Speculation: Landeskog back means Avs no longer have LTIR space for next season

[Bjornar Moxnes]

The Avs have 8.7mill cap space with 2-4 players to sign. While in theory this still gives them enough cap space to get a 21-22 man roster, they have ton of notable UFAs and RFAs in Nelson, Drouin, Lindgren, and Malinski. I don't think they're going to end up keeping all of them, and depending on Nelson's ask, they might not even be able to keep more than 1.

What do you think happens? Do you think they trade Colton, Manson, Girard, etc.?

 

[BKarchitect]

I mean - first Landeskog has to make it fully back. He's cleared another big hurdle, and I expect him to be back on the Avs roster for the playoffs - but there's no telling how his body will respond to a post-season of pummeling.

There's a very non-zero chance that Gabe comes back from one last hurrah and run, giving everything he's got left to give...and that's all she wrote.

If it's more than that and he is ready to go for a much longer stay, the Avs will have to make decisions and trades just like any team up against the cap. Not re-signing Nelson and dealing Colton and one of Girard or Manson certainly seem like the logical initial choices.

 

[Crow]

Cap dump with a 2nd or 3rd to Chicago for future considerationz

 

[LemonSauceD]

Nichuskin/Colton/Manson seem like obvious cap casualties.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Nuke isnt going anywhere unless he gets himself suspended in which case his cap is gone anyways.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Miles Wood seems like the obvious guy to jettison.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Just because he's coming back doesn't mean it will work out for him.

 

[shadow1]

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Necas
Lehkonen-______-Nichushkin
Wood-Coyle-Colton
Kelly-Drury-O'Connor

Toews-Makar
Girard-Manson
Middleton-________

Blackwood
Wedgewood

---

They're in okay shape. If push came to shove, they probably have enough cap space to keep Malinski(RFA) and Nelson.

But I think there will be some piece shuffling, too. Colton's NTC becomes an M-NTC this summer. I think there's a decent chance he and Wood get dealt to keep Drouin and maybe Kiviranta. I also think there's a high chance Manson (final year) gets dealt to keep Lindgren.

 

[Mr. Met]

He'll play the playoffs and be back on LTIR after

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Let's not be naive. He will be back on LTIR next season. Look at the Clarke MacArthur situation as an example of this.

For those not familiar, he had multiple head or neck injuries, retired down to Florida or something. But being a stay at home dad in the suburbs of the OC (orange county) was slowly eating away at his soul. He missed Erik Karlsson a lot. So he decided that he couldn't live with himself if he didn't give it one last go around. He returned late in the season, just as Landeskog is doing. Played in the playoffs while Sieloff watched in anger. Then after a magical run, he conveniently failed his physical again.

I think the reality with LTIR is that there is a choose your own adventure component. A lot of players could technically fail an LTIR physical, but play through long-term issues. As soon as it is mutually beneficial for the player and team for them to go on LTIR, they do that. I am not saying every single LTIRetired player could play through their ailment, but it's pretty clear that there is some wiggle room for players who can or who want to.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

It isn't nearly as dire as you seem to think...


They have 11F, 5D, and 2G signed for that cap. They really only need to sign ~3 more guys.

If they want to keep Nelson, they'll have to make some space, but they have a few guys they could move to make that space.



But they could also just as easily not keep Nelson and instead keep literally everyone else.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Let's not be naive. He will be back on LTIR next season. Look at the Clarke MacArthur situation as an example of this.

For those not familiar, he had multiple head or neck injuries, retired down to Florida or something. But being a stay at home dad in the suburbs of the OC (orange county) was slowly eating away at his soul. He missed Erik Karlsson a lot. So he decided that he couldn't live with himself if he didn't give it one last go around. He returned late in the season, just as Landeskog is doing. Played in the playoffs while Sieloff watched in anger. Then after a magical run, he conveniently failed his physical again.

I think the reality with LTIR is that there is a choose your own adventure component. A lot of players could technically fail an LTIR physical, but play through long-term issues. As soon as it is mutually beneficial for the player and team for them to go on LTIR, they do that. I am not saying every single LTIRetired player could play through their ailment, but it's pretty clear that there is some wiggle room for players who can or who want to.

Incredibly dumb post. Wow.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Incredibly dumb post. Wow.

Do you sincerely believe that players don't play through injuries that otherwise might allow them to qualify for LTIR? We already have at least one historical public case with Hossa and his retirement due to his skin condition, that he previously willingly played through. Did Hossa's issue just become too much for him to play through coincidentally as soon as his compensation fell and Chicago's window began closing?

Do you sincerely believe that teams don't have any ability to manipulate LTIR, within reason. I am not suggesting a healthy player can be forced on LTIR. But we've very clearly seen with the timing that players are placed on and off LTIR, along with things like the accusations of Joffrey Lupul towards the Leafs.

There is a reasonable enough amount of evidence that points to LTIR being somewhat of a fluid system that with some injuries can be manipulated to the benefit of the team and/or player.

Do you not think this is a reasonable take? I get that calling it the OC isn't the best look.

 

[willy702]

They figure out a way, they always do. A combination of trades, letting guys go and dark arts from CMac and the Avs will manage to stay under the cap.

 

[jackjohnson]

View attachment 1010111
The Avs have 8.7mill cap space with 2-4 players to sign. While in theory this still gives them enough cap space to get a 21-22 man roster, they have ton of notable UFAs and RFAs in Nelson, Drouin, Lindgren, and Malinski. I don't think they're going to end up keeping all of them, and depending on Nelson's ask, they might not even be able to keep more than 1.

What do you think happens? Do you think they trade Colton, Manson, Girard, etc.?

