Confirmed with Link: Avs re-sign Keaton Middleton for 2 years

[Tommy Shelby]

This org seems to do well with big, late blooming AHLers. Graves, Englund, Burroughs and now Middleton. It's probably why they're hanging on to Ludvig, he's a similar type of galoot

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I saw someone mention this the other day. I think I've only just realised our Middleton isn't the Middleton I'd heard of.

Honestly, his brother would be great to solidify the defense.

 

[LTCPain75]

In another thread someone called him "Foote Lite". I like that

 

[RoyIsALegend]

 

[GirardSpinorama]

The 3 extra years in the AHL has done some good with his game.

 

[willy702]

From what I've been told, he's a guy that teammates love. Great in the room, busts his ass at practice, very receptive to coaching and advice.

For league minimum and as a 7D type guy who can play some games and provide toughness, you could do a lot worse than him.

Yeah you could get stuck with MacDermid. So glad they took that option away from Bednar.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Credit to Aaron Schneekloth, great coach.

 

[Bender]

From what I've been told, he's a guy that teammates love. Great in the room, busts his ass at practice, very receptive to coaching and advice.

For league minimum and as a 7D type guy who can play some games and provide toughness, you could do a lot worse than him.

How can you not love this guy after listening to that interview?!

 

[Balthazar]

He looks like he's 39, not 26

Definitely a likeable dude though.

 

[ABasin]

From what I've been told, he's a guy that teammates love. Great in the room, busts his ass at practice, very receptive to coaching and advice.

For league minimum and as a 7D type guy who can play some games and provide toughness, you could do a lot worse than him.

Expectations should be set accordingly. If he's just a depth piece, I'm good.

And I believe enforcer types are still meaningful in today's game. I like the toughness, the attitude, the effort.

That said, his speed and mobility are not NHL-caliber.

 

[dahrougem2]

Expectations should be set accordingly. If he's just a depth piece, I'm good.

And I believe enforcer types are still meaningful in today's game. I like the toughness, the attitude, the effort.

That said, his speed and mobility are not NHL-caliber.

Strongly disagree on the mobility aspect. He's shown in his limited time that he's getting around the ice just fine, especially on this club.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Expectations should be set accordingly. If he's just a depth piece, I'm good.

And I believe enforcer types are still meaningful in today's game. I like the toughness, the attitude, the effort.

That said, his speed and mobility are not NHL-caliber.

Coachable (hockey sense is nhl caliber) big mean guys can survive in the NHL without mobility. Its the ones who make poor decisions AND is immobile that will really struggle.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

So awesome to see a guy like Keaton getting to hold court in the locker-room with the media.

I hope this day and these memories stay vivid for him him for a long time as he's worked his ass off to get to this point. With guys like this, I feel they are more a product of hard work and perseverence than any innate skill.

I think my favorite bit of the Q&A was when he talked about how good this Avs team is... and they WANT him to be a part of it. Standing back and thinking about that from his perspective, that really has to be just about one of the greatests feelings in the world. Also, loved that he immediately went to talking about continuing to work and saying the job isn't done and he needs to continue to build/earn trust.

I wouldn't mind seeing him get more games than he has, but I wouldn't necessarily consider him an everyday defender either. Just like earning this contract, that will take a lot of time as Bednar seems to have taken a real fondness to CDH.

 

[Cypher]

League minimum and 2-way contract for year 1 is fine, as long as he's a depth dman and not regular top6 guy.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Credit to Aaron Schneekloth, great coach.

Would love a run down on him if you actually follow the AHL a bit.

I'm generally interested because I remember a lot of players talking about Cronin doing such a great job getting them ready for the NHL. This is the first time I've heard a player shout out Schneekloth.

I want to like the guy, he played for the Houston Aeros, my favorite IHL team from way back in the day...however, I believe the IHL folded and they had joined the AHL by the time he played for them. Anyways, I would love to hear more about him and any of his stronger characteristics as a coach.

 

[Bender]

The prophecy has come to pass!!!!

 

[expatriatedtexan]

League minimum and 2-way contract for year 1 is fine, as long as he's a depth dman and not regular top6 guy.

I think you're confusing Keaten with Kurtis. Middleton hasn't played forward for us...

I think you must be confused. MacDermid didn't actually play in our top six...it just took him so long to skate to the bench for a change, that it looked like he was out there with the top two lines a bunch more than he should've been.



[edit...I hope you know I'm just joshing.]

 

[katfude]

*attempts to resist urge*

*fails*

250K OVERPAID

 

[Gumballhead]

What a beauty. He’s like Sasquatch had a baby with Screech from Saved by the Bell. Sascreech.

 

[CobraAcesS]

The prophecy has come to pass!!!!

View attachment 954965

Young Guns? Looks like a picture of Joe Thornton..

The prophecy has come to pass!!!!

View attachment 954965

Wait.. that card is worth 15$? Inflation is fo real.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

The prophecy has come to pass!!!!

View attachment 954965

A dollar for each goal he'll score next year.

 

[CobraAcesS]

A dollar for each goal he'll score next year.

*career you mean?

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

*career you mean?

His career year? You bet. He'll have 15 playoff goals in 2026. Most of them when they sweep the Oilers in 3 games.

15 playoff goals will only be surpassed by generational Quinn Hughes. Who will do so in 2027, 2027, 2029, and 2030.

 

[Cypher]

Seems like the Avs are trying to lock up all their other pieces so they know exactly how much they can offer Mikko. Currently sitting at 72.145m with 16 players for next year.

Hopefully they re-up Kivi (UFA) and Parssinen and Malinski (RFAs) in the coming weeks. That'll bring it up to around 77m with 19 players.

Leaves 15.4 m for Mikko, Drouin, and 2 depth dmen (CDH/Kylington). It's very much do-able.

 

[AVSfan2daMAX]

Credit to him for making the most of his opportunity this season. From AHL call up to a multi-year extension in a month speaks to his play.

Reminds me of Andreas Englund from a couple seasons ago.