Rumor: 2026 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Offseason Edition

[hockeyfish]

Is there a discount asshole we could acquire?

I'll be an asshole for free.

 

[EdAVSfan]

The whole point of trading Nuke out is to be able to re-allocate the cap to the defense.

Would make no sense to then go and give 5-6M to another winger.

Assuming a 22 man roster, and 6M spent on 2LHD and 3LHD (4.5M + 1.5M), the Avs would have roughly 3M to spend on a top 9 winger.

The only way it’s feasible to spend more on a winger would be if the Avs get 2 dmen for lower cap hits. For example, if they trade for Lohrei or Siegenthsler for the 2nd pair, then you could spend a little more on the winger.

 

[AvalancheSpeedsters]

I'll be an asshole for free.

Too pricey

 

[The AntiBob]

Send a third to Philly for Grebenkin...

 

[Freaky Styley]

Gus Nyquist is going to be this year's Tatarsson, isn't he?

I think it will be someone young but established with some of the assets left over from the Nuke/Drury trades, or like Bob alluded to, a change of scenery RFA.

If it's UFA, maybe Zuccarello if he's willing to 'cup chase' (lol) on a cheap deal.

Maccelli I could see as well. Nick Robertson, Kurashev, etc.

 

[AvsWraith]

I'll be an asshole for free.

 

[dahrougem2]

Let's assume we trade Nichushkin and Drury.

If we don't want to "give" Ivan a spot without earning it, or don't think he's ready(dude led our AHL team in points in the playoffs, was 2nd on the team in points for the 2nd half of the season, and has REALLY developed his game), then there may be a 3LW spot open.

An asshole like Marchment, Bunting, etc. would make sense... BUT... we know Bednar would neuter these guys and/or hate them. Also, Marchment will cost a lot more than Bunting will.

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Landeskog - Nelson - Brindley/Hughes
??? - Kadri - Hughes/Brindley
Kelly - Roy - O'Connor
Ivan

I really want to see Ivan make this team. I've long felt he plays very similar to Lehkonen, so if he can become a poor man's version that is a huge win for this team and how we got Ivan.

If we can get anything of value out of Ivan, Hughes, and Brindley it'll be massive for this team. I hope those three see the potential opportunity they have and take full advantage this offseason.

 

[zxczxczxczxczxcz]

Something to remember is that Drury can get an offersheet for example for 3.5M and we would only get back a 2nd rounder if we let him go. That's at least a valid reason to look for a trade for him.

 

[AvalancheSpeedsters]

I really want to see Ivan make this team. I've long felt he plays very similar to Lehkonen, so if he can become a poor man's version that is a huge win for this team and how we got Ivan.

If we can get anything of value out of Ivan, Hughes, and Brindley it'll be massive for this team. I hope those three see the potential opportunity they have and take full advantage this offseason.

Agreed. Or just another version of LOC even.

 

[The Abusement Park]

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Something to remember is that Drury can get an offersheet for example for 3.5M and we would only get back a 2nd rounder if we let him go. That's at least a valid reason to look for a trade for him.

I think a 2nd round pick for Drury is more than fair.

I might be alone on that, but it’s what I feel. Anybody dreaming of a 1st round pick for a 4th liner is out to lunch, IMO.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I think a 2nd round pick for Drury is more than fair.

I might be alone on that, but it’s what I feel. Anybody dreaming of a 1st round pick for a 4th liner is out to lunch, IMO.

Where does Drury get the balls? Guy was given ample opportunity on the best (regular season) team last season to be the 3C and he did nothing with it.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

He's been called much worse

 

[dahrougem2]

Something to remember is that Drury can get an offersheet for example for 3.5M and we would only get back a 2nd rounder if we let him go. That's at least a valid reason to look for a trade for him.

If you get a 2nd round pick for Jack Drury, you take that.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I really want to see Ivan make this team. I've long felt he plays very similar to Lehkonen, so if he can become a poor man's version that is a huge win for this team and how we got Ivan.

If we can get anything of value out of Ivan, Hughes, and Brindley it'll be massive for this team. I hope those three see the potential opportunity they have and take full advantage this offseason.

In that scenario…

• Brindley, Hughes, and Ivan make the team.
• Kulak re-signed for $4.5m x 4y. Might need to make it 5 years, whatever. Window is closed in those later years anyways.
• Nichushkin and Drury traded for futures.

You’re looking at $5.8m to get a 6D + 2 healthy scratches.

A guy like Gagne could win a spot out of camp, but let’s just assume we go with two AHL “vets” as the scratches in Middleton and Nielsen(this guy had a great preseason last year for us).

Middleton($850k) + Nielsen($850k) = $1.7m

That leaves a hair over $4.175m for the 6th defenseman.

