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

[Richard88]

There are trades made all the time, there are horrible trades made all the time, and there are good trades made all the time. I get it, there is a certain time to stop comparing, aka Lindros and Forsberg trades, sure, but Hossa was in the post-salary cap area so it's fair game (any trade in the post salary cap area I believe can be used as a comparison tool).

Can you find a comparable for a top 6 C when there was only one top 6 C available and 75% of playoff teams bidding?

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Can you find a comparable for a top 6 C when there was only one top 6 C available and 75% of playoff teams bidding?

Exactly. The market is brutal. The cost is super high but what can you do?

 

[a mangy Meowth]

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.

I vote #9

 

[Grigowski]

I like this trade and the fact that CMac didnt wait until the last minute and strike first (Cobra Kai MacFarland).

Now trade Mittelstadt for O`Reilly. Boom... (dont kill me for this one)

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Can you find a comparable for a top 6 C when there was only one top 6 C available and 75% of playoff teams bidding?

and one who is a nearly perfect style fit for us. Oh and at a $3M cap hit

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Professional of @The Mars Volchenkov to not actually share his personal opinion of Ritchie.

I know TMV doesn’t really like him.

I’ve probably said it before but I think Gulyayev is the better prospect.

Ritchie could be a good 2C one day but I think that’s it. This is still a steep price to pay but not surprised they did it.

Will be surprised if Casey is here in 12 hours.

 

[DrunkTurtle]

Can Nelson even be at his best in a Bednar system?

Also that's some price for a guy who could walk in 20+ games.

 

[Valushkin]

A guy like Ritchie at cost control who will be ready to contribute next year could be so valuable

Ritchie might be ready to contribute next year for a none playoff team, but he wasn’t gonna contribute for the Avs to win the cup.

In NHL 7 games played 1 point

World juniors as a #1 center 5 games played 2 points

He might just be an overrated prospect

 

[Richard88]

There are trades made all the time, there are horrible trades made all the time, and there are good trades made all the time. I get it, there is a certain time to stop comparing, aka Lindros and Forsberg trades, sure, but Hossa was in the post-salary cap area so it's fair game (any trade in the post salary cap area I believe can be used as a comparison tool).

Can you please provide a comparable trade involving a top 6 center where:

- said player was the only (or at least by far the best) top 6 C on the market;
- ~75% of playoff teams (10-12 teams reported) were bidding; and
- no NTC's or NMC's influencing the price.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Can Nelson even be at his best in a Bednar system?

Also that's some price for a guy who could walk in 20+ games.

Nelsons skating seems fine which is crucial

 

[sethro109]

Can Nelson even be at his best in a Bednar system?

Nelson plays a fast game. Has over 130+ 20 MPH speedbursts this season. With Nuke and JD on his wings, you'd expect him to excel there. But like most players, you'll have to give him some time to adjust to Bednar's weird system.

 

[MacKaRtin]

Can you please provide a comparable trade involving a top 6 center where:

- said player was the only (or at least by far the best) top 6 C on the market;
- ~75% of playoff teams (10-12 teams reported) were bidding; and
- no NTC's or NMC's influencing the price.

I agree with this line of hectoring. Claude Giroux, who had trade protection, went for a 1st rounder and Owen Tippett, who odds are will have a better NHL career than Ritchie in 2022. Surely that's similar to the return that the Islanders got for Nelson when there were a bajillion bidders?

 

[Richard88]

No way Mitts is on this team tomorrow. Absolutely no place for him at this point.

Hopefully a solid dman coming our way.

I'd much rather have Mittelstadt/Drury as 3C/4C than Drury/Kelly

 

[DrunkTurtle]

Extend the guy to a reasonable contract and the trade looks much better.

Avs will probably play Dallas in the 1st round and there are no guarantees that their season won't end there.

 

[Richard88]

Very talented centre who has the projection to be a #2 centre in the NHL. Very offensively gifted and has high IQ and passing ability. He can dish it and shoot it, but he tends to pass the puck a lot like Alex Tanguay. I don't think he will ever fix that, but he is an all-around offensive force. Defensively, he was horrible and why he was sent down. He will never be a strong defensive player, but a lot of his mistakes will be teachable.

Why would you want to teach him to make mistakes?

 

[DrunkTurtle]

I'd much rather have Mittelstadt/Drury as 3C/4C than Drury/Kelly

No question. The Avs need to add to their depth not get worse.

 

[Valushkin]

I'd much rather have Mittelstadt/Drury as 3C/4C than Drury/Kelly

Maybe by trading Mitts, we get a natural 3C, and a RD. I’m not sure if Mitts is fit to play a 3C.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Can Nelson even be at his best in a Bednar system?

Also that's some price for a guy who could walk in 20+ games.

Nelson is a fast shoot first C. Yah I think he will do just fine.

 

[DrunkTurtle]

Nelson is a fast shoot first C. Yah I think he will do just fine.

That's perfect for us. The team needs both shooters and a #2C badly.

Now extend the guy, don't let him walk not at this price.

 

[Richard88]

Have the Avs ever made so many trades in one year?!

Two new goalies,
Shipped out Rants,
Necas,
Nelson,
Lundgrin…


Lets f***ing get another cup boys

When did we acquire Dolph Lundgren?

 

[Valushkin]

When did we acquire Dolph Lundgren?

Dolph Lundgren actually looks younger than Nelson and he’s 67 years old

 

[Vaslof]

Ritchie might be ready to contribute next year for a none playoff team, but he wasn’t gonna contribute for the Avs to win the cup.

In NHL 7 games played 1 point

World juniors as a #1 center 5 games played 2 points

He might just be an overrated prospect

People who watch him play seem to disagree. If he is as good as people say, he should be ready to contribute sooner rather than later.

 

[Richard88]

Statistically, going after the best rental very rarely works out. When Avs won in 2022, we didn't go after the best rentals at all. We made shrewd moves for players to fix our holes by giving a ton of prime assets, but also had years left. This move isn't shrewd at all, it is just going after the best player. Yes, he fixes a hole we have, but I suggest we could have done better.

Manson didn't have term left, so there was a risk he'd walk. Same with Nelson.

Curious who you would have targeted instead to resolve the hole at 2C?

 

[DrunkTurtle]

Wouldn't mind trying Necas next to Nelson. Necas can set up plays and carry the puck, Nelson does the goalscoring.

 

[MattMartin]

As a Islander fan, hope he gets you a cup. Think you will be very happy to have him.