Speculation: 2025 Off-season Thread

[shadow1]

The problem with this is, if Avs run it back with the same roster, what exactly makes you think we can finally beat Dallas in the playoffs? Same coach, same mentality, same roster. Personally I just see the same results

They've got to make some key but subtle changes.

The 2020-2021 loss to Vegas was considerably worse than this year's Dallas loss. Colorado didn't have a Cup yet. They were outshot 119-63 from Games 2-4. MacKinnon had a 3-game pointless streak, and he, Landeskog, and Makar combined for zero goals in the final 5 games of the series. The Avalanche looked like they weren't built to win.

Insult to injury was that they nearly lost Landeskog in free agency. They did lose Bellemare, Donskoi, Graves, Grubauer, Saad and replaced them with Helm, J. Johnson, Kuemper, MacDermid, Murray. That looks awful on paper. I thought they were cooked, especially when they started the season 4-5-1. Obviously, Sakic added some massive pieces at the deadline. But the team was 42-13-5 before the first deadline add (Manson trade). Helm and JJ turned out to be sneaky additions and Kuemper was huge.

I'm not trying to draw direct parallels between then and now. The point is that, IMO, Avs had a worse rock bottom in 2021 and won the Cup the next season. They have way more roster flexibility than they did back then. It all comes down to making the right moves, something MacFarland has struggled with.

 

[Metallo]

They've got to make some key but subtle changes.

The 2020-2021 loss to Vegas was considerably worse than this year's Dallas loss. Colorado didn't have a Cup yet. They were outshot 119-63 from Games 2-4. MacKinnon had a 3-game pointless streak, and he, Landeskog, and Makar combined for zero goals in the final 5 games of the series. The Avalanche looked like they weren't built to win.

Insult to injury was that they nearly lost Landeskog in free agency. They did lose Bellemare, Donskoi, Graves, Grubauer, Saad and replaced them with Helm, J. Johnson, Kuemper, MacDermid, Murray. That looks awful on paper. I thought they were cooked, especially when they started the season 4-5-1. Obviously, Sakic added some massive pieces at the deadline. But the team was 42-13-5 before the first deadline add (Manson trade). Helm and JJ turned out to be sneaky additions and Kuemper was huge.

I'm not trying to draw direct parallels between then and now. The point is that, IMO, Avs had a worse rock bottom in 2021 and won the Cup the next season. They have way more roster flexibility than they did back then. It all comes down to making the right moves, something MacFarland has struggled with.

I don't see how we have roster flexibility. We have no cap, no picks, no prospects. We are in a pickle.

 

[shadow1]

I don't see how we have roster flexibility. We have no cap, no picks, no prospects. We are in a pickle.

There's always a way. They've got $8.7M in cap with 11F/5D/2G under contract, which is a lot better than most off-seasons.

Colton has (some) value. Girard and Manson have value. Necas has considerable value, etc.

 

[Balthazar]

Colton has (some) value. Girard and Manson have value.

Manson yes, the other two it's hard to tell.

 

[shadow1]

Manson yes, the other two it's hard to tell.

For Girard, Carrier is the closest comparable, he was traded for Barron. Barron's stock wasn't the highest, but it was at least mid-round pick level.

For Colton, hard to find a perfect comp. Middle-6ers like Beauvillier (2nd) and Fabbri (4th) were dealt recently, make of that what you will. Would be willing to bet a team would give a 4th for him, personally.

 

[Balthazar]

For Girard, Carrier is the closest comparable, he was traded for Barron. Barron's stock wasn't the highest, but it was at least mid-round pick level.

For Colton, hard to find a perfect comp. Middle-6ers like Beauvillier (2nd) and Fabbri (4th) were dealt recently, make of that what you will. Would be willing to bet a team would give a 4th for him, personally.

Carrier is a stud defensively and doesn’t have the same shortcomings as Girard because of his size.

Colton is tradable for picks if, and only if, one team still believes that he can play center. If not then we'll have to take a similar contract back and it won't help our cap situation.

I'd be OK to trade Colton for a dman that makes the same kind of money.

 

[The Merchant]

 

[S E P H]

There's always a way. They've got $8.7M in cap with 11F/5D/2G under contract, which is a lot better than most off-seasons.

Colton has (some) value. Girard and Manson have value. Necas has considerable value, etc.

7 million of that is going to Landeskog.

Honestly, we might have to trade Coyle. I just don't know how you trade so many pieces for him and not get any salary retained. Actually, I don't know how the hell you sign a player of Coyle's quality to a 5 million dollar contract in the first place.

 

[shadow1]

7 million of that is going to Landeskog.

Honestly, we might have to trade Coyle. I just don't know how you trade so many pieces for him and not get any salary retained. Actually, I don't know how the hell you sign a player of Coyle's quality to a 5 million dollar contract in the first place.

That $8.7M already includes Landeskog.

 

[the_fan]

We need to somehow trade Colton and Wood as a package to free up 6 mill

 

[Avs_19]

“You must be from Finland or something”

 

[Foppa2118]

“You must be from Finland or something”

I know it may be aggravating at times for reporters, especially with how intense he can be, but I really love these no BS answers from MacKinnon.

No I'm not gonna play your game. We were better, their goalie was the reason we lost, I'm not giving them credit for playing well when it was the goalie, and I'm not gonna sugar coat it for you.

Nate is living like an 80 year old man, with zero f***s left to give for BS, and I respect that.

