely to move.