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

[Mighty Makar]

How many days without a 2C now?

 

[henchman21]

People? That again?

Huh?

I'm stating this board (some not all) has been pumping him up when he hasn't played all that well. In fact you can say 4-5 of his games have been very bad since the all star break.

 

[MacKaRant]

On another note,

Bjugstad + Dumba + 2nd for Byram...

Did I just see that? What the hell.

It's not hugely different than another trade we made with the Coyotes back in the day: Gratton and Vaananen and high 2nd rounder for Morris and Ballard.

And the Arizona 2nd rounder can be flipped for further reinforcements.

However, I don't think it fits the Avs' needs for a few reasons:
1. This isn't the 2004 NHL where size and strength are at a premium
2. Avs biggest need is secondary scoring and unless that high 2nd rounder turns into that, I don't think the pieces coming back help
3. I think Avs would hope that some front office out there is a Byram true believer (similar to the Habs' opinion of Newhook) and would offer significantly more...along with Ritchie, he's our best trade chip

 

[Chibby]

 

[ANewHope]

we should have just drafted Cozens. I highly doubt our front office admits their mistake and makes a trade for Cozens or Zegras unfortunately.

Byram was massive vs Tampa. FO/most will never consider it a mistake simply due to the role he played in winning a cup.

Cozens would be better for us now and I’d make that swap but no chance I’d want the Avs to change the pick even with Byram being a disappointment post cup.

 

[NateTheGreat]

People are massively overrating some production.

Byrams xGF% this season until Jan 31 49.51%... Feb 1 til now 42.73%. Byram was ~20% xGF last night, 44 vs Toronto, 33 vs Van, 18 vs Florida. He's moved his feet, and flashed a few times.. but he's not playing all that well still.

He’s spending most of his ice time with RyJo’s line and JJ..not necessarily a recipe for success.

It’s been fairly obvious to see the improvement in his play over the last month. No one is “massively overrating” his production as I don’t think anyone here has said he’s all of a sudden become a top pairing dman.

 

[rt]

If the Avs wanted to dump RyJo's contract, they could probably follow what the Islanders did with Josh Bailey last season. The Blackhawks bought out the last year of his deal and it costs them :

$2.666M cap hit - 2023-24
$1.166M cap hit - 2024-25

to buy out the last year of Bailey's $5M contract. The NYI paid a 2nd round pick to get rid of him.

With RyJo, an argument could be made that if he was bought out, it could potentially cost a bit less since the cap hit penalty is less (since Nashville is eating half of it) :

$1.333M cap hit - 2024-25
$1.333M cap hit - 2025-26

Would be the penalty if bought out by the acquiring team.

True. The hawks did undercut the dump market. Arizona used to own the market and extracted premiums for Ladd, Stralman, Gostisbehere, Kassian, etc. I think the entrance of Chicago onto the scene, their willingness to take less, and a rising cap has probably lowered prices pretty significantly.

I kinda forgot about that. Was thinking about the privies AZ got for taking on players they actually liked who actually helped the team. Forgot about newer factors.

 

[henchman21]

He’s spending most of his ice time with RyJo’s line and JJ..not necessarily a recipe for success.

It’s been fairly obvious to see the improvement in his play over the last month. No one is “massively overrating” his production as I don’t think anyone here has said he’s all of a sudden become a top pairing dman.

Since the All star break... 5v5 He's played 60 minutes with RyJo, 120 minutes away (including 40 with MacKinnnon). Half of his time has been with JMFJ. Half away.

He's had games where he has flashed again, and certain moments were those really pan out. His overall level of play has still not been good or even good enough. Those flashes and the production as giving the illusion that he's playing better when he's still been very erratic and outright bad at times.

 

[Bender]

Since the All star break... 5v5 He's played 60 minutes with RyJo, 120 minutes away (including 40 with MacKinnnon). Half of his time has been with JMFJ. Half away.

He's had games where he has flashed again, and certain moments were those really pan out. His overall level of play has still not been good or even good enough. Those flashes and the production as giving the illusion that he's playing better when he's still been very erratic and outright bad at times.

Agreed that he's been erratic even through this past little bit where he's looked better some games and not as much others but I think what people mean is that even though he hasn't been back to the level he once reached, he has looked better the past 2 weeks or so - taking into consideration the good and the bad - than he did for the majority of the season up so far.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Huh?

I'm stating this board (some not all) has been pumping him up when he hasn't played all that well. In fact you can say 4-5 of his games have been very bad since the all star break.

Was referring to your obsession with what others think and this need to confront it.

Thanks for your interpretation of the last 4-5 games of Byram.

 

[NateTheGreat]

Since the All star break... 5v5 He's played 60 minutes with RyJo, 120 minutes away (including 40 with MacKinnnon). Half of his time has been with JMFJ. Half away.

He's had games where he has flashed again, and certain moments were those really pan out. His overall level of play has still not been good or even good enough. Those flashes and the production as giving the illusion that he's playing better when he's still been very erratic and outright bad at times.

