Rumor: 23-24 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Part Trois: The Road to the Deadline

[AvBuff]

The best TDL deal the Avs can make is to trade their current team therapist for a new one who can teach the team to pull its head out of its collective ass and not suck on the road. If Mikko's head is on Jupiter and Cale is in mental/physical La-La land and Toews won't stop fumbling the puck and Georgiev has turned into a split-rail fence in goal . . . well, there's not a TDL deal out there that can solve the problem of the Avs top-end talent suddenly deciding to suck.

I'm "glass half full" - the team emptied the tank last year to win the division and had nothing left for the first round of the SCPs. Maybe they figure they're gonna play somebody good in Round 1 anyway, so they're just gonna do what they have to do maintain their playoff position without concern for where they finish in the division and focus on not getting (further) hurt. Bednar alluded to this a couple of weeks ago. Tampa Bay has run this model with success for years.

Yeah, Edmonton is crawling up our ass but . . . they spent a TON of fuel just getting to the surface. Will they have anything left in April?

I just don't think the core guys on the Avs suddenly forgot how to play hockey at a high level. Then again I could be totally wrong . . . . and this team just isn't very good.

That's why we play the games.

 

[Avsfan1921]

I don't even think Mittelstadt is putting their best foot forward in trying to contend. He's the best option out there but I'm not convinced he can hang at 2C with the Avs trying to win a cup.

This is a confusing statement. How can one not put their best foot forward if they acquire the best option out there?

 

[lonelybadger]

Everyone is saying Cmac has failed in not filling the 2c role but what 2cs have actually been traded in the past 2 months?

PLD who is awful?

Lindholm and Monahan I guess.

 

[BobRossColton]

Just need that time machine, jump to 1:30 on Friday

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Yeah because Colton will be the 2C

Yeah Colton at 2C is certainly not an option. He can fill in for a few weeks but full time....that would be too much for him. Same goes for his wingers. They need to be brought back down to 3rd line where they belong.

 

[henchman21]

I just don't think the core guys on the Avs suddenly forgot how to play hockey at a high level. Then again I could be totally wrong . . . . and this team just isn't very good.

That's why we play the games.

The top guys are as good as anybody... the problem is the depth is somewhere between a lottery team and a mushy middle team. The current '2nd' line in the roaring 20s line is built with 2 guys who played 4th line roles on playoff teams last year (Wood and LOC). The '3rd' line is two guys who failed their way out of their teams last year (RyJo and Drouin) and a vet who shuffled between 3rd and 4th lines on a low end playoff team. The 4th line is an aging vet 4th liner, a guy who mostly played in the AHL the last couple seasons, and a bad 4th liner that a division competitor upgraded on.

That's just the forwards... we could get into JMFJ (who has had a surprisingly decent season), Jones, Malinski, Provy/Annunen.

The depth is just very weak on this team. If you play the top guys a lot and let them really roll, you can win games... which is what the Avs have done to get here.

 

[Ararana]

Everyone is saying Cmac has failed in not filling the 2c role but what 2cs have actually been traded in the past 2 months?

If only it had been 2 months since they let Kadri slip through their fingers.

 

[Chibby]

Everyone is saying Cmac has failed in not filling the 2c role but what 2cs have actually been traded in the past 2 months?

PLD who is awful?

Lindholm and Monahan I guess.

It’s been since the Cup win that we’ve needed a 2C. That one move adding Kadri elevated the Avs to a contender. Can’t win without a 2C imo.

 

[henchman21]

Yeah Colton at 2C is certainly not an option. He can fill in for a few weeks but full time....that would be too much for him. Same goes for his wingers. They need to be brought back down to 3rd line where they belong.

I think that line has played above their heads all season, but the minutes clearly have worn on them. Ideally, Colton is the only top 9 player even on that line. LOC and Wood have played great to this point for their role and expectations... but they were 4th liners previously for a reason.

The Avs need a legit answer at 2C and then run the risk of the Colton line on the 3rd line. It may not work, but that is too many things to shuffle this late in the game. If a legit 2C doesn't happen, odds are the Colton line is matching against Seguin/Johnston or Monahan/Scheifele most of the time in the first two rounds.

 

[milehigh11]

Yup. If you’re trading Bo, it should be for a 70-80 point center. Avs gave up less for Naz who had a 87 point season

His 87 pts was a fluke. Before that he was hovering 45-55 pts with AVS.

 

[JLo217]

Everyone is saying Cmac has failed in not filling the 2c role but what 2cs have actually been traded in the past 2 months?

