Confirmed with Link: Avs acquire C Brock Nelson (50% retained) + F William Dufour for F Cal Ritchie + D Oliver Kylington + 2026 1st + Cond. 2028 3rd

[Ararana]

Avs fans: "We need to be all-in. Have to get a 2C at any cost."

CMac lands literally the #1 center on the market without giving up anything from the pro roster.

Also Avs fans: "That's too much! WTF overpayment!"

Seriously f*** the caution. f*** the prospects. f*** the picks.

Put your best foot forward to win now. This might be the first trade cMac has made as GM that shows me he cares about trying to win now.

Now trade a Mitts package for Marchand and Carlo and set the league on fire.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Not the biggest Ritchie fan but that package still does seem like a lot for a rental player with a lot of miles. Overall I'm still happy they went out and got one of the better players available but boy the cupboard is bare and we likely still have the 2C problem next year.

 

[Richard88]

Not the biggest Ritchie fan but that package still does seem like a lot for a rental player with a lot of miles. Overall I'm still happy they went out and got one of the better players available but boy the cupboard is bare and we likely still have the 2C problem next year.

Given how rarely CMac trades for big rentals one would think he'll make an attempt to re-sign Nelson.

 

[Murzu]

Given how rarely CMac trades for big rentals one would think he'll make an attempt to re-sign Nelson.

Let's play this game. Mr. Sakic, how would our cap look like with Nelson signed to 8M x 4yrs contract (Isles offered 3 years and Nelson wanted 4-5 it seems)? Assuming Landy doesn't come back.

 

[Ararana]

Let's play this game. Mr. Sakic, how would our cap look like with Nelson signed to 8M x 4yrs contract (Isles offered 3 years and Nelson wanted 4-5 it seems)? Assuming Landy doesn't come back.

Shipping Mitts out alone pays for 5.75 of that 8 million. Only need to find 2.25 million and that shouldn't be too hard.

 

[BrockLobster]

Take good care of brock. Thats my guy. Now go get him a cup!

 

[Tralfamadore]

Given how rarely CMac trades for big rentals one would think he'll make an attempt to re-sign Nelson.

That'd be nice but how many years does Nelson actually have as a good center? I assume he's looking for a retirement contract that takes him into his late 30s.

 

[On Edge]

Wishing Nelson well and will be rooting for you guys in run for SC.

Fun fact on Nelson, his uncle is Dave Christian from 1980 Olympic hockey team, his mom’s brother. Hockey royalty!

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Shipping Mitts out alone pays for 5.75 of that 8 million. Only need to find 2.25 million and that shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Chiarelli]

This is CMac’s team now, let’s see what he’s built.
Ritchie is not good. I don’t even know if he’s an nhler, his skillset isn’t built for bottom 6 and I don’t know if he’s got the chops for top 6. Certainly not at center.

Avs won the bidding war

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Shipping Mitts out alone pays for 5.75 of that 8 million. Only need to find 2.25 million and that shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

View attachment 988769

In the Penalty Box is the most lore-accurate depiction of his dumb ass

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

Do I get to be the first person to call him Neljost?

 

[Richard88]

Let's play this game. Mr. Sakic, how would our cap look like with Nelson signed to 8M x 4yrs contract (Isles offered 3 years and Nelson wanted 4-5 it seems)? Assuming Landy doesn't come back.

Cap is rising, it would be doable

 

[Hasbro]

Our window was closed past 2002. We just did not realize at the time. If We could not beat SJ in 2004 with team we had, Regehr would not have made difference.

I was not high on Nelson, but going all in is a right choice. We are going to suck once MacK/Makar years are up, its inevitable. We are not Dallas to draft the likes of Hintz, Robertson, Johnston, Harley, Benn, etc… in late first or second and keep being relevant.

Dingman though…

 

[Freaky Styley]

He could be... Either way cost controlled includes his RFA years I like the sound of that while Makar and Mac arent old compared to a 35 year old

He won't be. I think Ritchie is being a little overrated. His stock has dropped since last year.

Not saying he can't be an effective player in that time, he just won't be ready to be a difference maker for the Avs/a contender.