 

[Alienblood]

I know it may be aggravating at times for reporters, especially with how intense he can be, but I really love these no BS answers from MacKinnon.

No I'm not gonna play your game. We were better, their goalie was the reason we lost, I'm not giving them credit for playing well when it was the goalie, and I'm not gonna sugar coat it for you.

Nate is living like an 80 year old man, with zero f***s left to give for BS, and I respect that.

Come to NS for a visit you'll hear all kinds. No sugar coating here if your ugly we tell you straight up.

 

[the_fan]

Hey CMac, did you ever think about firing Bednar?

CMac:

Bednar:

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Hey CMac, did you ever think about firing Bednar?

CMac:
View attachment 1040192

Bednar:
View attachment 1040196
View attachment 1040197

CMac asking Joe if he can fire Bednar:

 

[lionsDen]

I can identify with Mack. Swear he was probably a body man in his past life.

 

[Galactico]

They've got to make some key but subtle changes.

The 2020-2021 loss to Vegas was considerably worse than this year's Dallas loss. Colorado didn't have a Cup yet. They were outshot 119-63 from Games 2-4. MacKinnon had a 3-game pointless streak, and he, Landeskog, and Makar combined for zero goals in the final 5 games of the series. The Avalanche looked like they weren't built to win.

Insult to injury was that they nearly lost Landeskog in free agency. They did lose Bellemare, Donskoi, Graves, Grubauer, Saad and replaced them with Helm, J. Johnson, Kuemper, MacDermid, Murray. That looks awful on paper. I thought they were cooked, especially when they started the season 4-5-1. Obviously, Sakic added some massive pieces at the deadline. But the team was 42-13-5 before the first deadline add (Manson trade). Helm and JJ turned out to be sneaky additions and Kuemper was huge.

I'm not trying to draw direct parallels between then and now. The point is that, IMO, Avs had a worse rock bottom in 2021 and won the Cup the next season. They have way more roster flexibility than they did back then. It all comes down to making the right moves, something MacFarland has struggled with.

Lol not at all. We are now without Rantanen, Kadri, Byram compared to that ‘22 team and those players have been replaced by Necas and Coyle basically. We’re way worse off now that after that ‘21 season.

 

[shadow1]

Lol not at all. We are now without Rantanen, Kadri, Byram compared to that ‘22 team and those players have been replaced by Necas and Coyle basically. We’re way worse off now that after that ‘21 season.

• Byram barely played in 2021, there was concern his career was in jeopardy due to multiple concussions.
• Kadri was coming off a down year and the suspension, fan confidence was low
• Nichushkin scored 21 points in 2021 and was now a top-6 forward
• There was a lot of negativity around the Kuemper acquisition (cost + durability)

Like I said, not trying to draw a direct comparison between the current group of losers and the Champs.

All I'm saying is that after losing to Vegas in ugly fashion, there was a ton of concern around this club. At the time, it felt like the window may have been missed. But they turned things around by shifting the team's identity through key, but often smaller, moves.

 

[Snow Arc]

There are articles about free agents we should go after. What's our cap space like?

 

[the_fan]

There are articles about free agents we should go after. What's our cap space like?

 

[CobraAcesS]

There are articles about free agents we should go after. What's our cap space like?

Depends on how easily Colton and Wood can be moved. It could be like 15M with a 2C and some depth pieces needed.

It's currently at 8.7M with a 4C, #6D, and an extra needed to fill out the roster at minimum.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Depends on how easily Colton and Wood can be moved. It could be like 15M with a 2C and some depth pieces needed.

It's currently at 8.7M with a 4C, #6D, and an extra needed to fill out the roster at minimum.

It’s $8.7m with 2C and some other pieces needed.

We cannot accept Coyle as 2C. No way.

Wood can’t play. Needs to go.

Middleton/Aamodt might be able to hold down 3LD/7D until the trade deadline.

Malinski’s contract will take some of that $8.7m as well. I don’t think he wants to play for free.

—

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Landeskog - ??? - Nichushkin
Colton - Coyle - ???
Kelly - Drury - O’Connor
Wood

Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
??? - Malinski(RFA)
Middleton

Blackwood
Wedgewood

 

[dahrougem2]

I think Colton is 100% gone come July 1st.

His cap hit is "reasonable" to teams that have a ton of cap space/bottom feeders/rebuilders/etc. I think there's a difference between a cap dump and a cap casualty. Colton is the latter.

If you can recoup, say, a 3rd or 4th round pick for Colton and free up the 4M he's owed that would help tremendously.

I don't know if the Avs will find a taker for Miles Wood - I hope they'll try like hell - but if he's here as the 13th forward I don't think it's the end of the world (or if he's playing on the 3rd line until the TDL).

Having 12.7M in cap space with:

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Landeskog - ??? - Nichushkin
Wood - Coyle - ???
Kelly - Drury - O'Connor
???

Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
??? - ???
???

Blackwood
Wedgewood

775K for the 13th forward and 7th D, respectively, brings us to 11.15M for a 2C, 3RW, and 3rd pair.

 

[BobRossColton]

I think Colton is 100% gone come July 1st.

His cap hit is "reasonable" to teams that have a ton of cap space/bottom feeders/rebuilders/etc. I think there's a difference between a cap dump and a cap casualty. Colton is the latter.

When do we get to find out his trade protection?

 

[hockeyfish]

When do we get to find out his trade protection?

We probably wont.