Ideally, that 6D is in that $1.5m-$2.5m range and we can either bank a couple of million in cap space through the season or sign a Tatarsson in the summer.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

He's not paid to produce. Have you seen other contracts around the league? Have you seen the C market?

What is his value then? 3M is the going rate for quality 4th liners with new contracts to sign. In 2 weeks no one would bat an eye at a 26 year old C that's heavily relied upon on the PK getting paid 3.5 on a multiyear deal

Dickinwife who is almost as offensively inept as Drury got 4 million a year and a NMC for 5 UFA years. It's widely ridiculed.

Drury is a younger poorer (since nobody will pay him 4 million a year) Jason Dickinson.

Paying 9 million on your fourth line is still a bad allocation of cap space. Even with the rising cap.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

People won't like Marchment's contract. He's currently making 4.5M, he'll get more than that and long term. Would you still want him at 6M X 6? That's a lot for a 3rd line winger.

That's why not going after McMann sucks.

McMann/Mack/Necas
Landy/Nelly/Hughes
Lehky/Kadri/Roy
Kelly/Ivan/LOC

 

[Balthazar]

That's why not going after McMann sucks.

McMann/Mack/Necas
Landy/Nelly/Hughes
Lehky/Kadri/Roy
Kelly/Ivan/LOC

I wonder how the Avs would look like today if the Flames would have agreed to retain on Kadri earlier (so no Roy) or not at all (so no Kadri).

 

[dahrougem2]

I wonder how the Avs would look like today if the Flames would have agreed to retain on Kadri earlier (so no Roy) or not at all (so no Kadri).

I imagine had we not traded for Kadri, the team would have been:

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Landeskog - Nelson - Nichushkin
McMann - Roy - Colton
Kelly - Drury - LOC

Toews - Makar
Kulak - Malinski
Manson - Burns
Benoit

Then Benoit steps into the lineup whenever Manson/Makar couldn't go and we had to use the shitters like Blankenburg and Ahcan.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Dickinwife who is almost as offensively inept as Drury got 4 million a year and a NMC for 5 UFA years. It's widely ridiculed.

Drury is a younger poorer (since nobody will pay him 4 million a year) Jason Dickinson.

Paying 9 million on your fourth line is still a bad allocation of cap space. Even with the rising cap.

I'm not saying I'd want the Avs to pay him. If they did though their 4th line would be 7.7M. if you assume it's Kelly-Drury-LOC. You don't pay every 4th liner premium rates but having one or two + a league min guy is pretty standard.

I just don't see an argument that he's worth less. And when signs, it won't be with a number less than 3.

 

[Balthazar]

Who's available? Hill? Montembault? Markstrom? Binnington? Can't be Hellebuyck.

 

[Freaky Styley]

In that scenario…

• Brindley, Hughes, and Ivan make the team.
• Kulak re-signed for $4.5m x 4y. Might need to make it 5 years, whatever. Window is closed in those later years anyways.
• Nichushkin and Drury traded for futures.

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You’re looking at $5.8m to get a 6D + 2 healthy scratches.

A guy like Gagne could win a spot out of camp, but let’s just assume we go with two AHL “vets” as the scratches in Middleton and Nielsen(this guy had a great preseason last year for us).

Middleton($850k) + Nielsen($850k) = $1.7m

That leaves a hair over $4.175m for the 6th defenseman.

Ideally, that 6D is in that $1.5m-$2.5m range and we can either bank a couple of million in cap space through the season or sign a Tatarsson in the summer.

Think we can get Shea in that price range?

Toews - Makar
Kulak - Malinski
Shea - Manson
Gagne

Could do worse. Would probably want a Gagne upgrade before the deadline. Still don't see it moving the needle though.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Who's available? Hill? Montembault? Markstrom? Binnington? Can't be Hellebuyck.

With their cap space and situation, strikes me as a Binnington play. Could also see them pulling another Tarasov move and grabbing a younger guy like Ellis or DiPietro on the cheap as a backup option

 

[The Abusement Park]

You mean being the captain of your franchise and publicly shit talking your teammates on your stupid ass podcast isn't going to endear you to your teammates?

 

[dahrougem2]

Who's available? Hill? Montembault? Markstrom? Binnington? Can't be Hellebuyck.

I thought it would be Hellebuyck but their lack of draft capital makes it unlikely now IMO.

Adin Hill would be doing Vegas a favour and Florida taking a massive gamble.

Montembault I can't see - he's plain bad.

Markstrom I don't know if Florida also wants to take that risk.

Binnington the same can be said BUT Florida might think he's won big games before, our team is good enough we can insulate him. I don't think he's good at all anymore but Florida might think he's the guy with their remaining cap space and how little he likely costs to acquire.