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

[henchman21]

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 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..

1st + RyJo for Walker as a basis works very nicely.

Then re-sign Walker... or just don't and get a random depth guy. Spend picks again for a rental next year.

 

[Alienblood]

Then I remember most of the posters here are under the age of 40.

I first discovered and followed this site in the year 2000.

And Mike Bossy was the best pure goal scorer ever for you youngens

 

[JH21]

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.

Why does Philly make that move? He's been their best dman this year and they are in a playoff spot. They probably treat Walker like their own rental and try to resign him for 4 or 5 mil in the offseason.

And if we trade Byram for Mittlestadt how much will Mittlestadt want on his next contract? Anything more than 5 means we lose Rantanen.

Say what you want about Byram but he's on a cheap contract next year. Will be a RFA after next season and is still only 22 averaging close to 20 minutes a night. What UFA defenseman can we sign next year for 3.85 million that can replace Byram?

 

[Avsfan1921]

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.

To the first paragraph, I don’t agree that all they need is to stay healthy. Players in very important positions are playing well below where they need to be. Mack is obviously surpassing that level so far. Makar, Byram, Rantanen, George are all integral to this teams success and they’ve not held up their end to the best of their ability. People can blame fatigue or lingering “injuries” but every player in the league gets tired and deals with issues throughout the year. It’s a complete cop out to me. We are never, ever going to be “fully healthy” barring a miracle, just like every other team in the league.

I can’t argue the second paragraph and I agree that Landy would be a huge addition even if just mentally for this club. That would be a form of shakeup I was referring to earlier. Though I question how effective he’ll be off the hop, the team would obviously be stoked to get him back.

On the topic of budgets to follow, sure we don’t have a lot of anchors but there aren’t many on cheap contracts, rather they are fair contracts for the most part. With a couple superstar contract sprinkled in. This is a bit of a moot point anyhow in my view because the issue isn’t individual player salaries rather what is tied up in each position. We are built from the defence out, I agree, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore everything else to keep it that way. There has to be balance.

And again, you are heavily relying on prospects coming up and filling important roles for this club while they are years away if at all, during its contention window. How often in recent history have the Avs hit on drafting roster players let alone important ones? Gulyayev and Ritchie are magic beans at this point and nothing more. Exciting to have yes but don’t mortgage the house that they pan out. And if they do, again, is it in time for what the team needs within the next couple years? Are we punting these years so that they can hopefully develop into useful players?

Long term success is great and all but let’s worry about the now a bit too and see if we can win with the already currently pretty damn good team we have instead of hoping that players will be good to go in a couple years.

 

[Mighty Makar]

Why does Philly make that move? He's been their best dman this year and they are in a playoff spot. They probably treat Walker like their own rental and try to resign him for 4 or 5 mil in the offseason.

And if we trade Byram for Mittlestadt how much will Mittlestadt want on his next contract? Anything more than 5 means we lose Rantanen.

Say what you want about Byram but he's on a cheap contract next year. Will be a RFA after next season and is still only 22 averaging close to 20 minutes a night. What UFA defenseman can we sign next year for 3.85 million that can replace Byram?

With the way he has played, how is $3.8M cheap?

 

[NateTheGreat]

Byram averages the 3rd most minutes amongst our D this year and plays about a 1:30 per game more than Girard at 5v5.

Byram is also 3rd in production amongst our D playing on his off-hand with Jack Johnson as his partner and spending the majority of his ice time with our bottom 3 lines.

 

[henchman21]

Why does Philly make that move? He's been their best dman this year and they are in a playoff spot. They probably treat Walker like their own rental and try to resign him for 4 or 5 mil in the offseason.

And if we trade Byram for Mittlestadt how much will Mittlestadt want on his next contract? Anything more than 5 means we lose Rantanen.

Say what you want about Byram but he's on a cheap contract next year. Will be a RFA after next season and is still only 22 averaging close to 20 minutes a night. What UFA defenseman can we sign next year for 3.85 million that can replace Byram?

Philly has been adamant they are still looking for pieces and Walker is one of the guys on the market.

Mittelstadt is likely mid 6s to 7 on his next contract. The ~2m difference there isn't in keeping Rants or not, there are other places to trim if Rants has to be kept.