So less than a quarter of his 5v5 ice time has been with Mack, the rest has been with our other 3 lines that regularly take turns getting caved every game and that’s while playing with our worst defenseman half the time he’s out there.

 

[Balthazar]

When Byram plays with JJ he plays on the right side.

Let's not act like Byram was put in a position to succeed this year. He wasn't.

 

[Alienblood]

I think he meant 'add more' instead of take less...

Hahahaha I totally called it dubas is a clueless dumbass. Imagine they added EK to a group that already included Crosby and Malkin and can't even make the playoffs. He was fooled by his 'no-defense Norris season' like some sort of idiot who couldn't be bothered to actually watch him play and traded for him by reputation and point totals.

they aren't out yet

 

[Ararana]

When Byram plays with JJ he plays on the right side.

Let's not act like Byram was put in a position to succeed this year. He wasn't.

Doesn't matter. Defensemen stop developing at 22, regardless of injuries or lack of opportunity.

 

[NateTheGreat]

Doesn't matter. Defensemen stop developing at 22, regardless of injuries or lack of opportunity.

Thomas Harley - 22 year old defenseman just scratching the surface of his potential this year.

Bowen Byram - 22 year old defenseman getting to the end of his rope to show his potential in this league.

 

[Pokecheque]

When Byram plays with JJ he plays on the right side.

Let's not act like Byram was put in a position to succeed this year. He wasn't.

That's a lie. You think it's an accident he keeps getting rotated in with the top pairing guys? I don't like how he clicks with them (or doesn't as the case may be) but don't say that Bednar's just sticking him on the third pairing to rot because it's not true.

 

[henchman21]

Was referring to your obsession with what others think and this need to confront it.

Thanks for your interpretation of the last 4-5 games of Byram.

Or just discuss it... you seem to have a very weird obsession of being confrontational on my posts and from a personal standpoint. Maybe you should just put me on ignore...

 

[Pokecheque]

So less than a quarter of his 5v5 ice time has been with Mack, the rest has been with our other 3 lines that regularly take turns getting caved every game and that’s while playing with our worst defenseman half the time he’s out there.

Yeah but here's the thing about playing third pairing--he doesn't get the toughest matchups either.

There is something to be said about getting rotated through the lineup and having to switch sides but he's getting sheltered minutes for the most part (along with some opportunities higher in the lineup) and is still struggling in stretches.

 

[Alienblood]

He very clearly times his most recent surgery for the intent to return in time for this year's playoffs.


I really don't get why people get so offended that the Avs are playing the LTIR game just as aggressively as the other contenders in the league. It isn't against the rules, it isn't illegal. And it's a great sign that the Avs ownership aren't concerned right now with some sort of internal salary cap. They're allowing out management to spend money on the team.

And yet some of you get offended at the mere thought the Avs are playing ball with everyone else. Very weird.


On another note,

Bjugstad + Dumba + 2nd for Byram...

Did I just see that? What the hell.

his timeline for return is next year

 

[Pokecheque]

Or just discuss it... you seem to have a very weird obsession of being confrontational on my posts and from a personal standpoint. Maybe you should just put me on ignore...

Yeah man, he's generally pretty normal (at least whatever passes for normal around here) until he responds to you and then he turns into Anger from Inside Out.

 

[henchman21]

Agreed that he's been erratic even through this past little bit where he's looked better some games and not as much others but I think what people mean is that even though he hasn't been back to the level he once reached, he has looked better the past 2 weeks or so - taking into consideration the good and the bad - than he did for the majority of the season up so far.

He had good games prior too... what we need to start seeing is the 60-75% of the time good games... and the valleys to not be so deep. His game against Florida was arguably his worst of the season. Last night he was horrendous as well.

So less than a quarter of his 5v5 ice time has been with Mack, the rest has been with our other 3 lines that regularly take turns getting caved every game and that’s while playing with our worst defenseman half the time he’s out there.

A good player still finds a way to be impactful positively. If the Avs can only be good with one line on the ice, that is a very significant problem.

 

[missionAvs]

It does not. I don’t really think Arizona has anything that makes sense to move Byram for.

The Arizona trade that's going to happen is Rants-RyJo for Keller-Crouse. It has been written and is just sitting on @Pierce Hawthorne 's desk waiting for approval.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

View attachment 826703

The correct order is Jeff Carter, Lars Eller, Jack Roslovic and Alex Wennberg

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

The Arizona trade that's going to happen is Rants-RyJo for Keller-Crouse. It has been written and is just sitting on @Pierce Hawthorne 's desk waiting for approval.

It would be such an Avs thing to do to make a big deal and not address any of the issues. We're going to send out Ritchie, Bo, and multiple 1sts for Kirill Kaprizov just so we can play Kaprizov-MacK-Rants 30 minutes a night.

 

[Chiarelli]

Organizations don't use players like Bo Byram to dump contracts, especially if all they're getting back are 4/5 defensemen and bottom six centers.

Florida kinda did with Crouse