Rumor: 2026 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Offseason Edition

[forsbergavs32]

Our playoffs are over, time to look towards potential changes in the offseason.

Curious what’s gonna happen with Colton, Nuke, Burns, Kulak, and Drury.

 

[Ivan13]

Ideally this is the last time we saw a few of the guys in an Avs sweater, but I doubt that will be the case.

 

[Murzu]

Bare minimum is trading Colton and Nichushkin for a bag of pucks.

 

[Ivan13]

Bare minimum is trading Colton and Nichushkin for a bag of pucks.

Yeah, I'd trade them for Huberdeau at this point just so that they are off the roster. Call dbag Billy and send mr. Minnesota home as well.

 

[dahrougem2]

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - XXX
XXX - Kadri - Necas
Landeskog - XXX - Roy
Kelly - XXX - O'Connor

Toews - Makar
XXX - Malinski
XXX - Manson

Blackwood
Wedgewood

In my opinion, the above should be the initial makings of the roster:

- Brock Nelson, even if he only accepts a trade to 1/2 teams, should still fetch you a haul. He can't play here after being a ghost for two consecutive playoffs. The opposite of a big game player.

- Val Nichushkin and Ross Colton have to go. Nichushkin is a cap dump, and Colton is a loser who probably wants out anyways.

- The 4C role can be occupied by Jack Drury, but I'm weary of a potential contract dispute looming. If this goes to arbitration, I can't see a guy like Drury wanting to bust his ass and go through a wall for this team.

- We better hope and pray younger players like Gavin Brindley, T. J Hughes, and Alex Gagne are ready to step into depth roles next season.

- I personally think Zakhar Bardakov can not only play in this league, but can be a highly effective bottom six forechecker who hits everything. I hope a potential new coach sees that, too.

- If these final two games showed me one thing, it's that Nic Roy is not a C. This guy belongs on RW and needs to stay there.

- Obviously the above lines could be tinkered with, but that's what I feel right now is where guys belong.

- Brett Kulak likely gets paid big time this offseason. I'm not opposed to keepin him, but I would also like an upgrade on him via trade if possible.

- This better be done by Sakic/new GM. I don't want to see Chris MacFarland make another move for this org unless it's firing Bednar before leaving.

 

[Foppa2118]

I'm curious what they're gonna do at 2C? Can't believe we have to have that conversation again.

Two terrible playoffs in a row for Brock with 0 non EN goals. How do you go back with him for a third at 2C?

Meanwhile Naz looks like he doesn't have the wheels to play 2C on an up tempo team, that the Avs likely will have, no matter the coach.

What the hell do they do there? Ugh.

 

[dahrougem2]

I'm curious what they're gonna do at 2C? Can't believe we have to have that conversation again.

Two terrible playoffs in a row for Brock with 0 non EN goals. How do you go back with him for a third at 2C?

Meanwhile Naz looks like he doesn't have the wheels to play 2C on an up tempo team, that the Avs likely will have, no matter the coach.

What the hell do they do there? Ugh.

The Avs don't have the horses to be the up tempo team anymore.

Sure, MacKinnon and Necas and Makar can fly, but Vegas made this team look slow.

The Avs don't have to play balls to the wall. In a different system emphasizing cutting the ice down, Kadri could work there.

 

[Foppa2118]

The Avs don't have the horses to be the up tempo team anymore.

Sure, MacKinnon and Necas and Makar can fly, but Vegas made this team look slow.

The Avs don't have to play balls to the wall. In a different system emphasizing cutting the ice down, Kadri could work there.

They've taken advantage of the altitude for 30 years by playing an up tempo style. It bought them 3 Cups. Most likely that will continue.

They don't have the right horses period. They need to make some changes. Specifically to the blueline.

Defensive mistakes were the biggest problem area this playoffs again.

 

[dahrougem2]

They've taken advantage of the altitude for 30 years by playing an up tempo style. It bought them 3 Cups. Most likely that will continue.

They don't have the right horses period. They need to make some changes. Specifically to the blueline.

Defensive mistakes were the biggest problem area this playoffs again.

The altitude did them no good these last several years when teams grinded them to a halt.

The strategy has to change when most of the roster is locked in. We can't de-age these guys. The Avs are not a fast team anymore.

 

[Foppa2118]

The altitude did them no good these last several years when teams grinded them to a halt.

The strategy has to change when most of the roster is locked in. We can't de-age these guys. The Avs are not a fast team anymore.

There are multiple players that could leave though. Older players with aging legs like Burns, Val, maybe Brock?

Plus Colton and Kulak, though they both skate ok, and I'd like to keep Kulak on the third pair at a decent price if possible.

There will be opportunities to add hungry young lions with quicker legs if they target the right players.