PLD who is awful?

Lindholm and Monahan I guess.

None of that has anything to do with the Avs ability to get a 2C. The options have been there. They just gambled versus getting real fixes.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Everyone is saying Cmac has failed in not filling the 2c role but what 2cs have actually been traded in the past 2 months?

PLD who is awful?

Lindholm and Monahan I guess.

Missed out on Horvat and Dach(if you think he’s a C) last year as well.

 

[Grackle Party]

60 pts will be fine for an avs 2c. What they need is a 2nd line that can take minutes, possess the puck, score occasionally and be fairly responsible defensively(again just possess the puck in the Avs system) to give the top line some space and slot the 3rd line in efficiently

 

[JH21]

Get Mitts or Zegras and give a damn good shot at solving the position for a while. Yeah it may not work, but all moves are calculated risks... and they are risks worth taking. Guys like Henrique, Kerfoot, Laughton, Roslovic, Wennberg, etc etc... they are not solutions. They may work to finish this year (though evidence shows they likely won't), but none of them are guys who can be here 2-3-4+ years and solve the position.

Get a bandaide for a year or two while Calum Ritchie develops and keep Byram until Gulyayev is ready to come over and Girard until Behrens is ready.

You guys talking about Byram for Casey F'n Mittlestadt are God damn insane.

We trade Byram to fill one hole and create another hole on defense?? Like seriously?? It's not going to happen.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[Avsfan1921]

Get a bandaide for a year or two while Calum Ritchie develops and keep Byram until Gulyayev is ready to come over and Girard until Behrens is ready.

You guys talking about Byram for Casey F'n Mittlestadt are God damn insane.

We trade Byram to fill one hole and create another hole on defense?? Like seriously?? It's not going to happen.

At this point it’s probably wise to consider the prospect who has proven zero in the NHL more of a bandaid than the proven NHL forward. Not to say I want to trade him either, but there needs to be a restructuring of salaries within positions at some point, not to mention this team needs a legitimate shakeup just to wake them from whatever they’ve been doing all year.

 

[AvalancheSpeedsters]

Penguins are way way too late to the rebuild party . Like Calgary during the Iginla trade .

If they don’t start now, it’ll mean even more pain (all those contracts, NMC etc…)

Guentzel is gone for sure now . They should (but won’t) ask Sid where he’d like to go .

 

[Mighty Makar]

It’s Val’s bday today. He’ll be juiced before the game.

 

[henchman21]

Everyone is saying Cmac has failed in not filling the 2c role but what 2cs have actually been traded in the past 2 months?

PLD who is awful?

Lindholm and Monahan I guess.

Any given year between 4-6 guys who can play that role swap teams. Avs haven't gotten any of them.

Get a bandaide for a year or two while Calum Ritchie develops and keep Byram until Gulyayev is ready to come over and Girard until Behrens is ready.

You guys talking about Byram for Casey F'n Mittlestadt are God damn insane.

We trade Byram to fill one hole and create another hole on defense?? Like seriously?? It's not going to happen.

Let's just say it takes two seasons and in 26-27, the young guys are ready to go. MacK will be 31, Lehky 31, Nuke 31, Rants 30 (and on a shiny new contract), Landy 34, Makar 28... that's just too old unless those young guys are elite players. Odds are they are not elite players.

You're overrating Byram. As he stands now, he's playing like a 5D. His analytics are a disaster. His eye test is just as bad. He's been regressing and his horrific defensively at this point. What he does is flash very hot with a fantastic play that teams will go back to their scouts and think they can fix him.

Avs have plenty of depth on defense to absorb losing Byram, especially with his level of play.

 

[JH21]

At this point it’s probably wise to consider the prospect who has proven zero in the NHL more of a bandaid than the proven NHL forward. Not to say I want to trade him either, but there needs to be a restructuring of salaries within positions at some point, not to mention this team needs a legitimate shakeup just to wake them from whatever they’ve been doing all year.

We don't need a shakeup. We just need guys to stay healthy. And we need Nichushkin back.

And it sounds like Landeskog will try to play int he playoffs. He is what makes our team go. He's the glue. Throw in Kovalenko who could be a major addition on the 3rd line and it's looking good.

This team is still loaded and have a major advantage over other teams with our defensive depth. That's how we are built. We are built from the backend and have obviously put a priority on defense. I can't see that changing.

We have a budget to follow as well as a plan for long term success. All our stars are in their prime years. We have good depth forwards on cheap contracts. I can't see us giving up top assets for a cheap fix.