For Byram's level of play, 3.85 can replace him very easily. Now if Byram plays to his capability, it could be a steal next year... but then you're looking at 7+ in a little over a year. If he doesn't, teams suddenly look at him as a reclamation project.

 

[JH21]

To the first paragraph, I don’t agree that all they need is to stay healthy. Players in very important positions are playing well below where they need to be. Mack is obviously surpassing that level so far. Makar, Byram, Rantanen, George are all integral to this teams success and they’ve not held up their end to the best of their ability. People can blame fatigue or lingering “injuries” but every player in the league gets tired and deals with issues throughout the year. It’s a complete cop out to me. We are never, ever going to be “fully healthy” barring a miracle, just like every other team in the league.

I can’t argue the second paragraph and I agree that Landy would be a huge addition even if just mentally for this club. That would be a form of shakeup I was referring to earlier. Though I question how effective he’ll be off the hop, the team would obviously be stoked to get him back.

On the topic of budgets to follow, sure we don’t have a lot of anchors but there aren’t many on cheap contracts, rather they are fair contracts for the most part. With a couple superstar contract sprinkled in. This is a bit of a moot point anyhow in my view because the issue isn’t individual player salaries rather what is tied up in each position. We are built from the defence out, I agree, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore everything else to keep it that way. There has to be balance.

And again, you are heavily relying on prospects coming up and filling important roles for this club while they are years away if at all, during its contention window. How often in recent history have the Avs hit on drafting roster players let alone important ones? Gulyayev and Ritchie are magic beans at this point and nothing more. Exciting to have yes but don’t mortgage the house that they pan out. And if they do, again, is it in time for what the team needs within the next couple years? Are we punting these years so that they can hopefully develop into useful players?

Long term success is great and all but let’s worry about the now a bit too and see if we can win with the already currently pretty damn good team we have instead of hoping that players will be good to go in a couple years.

Wait, Makar and Rantanen have not "held up their end to the best of their ability"

Comeon man. That comment is just absolutely not true.

Makar is playing elite hockey averaging 25 minutes a night and is 2nd in Dman scoring 7 points behind Hughes.

Rantanen is playing 23 minutes a night and is 9th in scoring over guys like Pettersson and Draisaitl.

Can this nonsense about them just stop?

 

[henchman21]

Byram averages the 3rd most minutes amongst our D this year and plays about a 1:30 per game more than Girard at 5v5.

Byram is also 3rd in production amongst our D playing on his off-hand with Jack Johnson as his partner and spending the majority of his ice time with our bottom 3 lines.

Byram has played more with Manson and Girard than he has with JMFJ.

Byram's offense doesn't come close to overcoming his defense. His defense has been horrific. Some very ugly graphs, numbers, and comparisons can be made.

 

[BobRossColton]

How about RyJo+1st+Behrens for Walker?

Megan mentioned it their Seeler video, but Philly definitely has connections to University of Denver as well as the NCAA.

 

[JH21]

With the way he has played, how is $3.8M cheap?

Well I disagree about him playing poorly.

And I sure as hell am not trading a 22 year old Dman who has the potential to be a top pairing guy for a middle of the pack 2C like Mittlestadt.

That's a trade that is almost guaranteed to haunt us in the future.

 

[henchman21]

Well I disagree about him playing poorly.

And I sure as hell am not trading a 22 year old Dman who has the potential to be a top pairing guy for a middle of the pack 2C like Mittlestadt.

That's a trade that is almost guaranteed to haunt us in the future.

But what if Byram's career goes like Dumba's?

For all the prognostication that Byram is going to be elite, there is very little substance to show that is the case. Odds are much higher Byram ends up a flawed 2/3 (more of a 3) than he ends up a #1.

 

[NateTheGreat]

Byram has played more with Manson and Girard than he has with JMFJ.

Byram's offense doesn't come close to overcoming his defense. His defense has been horrific. Some very ugly graphs, numbers, and comparisons can be made.

The difference in his ice time between JJ and Girard/Manson is ~20 minutes so it’s pretty much equal. However, his numbers crater when paired with JJ, to no one’s surprise.