Biggest thing will be replacing Burns. Ideally it's another K'Ande Miller type that they missed out on. Mid to late 20's. Two way guy with size, who's solid defensively, has decent wheels, can defend the rush, and can chip in some offense.

No more stop gaps on D. Prioritize it like you did in 01 and leading up to 22. They need a legit #3 2nd pair LD, who can move up and play with Cale every now and then, to take the load off Toews.

 

[Ivan13]

They've taken advantage of the altitude for 30 years by playing an up tempo style. It bought them 3 Cups. Most likely that will continue.

They don't have the right horses period. They need to make some changes. Specifically to the blueline.

Defensive mistakes were the biggest problem area this playoffs again.

It's not that black and white bud, or at least it shouldn't be. They can have three lines who can play a north shout game, but there's no reason to have a meat and potato line which is more north/south. You also have the personnel which can fit that makeup on a one line in Landy, Naz and Roy. I'd boot anyone else and bulid the top 6 around Nate, Necas, Lehky, Gabe, Naz and Roy. Fill out the bottom 6 with the rest, but FFS allow the bottom lines to go out and punish the other team.

Wild took out half our defense and while we hounded their D with pressure, it's one thing to make them make fast decisions and hope for turnovers and bad reads which we exploited because they were icing 3rd pairing D and AHLers outside of their top pair, it's a whole different ballgame when on top of that they know they are going to be put through the wall every time they get back there. You won't crack legit top 4 defensemen with just puck pressure, you need to make them fear they are going to end up on their ass to boot.

I know people here are not familiar with handball, but I played it and coached it for quite a while, I'm not the tallest, or the biggest, or the fastest dude, but I was a pretty damn good defensive player, because I was f***ing mean. I know when I later spoke with guys who I played against and we met when we coached kids, they hated me. Not because I was turning them inside out, or because I read the game exceptionally well, but because I put them on their ass every single time they got near. We had a saying on our team, "Tko leži, ne bježi", which loosely translates to "Who lies on the ground can't run". More of that pretty please.

 

[Grigowski]

Colton and Nuke. Colton is obvious and after this collapse he is probably more than open to finally get off this team. To be fair, Colton wasnt the problem. Hell, that guy showed more than many other "passengers" on this team. And Nuke is nowhere the player he was in 2022..... In hindsight he should´ve been traded after his 2nd "accident".

Get some picks or prospects back.. I doubt they both fetch some good and usabel pieces.

But thats it.

Its gonna be tough..... If they won the cup, no one would give a f***.

But after this major f***-up, we are now dealing with the fallout.....And even more so If MacFarland has allready signed with Nashville.....

 

[jabubenice]

The Avs don't have the horses to be the up tempo team anymore.

Sure, MacKinnon and Necas and Makar can fly, but Vegas made this team look slow.

The Avs don't have to play balls to the wall. In a different system emphasizing cutting the ice down, Kadri could work there.

Exactly this. Take a page from how Vegas f***ed us and how Panthers won the cup back to back, and you have a blueprint on how to proceed. Speed is not what wins in the postseason

 

[ABasin]

The altitude did them no good these last several years when teams grinded them to a halt.

The strategy has to change when most of the roster is locked in. We can't de-age these guys. The Avs are not a fast team anymore.

No, they’re not. I said this after game 1, but they looked old and slow for much of this series.

Mack and Necas can certainly move, as can the whole 4th line. Other than that, their forwards aren’t really fast.

On D, Makar and Malinski can skate, the rest of them are average at best.

That’s far less than half the team. Aging is a tough thing in many facets of life, ice hockey being one of them.

 

[ABasin]

Our playoffs are over, time to look towards potential changes in the offseason.

Curious what’s gonna happen with Colton, Nuke, Burns, Kulak, and Drury.

I said this last offseason also, but the Avs need to add some young legs. Even if they have to give up some skill to do it.

I hope they keep Drury. He's a good hockey player. And their youngest regular on the roster.

 

[LOFIN]

There are some obvious things that need to be addressed, like clearing cap space for a top-4 D (Nuke and/or Colton). Aside from that, I don't really like the idea of changing the roster that much.

For two consecutive years (or more, some could argue), you can count the number of Avs players who had a good elimination series by one hand. That type of failure to not elevate, or frankly even play to the RS standard, is on the coaching.

I want to see how this group looks like under a new staff. Obviously, we won't really get an answer until a year from now, because RS means f*** all. But it is what it is.

 

[Ararana]

My predictions for the offseason:

- Bednar is fired and gets hired by Toronto (he'd be great there)
- Avs hire David Carle as head coach
- Nuke, Colton and Drury are traded for draft picks
- Avs sign McMann in free agency, McMann & Brindley replace Nuke & Colton in the line up
- Both Burns and Kulak walk (No idea who the Avs would pursue to replace them)

 

[zxczxczxczxczxcz]

If Nelson ends up being moved, which I don't expect to actually happen, I think the most realistic trade is swapping him for Ryan Hartman who has 1 year left on his 4M contract.