If our 1st and a prospect like Foudy gets us Henrique for this year and they take on Johansen's contract that has to be considered a win. Then go into the offseason and sign a center for around 5 mil for a few seasons until Ritchie is ready. The kid is the real deal. Move Byram when Gulyayev comes over. Move Girard when Behrens is ready. But don't trade a player like Byram away to fill a hole and create another hole on the backend that needs to be filled.

That's the smart plan for long term success.

Any given year between 4-6 guys who can play that role swap teams. Avs haven't gotten any of them.



Let's just say it takes two seasons and in 26-27, the young guys are ready to go. MacK will be 31, Lehky 31, Nuke 31, Rants 30 (and on a shiny new contract), Landy 34, Makar 28... that's just too old unless those young guys are elite players. Odds are they are not elite players.

You're overrating Byram. As he stands now, he's playing like a 5D. His analytics are a disaster. His eye test is just as bad. He's been regressing and his horrific defensively at this point. What he does is flash very hot with a fantastic play that teams will go back to their scouts and think they can fix him.

Avs have plenty of depth on defense to absorb losing Byram, especially with his level of play.

So we trade Byram for a center...who replaces Byram? Do we trade more assets for a Dman when we have Gulyayev ready to come over in another year and Behrens ready next year?

Also, that center we acquire needs to fit in the long term budget. Any center over 5 mil makes it virtually impossible to resign Rantanen. And that's with us trading Girard for futures within the next two years.

Whats the plan?

 

[henchman21]

So we trade Byram for a center...who replaces Byram? Do we trade more assets for a Dman when we have Gulyayev ready to come over in another year and Behrens ready next year?

Whars the plan?

For this year get a rental. Spend another pick to get a guy who can PK. If they are a RD and better than Manson, that's great... if not a bottom pairing guy and just hold on. Next year, get a depth guy in the summer on the cheap and then fill with another rental if a younger player doesn't step up.

The Avs have plenty of defensive depth. They have their top 3 locked up. A 4th could be useful, but as we've seen plenty, you can win with a patchwork 4 and a mediocre 5/6.

Gulyayev can't come over until the end of 25/26 and 26/27 will be his first full season (if then). He's a ways out and really shouldn't be in this core's plans.

 

[JH21]

The first thing we need to do is unload Johansen's contract by attaching our 1st.

Who will take his contract on?

Then after we trade our 1st, what player do we ship out to get a center? Byram ? Then who replaces Byram and his 19:51 of minutes per game this year this year?

 

[JH21]

For this year get a rental. Spend another pick to get a guy who can PK. If they are a RD and better than Manson, that's great... if not a bottom pairing guy and just hold on. Next year, get a depth guy in the summer on the cheap and then fill with another rental if a younger player doesn't step up.

The Avs have plenty of defensive depth. They have their top 3 locked up. A 4th could be useful, but as we've seen plenty, you can win with a patchwork 4 and a mediocre 5/6.

Gulyayev can't come over until the end of 25/26 and 26/27 will be his first full season (if then). He's a ways out and really shouldn't be in this core's plans.

What pick will get us a top 4 Dman? We don't have a 2nd or 3rd this year or a 2nd next year.

We will probably need to attach our 1st to get rid of Johansen's contract but maybe we get a rental Dman back like the rumored Tanev deal.

Then if we get a Dman back in that deal we can potentially move Byram for a center who cannot be a rental and who cannot have more than a 5 mil salary for next year.

And then we still have a hole to fill on defense next year because we moved Byram..

It's not as easy as it sounds.

 

[henchman21]

The first thing we need to do is unload Johansen's contract by attaching our 1st.

Who will take his contract on?

Then after we trade our 1st, what player do we ship out to get a center? Byram ? Then who replaces Byram and his 19:51 of minutes per game this year this year?

If you go by the rumors... Avs are looking for a RD and willing to part with a 1st for that position if they take on RyJo. So just a theoretical that ties to the rumors... 1st + RyJo for Walker, Byram for Mittelstadt. Then the team is:

Lehky-Mack-Rants
Landy-Mitts-Nuke
Wood-Colton-LOC
Parise-Wagner-Drouin/Kivi

Toews-Makar
G-Walker
JMFJ-Manson

That is a huge improvement over the lineup today.

 

[Alienblood]

The look of a broken man....

Jesus, get this man out of Pittsburgh.

Sid is having a hell of a season and is the only reason the Pens were relevant that long this season. But it really hurts to see such a performance wasted.....

he won't quit