Also, I didn’t mention anything about his defense or “GrApHs”, simply just stating facts.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

 

[dahrougem2]

Lol claim him to f*** with LA

 

[Pokecheque]

I have an irrational hate for Kerfoot and would like to share this emotion with you if you will be accepting of it. Please?

I don't know why you or anyone else around here have such a hatred for him. It's just plain absurd at this point. I mean, now, still!?! That's way more ridiculous than anyone still spitting venom at the mere mention of Matt Duchene.

He was signed onto a team that was picking itself off the mat and had no forward depth to speak of. He was a perfectly capable utility guy for them and during the time of the "Roommates" he was not only the best center of the bunch, he was also the most consistent and least frustrating. And before you say anything, yes, JTC eventually surpassed him but it took a looooong time and a nearly two-year stretch where he was inarguably horrible.

And then, when it was time to move on, the Avs packaged him and Barrie for Kadri and Rosen, who was later flipped back to Toronto for Hutchinson, who at least helped the Avs win a playoff game, so that's a WIN all around.

Why are people on here STILL mad at him? What were the f***ing expectations? He was just a depth forward, nothing more. Avs spent literally no assets to get him, he was a perfectly good placeholder during that time and then he played a role in snagging probably the second most important player in the 2022 Cup run.

Even if y'all don't think he was any good, he vastly overachieved during his time in Colorado and then the Avs parlayed him in a trade that was highway robbery in hindsight. I won't be mad if he comes back, I'll be mad if the Avs fail to address either one of their major issues by this time Friday.

 

[Avsfan1921]

Wait, Makar and Rantanen have not "held up their end to the best of their ability"

Comeon man. That comment is just absolutely not true.

Makar is playing elite hockey averaging 25 minutes a night and is 2nd in Dman scoring 7 points behind Hughes.

Rantanen is playing 23 minutes a night and is 9th in scoring over guys like Pettersson and Draisaitl.

Can this nonsense about them just stop?

I’m starting the think you want argue just to be obtuse. Of course Makar and Rantanen are not, and have not for the majority of the season, been playing to their best. Anyone that watches the games knows this stats be damned.

 

[John Mandalorian]

With the way he has played, how is $3.8M cheap?

Trevor Zegras at 5.75M and .35 ppg says hold my beer.

 

[henchman21]

The difference in his ice time between JJ and Girard/Manson is ~20 minutes so it’s pretty much equal. However, his numbers crater when paired with JJ, to no one’s surprise.

Also, I didn’t mention anything about his defense or “GrApHs”, simply just stating facts.

Your post made it sound like he's primarily played with JMFJ... when he's been roughly 1/4 each Manson, Girard, JMFJ, and Toews/Makar. Another way to look at it is 3/4 of the time he's been paired with one of Manson, Girard, Makar or Toews.

Byram tends to crater numbers himself. He's bad with JMFJ certainly... he's also very bad with Toews. The guy Byram works the best is with Girard.

 

[avsfan2189]

at this point id see if Sid and Mack can collude to force Pits' hand to make Avs his destination sort of like how Kane forced his way to NYR.

Byram
Two 1sts
Ryjo (the 2nd first round pick makes it up to Pits for taking this on)
OO / Kovalenko

then cmac does whatever he needs to do capwise to make any other additional roster adjustments

sometimes we overhype how much it can take to get certain players just because of who they are but in reality the returns for Erik Karlsson and Patty Kane weren't mind blowing

 

[niwotsblessing]

I first discovered and followed this site in the year 2000.

And Mike Bossy was the best pure goal scorer ever for you youngens

Brother, I came of age watching Mike Bossy and Isles win 4 Consecutive Cups.

Bossy scored 17 goals in a playoff season for 3 consecutive years during that run- 51 goals in 3 playoff runs.

 

[Mighty Makar]

Trevor Zegras at 5.75M and .35 ppg says hold my beer.

I never said Zegras is cheap, did I?

 

[Ararana]

Brace yourselves...

 

[Muffin]

Brace yourselves...

We could do worse for a bottom 6 centre as long as he's not the only addition.

 

[Mighty Makar]

Brace yourselves...

Uh oh!