 

[mapletreemarty]

I know lots of folks want to bag on Malinski and that he was exposed in this series. I still think Malinski can be an effective top 4 D.
However, I think it just goes to show that Malinski cannot be effective playing hurt. I'm not making an excuse for him but you could tell he was very panicky, rushing decisions and making bad reads because he was compensating and really didn't want to get hit.

 

[Balthazar]

If we do get a new coach and a new GM I sure hope that we finally move on from this small defensemen obsession.

We need a new system and build the roster for the playoffs.

 

[shadow1]

I know lots of folks want to bag on Malinski and that he was exposed in this series. I still think Malinski can be an effective top 4 D.
However, I think it just goes to show that Malinski cannot be effective playing hurt. I'm not making an excuse for him but you could tell he was very panicky, rushing decisions and making bad reads because he was compensating and really didn't want to get hit.

Before the Vegas series, Malinski had never been on the ice for a 5v5 goal against in the playoffs. Colorado outscored Dallas ('25), LA, and MIN 8-0 with him on the ice.

Against VGK, they were outscored 1-5 with him on the ice.

He's definitely hurt bad. He was struggling to make routine plays, and the puck looked like a grenade on his stick. The question is whether this will be a trend moving forward. Will Malinski's small size make him more predisposed to get injured in the playoffs?

I know it's easy to make the Girard comparison. I'll say this much: I thought Malinski's playoff resume was very solid before this series. I don't ever remember Girard being particularly good in the playoffs.

 

[ABasin]

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - XXX
XXX - Kadri - Necas
Landeskog - XXX - Roy
Kelly - XXX - O'Connor

Toews - Makar
XXX - Malinski
XXX - Manson

Blackwood
Wedgewood

In my opinion, the above should be the initial makings of the roster:

- Brock Nelson, even if he only accepts a trade to 1/2 teams, should still fetch you a haul. He can't play here after being a ghost for two consecutive playoffs. The opposite of a big game player.

- Val Nichushkin and Ross Colton have to go. Nichushkin is a cap dump, and Colton is a loser who probably wants out anyways.

- The 4C role can be occupied by Jack Drury, but I'm weary of a potential contract dispute looming. If this goes to arbitration, I can't see a guy like Drury wanting to bust his ass and go through a wall for this team.

- We better hope and pray younger players like Gavin Brindley, T. J Hughes, and Alex Gagne are ready to step into depth roles next season.

- I personally think Zakhar Bardakov can not only play in this league, but can be a highly effective bottom six forechecker who hits everything. I hope a potential new coach sees that, too.

- If these final two games showed me one thing, it's that Nic Roy is not a C. This guy belongs on RW and needs to stay there.

- Obviously the above lines could be tinkered with, but that's what I feel right now is where guys belong.

- Brett Kulak likely gets paid big time this offseason. I'm not opposed to keepin him, but I would also like an upgrade on him via trade if possible.

- This better be done by Sakic/new GM. I don't want to see Chris MacFarland make another move for this org unless it's firing Bednar before leaving.

Of the 14 players you have not XXX'd out in that table, 10 of them will be 30 or older by next season's playoffs. 4 of them will be 35 or older. None of them will be under 28.

If this is what they do, those XXX's need to be filled with some young legs.

 

[AvsGuy]

The problem is that our "assets" have all been exposed as playoff duds

All of Nichushkin, Nelson, and Colton are essentially cap dump status and as much value as they might've had at points, they've got not much now

I agree that Nelson can't be here anymore. I'm not all for chasing a guy out of town when he just moved his family there, but he's just awful at his job

Detroit still seems to have a hard-on for Val for whatever reason so as long as we're not taking Chiarot back I say go for it

I know we like to pretend otherwise, but the Kadri trade was a mistake. He didn't add enough, and I'm not sure what to expect from him moving forward either

I don't see why Brett Kulak would re-sign here to play 3rd pairing when its his last chance to cash in elsewhere

 

[Balthazar]

Nuke is borderline untradable right now. If we find a taker we'll have to take a bad contract with term back, someone like Kotkaniemi. That won't help us much to make cap space.

Nelson is tradable but he’ll have a lot of control over where he ends up.

Colton I'm tempted to keep him unless we get something good in return. He just needs a new coach.

 

[The AntiBob]

I know we like to pretend otherwise, but the Kadri trade was a mistake. He didn't add enough, and I'm not sure what to expect from him moving forward either

Glad I'm not the only one thinking this, reminds me of the Andrew Copp contract money wise.


Replace Nuke with a younger guy, put some speed with Nelson to drag him into uptempo play.