Better to view Nelson as a rental. Maybe they re-sign him but he's not a long term solution. You have to give to get, and he was the best C available and a legit 2C to fill our hole. Winnipeg, Toronto, etc etc are disappointed today. Hell, Dallas might acquire Rantanen just in response.

 

[Freaky Styley]

Tampa can draft, so they have no problem getting rid of 1sts, 2nds, or 3rds, when they're able to find an NHL player in the 4th round. I am not talking about a top 6 forward or top 3 defenceman here, but good depth pieces to go along with their stars. So, they always have a depth piece on the cut of replacing someone they will eventually lose to UFA or age. We do not have that luxury.

I just think there's this feeling that you can win a Cup while also building for the future. IMO that mindset is death for a GM and leads to being the modern Dallas Stars or Carolina Hurricanes.

At some point you need to push your chips in. For the Avs the next 3 years need to be the focus. Anything beyond that is gravy, but MacKinnon and Makar are at the top of their games RIGHT NOW. With them playing like they are we have the ability to win as long as there's no glaring weaknesses.

 

[Freaky Styley]

What’s difficult for me isn’t the trade, it’s the asset management. What could Byram+Ritchie+2026 first gotten us last year?

It feels like we did patch work and avoided going all in during so many years where we truly had a chance and now we’re going all in, but I can’t help but feel there’s a lot of what ifs.

With that being said, what we have is the now. Let’s f***ing win one more boys!

Hindsight is 20/20 always. If Mitts was playing the way he did to end last year/start this year you wouldn't be having this feeling. If this trade takes some pressure off Mitts and he elevates his game it's even better. If he is now moved for an upgrade elsewhere maybe the team is even better. I would opt to keep the C depth right now though and add another D

 

[LOFIN]

If we recoup some assets with a Mittelstadt trade and then extended Nelson, could work out nicely.

 

[TatteredTornNFrayed]

Another positive aspect is Winnipeg was reportedly trying to get Nelson as well, so we keep them from getting him. Avs will have to likely go through Winnipeg to get where we hope to go.

 

[AvsMakar08]

I don't want to sound too greedy but maybe Sid would want to join our team.

 

[Gumballhead]

So... He can't wear 29. He can't wear 92. Looks like he's worn 21, 8, and 11 for team USA. He can't wear 21 or 8, so I'll say he rocks #11.

For the year he was born, 1911.

 

[Chiarelli]

What’s the report on Dufour, anything there?

He had good stats as a 20/21 year old his first season in the AHL but has trended down two years in a row now. He’s big, can he skate? What’s his game?

 

[Thrasymachus]

Brock is a beast!

Enjoy him Avs fans.

He does basically everything well, maybe nothing exceptional, but he is a very solid centre. He slotting in as your #2 or #3? He is a very serviceable top six forward, if he is on your third line you guys will have absolutely filthy forward depth.

What’s the report on Dufour, anything there?

He had good stats as a 20/21 year old his first season in the AHL but has trended down two years in a row now. He’s big, can he skate? What’s his game?

He had some promising potential in the AHL, truth be told he has stagnated because our AHL team is absolutely abysmal. With coaching + the right environment I think he has some potential to develop as a depth forward. But he is more of a top six oriented guy so I am curious how he adjusts his two way game going forward.

Skating is his biggest weakness I am afraid But that can always be improved. John Tavares had an absolutely horrid stride his first year on the island.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Brock is a beast!

Enjoy him Avs fans.

He does basically everything well, maybe nothing exceptional, but he is a very solid centre. He slotting in as your #2 or #3? He is a very serviceable top six forward, if he is on your third line you guys will have absolutely filthy forward depth.


He had some promising potential in the AHL, truth be told he has stagnated because our AHL team is absolutely abysmal. With coaching + the right environment I think he has some potential to develop as a depth forward. But he is more of a top six oriented guy so I am curious how he adjusts his two way game going forward.

Skating is his biggest weakness I am afraid But that can always be improved. John Tavares had an absolutely horrid stride his first year on the island.

He'll be playing 2C and bumping Mittelstadt down to 3C.