Perfect for Canucks to pounce in the off-season. Sign Brock Nelson and maybe get Benett as well.

Debrusk-Pettersson-Hoglander
Bennett-Nelson-Suter
Joshua-Chytil-Garland
Connor-Blueger-Sherwood
Raty

Hughes-Willander
M. Pettersson-Hronek
E. Petterssson-Myers
Forbort, Mancini

Demko
Lankinen

Keep 1st, Willander etc.

Make it happen Alvin
6 NHL caliber center should make us insulated from injuries and maybe thats what we need with 2 injury prone centers in Chytil and Pettersson. If both get injured, at least we would have Bennett and Nelson to cover for them. Boeser not signed due to cap, and Hoglander could always be traded to make more cap room if needed.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Perfect for Canucks to pounce in the off-season. Sign Brock Nelson and maybe get Benett as well.

Debrusk-Pettersson-Hoglander
Bennett-Nelson-Suter
Joshua-Chytil-Garland
Connor-Blueger-Sherwood
Raty

Hughes-Willander
M. Pettersson-Hronek
E. Petterssson-Myers
Forbort, Mancini

Demko
Lankinen

Keep 1st, Willander etc.

Make it happen Alvin
6 NHL caliber center should make us insulated from injuries and maybe thats what we need with 2 injury prone centers in Chytil and Pettersson. If both get injured, at least we would have Bennett and Nelson to cover for them. Boeser not signed due to cap, and Hoglander could always be traded to make more cap room if needed.

The nucks have a lot more cap space but not enough to sign all three of Nelson, Bennett, and Suter lmao.

 

[archangel2]

IF he stays healthy

 

[jackjohnson]

The nucks have a lot more cap space but not enough to sign all three of Nelson, Bennett, and Suter lmao.

Nelson would not require much cap. Bennett would be getting Boeser money. Suter might be tricky but Hoglander could always be traded to make room for Suter's current salary plus Hoglander's salary would be his raise.

 

[landy]

Nelson gone -$3M
Drouin gone -$2.5M (cant stay healthy)
Lindgren gone -$2.25M
Malinski cheap deal +$1.5M
Georgiev retention gone -$500k
Landeskog back in +$7M
Vesey gone -$800k
Coyle likely gone but try to get to extend for $3-4M -$5.25M

Total is saving $4.7M in cap space assuming that ^



UFA/RFA
Extend Necas - $9M hopefully for 6-8 years +2.5M
Extend Drury - $2.5-3M hopefully +.750k
EJ retire or $1M deal - same
Wedgewood extend for $1.5M - same
Kiviranta extend for 2-3 years $2-2.5M +$1.5M
Kelly extend for 2-3 years $1.5-2M +1.5M
Most importantly plan ahead for Cale's big deal

Assuming this, we spend $6.25Mish so need to find $1.5M and obv a couple decent bodies

Forwards lost - 4 (Nelson, Drouin, Vesey, Coyle)
Forwards gained - 1 (Landy)
Dmen lost - 1 (Lindgren)
Dmen gained - 0


Trade bait
Manson
Colton
Girard
Wood

Some work to do but nothing insane and use trade bait to improve wherever needed or keep as is. But yes, Avs are not going ham on UFA day. The team is definitely worse off, but thats what "going for it" this season means. A lot rides on Landy being able to perform at a $7M level.

 

[AvStock]

They figure out a way, they always do. A combination of trades, letting guys go and dark arts from CMac and the Avs will manage to stay under the cap.

Dark arts? You mean dumb arts? Have you seen what he’s done the past 3 years?

 

[AslanRH]

If he truly is good to go, ideally it will be Colton and/or Wood that go.

 

[AvsGuy]

Ross Colton's gotta go. Production vs. dollars has just not been there

 

[Freaky Styley]

I know it's been mentioned but this thread is very premature. Very likely that all the theatrics are for one last run with the team before he retires in the offseason.

IIRC he mentioned he's never going to be able to play pain free

 

[M88K]

It's probably going to be like Bishop.
He's going to play 1-2 games in the AHL and realize it's unfortunately over.
Sucks for him if it does play out like that, but if he's not going to be able to play without pain... Well there's more important things than hockey.

 

[EdAVSfan]

Nelson gone -$3M
Drouin gone -$2.5M (cant stay healthy)
Lindgren gone -$2.25M
Malinski cheap deal +$1.5M
Georgiev retention gone -$500k
Landeskog back in +$7M
Vesey gone -$800k
Coyle likely gone but try to get to extend for $3-4M -$5.25M

Total is saving $4.7M in cap space assuming that ^



UFA/RFA
Extend Necas - $9M hopefully for 6-8 years +2.5M
Extend Drury - $2.5-3M hopefully +.750k
EJ retire or $1M deal - same
Wedgewood extend for $1.5M - same
Kiviranta extend for 2-3 years $2-2.5M +$1.5M
Kelly extend for 2-3 years $1.5-2M +1.5M
Most importantly plan ahead for Cale's big deal

Assuming this, we spend $6.25Mish so need to find $1.5M and obv a couple decent bodies

Forwards lost - 4 (Nelson, Drouin, Vesey, Coyle)
Forwards gained - 1 (Landy)
Dmen lost - 1 (Lindgren)
Dmen gained - 0


Trade bait
Manson
Colton
Girard
Wood

Some work to do but nothing insane and use trade bait to improve wherever needed or keep as is. But yes, Avs are not going ham on UFA day. The team is definitely worse off, but thats what "going for it" this season means. A lot rides on Landy being able to perform at a $7M level.

Im super confused. Is this a projection for the 2026-2027 season?
Because for 2025-2026, Necas, Drury, Kelly and Wedgewood area already under contract.