GDT: NHL Free Agency | Friday, July 1st, 10am MT (NHLN, TSN) | Black Friday part II

[ABasin]

When the management knows exactly where their team is and what they wanna do, they make the right moves. Does anyone including Sakic and Roy know exactly where their team is and where they headed? Don't think anyone knows. This is the worst period for the Avs organization. Few years back when they were finishing dead last, at least they knew that the team is in rebuild mode, right now it's just big uncertainty where they are and where they headed or what they wanna do.

There's no doubt (IMO) that they are a bit schizophrenic in their approach. The O'Reilly trade was a rebuild transaction, the Boedker/Matthias trades were compete transactions, and the patch-the-holes-in-the-dike UFA signings the other day were again a rebuild transactions.

But, perhaps they really had no choice. The other thing at play is that Sakic/Roy have really hosed themselves in terms of managing the cap. Looking at just Stuart/Iginla, they are essentially paying ~$9M for a 40 year old 3rd line PP specialist. That's arguably worse than what Carolina did with Semin a few years back. If you make such large mistakes, there are going to be ramifications. Hence, they are going to struggle to sign all of their young RFAs and stay under the cap, and even if they manage it, does that look like a playoff roster?

 

[AMDZen]

Granted Iginla turned out to be a mistake but did anyone really see the cliff he would drop off last season? I didn't, can't blame Sakic for not seeing it either.

 

[CB Joe]

I can only hope the Avs get a good price for Iginla at the deadline. I'm not sure Iginla even waves though.

 

[CB Joe]

Granted Iginla turned out to be a mistake but did anyone really see the cliff he would drop off last season? I didn't, can't blame Sakic for not seeing it either.

I think we all knew it would happen but I think most people thought it would be gradual.

 

[ABasin]

Granted Iginla turned out to be a mistake but did anyone really see the cliff he would drop off last season? I didn't, can't blame Sakic for not seeing it either.

Because 38-40 year olds experiencing decline is a secret or something?

 

[Freudian]

Most of us hoped Iginla was able to not be a big liability for two years out of three, just like we hope is the case with Beachemin.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Granted Iginla turned out to be a mistake but did anyone really see the cliff he would drop off last season? I didn't, can't blame Sakic for not seeing it either.

I think we all knew it would happen but I think most people thought it would be gradual.

Because 38-40 year olds experiencing decline is a secret or something?

As Joe said, I think we expected it to be a bit more gradual.

Personally I actually think Tanguay's drop was worse. The season before that he was a trusted two way force that could be put on any line.

I think most of us expected the final year on Iginla's contract to be the real drop off point, not from the damn beginning of his second season with us.

Also the biggest annoyance was that he couldn't be trusted on one of the top three lines, as he was a dead puck on whatever line he played on, and absolutely gave zero effort defensively and physically.

It isn't like we seen a guy playing his heart out who just couldn't produce, instead we got someone who produced a bit because he was floating around letting his name get him the puck in the offensive zone.

Look at Shane Doan, and then look at Iginla. It's easy to be disappointed personally.

 

[Miri]

Because 38-40 year olds experiencing decline is a secret or something?

This. It was bound to happen and it was needless risk. We could have sign our very own Stastny for not even 2 millions per year more, who would not be a burden to this team right now.

 

[landy92mack29]

Anyone wanna do a projected lineup with our roster as of today to kill some boredom? I'm guessing Bigras is going to the AHL which sucks.

Game 1
Landeskog-Mackinnon-Iginla
Colborne-Duchene-Comeau
Grigorenko-Soderberg-Rantanen
Mcleod-Mitchell-Martinsen/PTO

Beauchemin-Johnson
Bigras-Barrie
Zadorov-Tyutin
Gelinas/Wiercioch

Varlamov
Pickard

by game 10
Landeskog-Mackinnon-Rantanen
Colborne-Grigorenko-Duchene
Comeau-Soderberg-Iginla
Mcleod-Mitchell-Martinsen/PTO

Bigras-Johnson
Wiercioch-Barrie
Zadorov-Beauchemin
Tyutin/Gelinas

Varlamov
Pickard

 

[The Kingslayer]

Granted Iginla turned out to be a mistake but did anyone really see the cliff he would drop off last season? I didn't, can't blame Sakic for not seeing it either.

Mistake from the jump brotha.

 

[AslanRH]

This. It was bound to happen and it was needless risk. We could have sign our very own Stastny for not even 2 millions per year more, who would not be a burden to this team right now.

Nah, he's not worth what he's paid....ask anyone

 

[AslanRH]

One of the better parts of looking forward with this team is that depending on the length of Picks and Grigs deals, Sakic will really only need to focus on 1 re-signing over the course of the 2016-17 season. Should be enough time to get it done by April.

 

[Miri]

Nah, he's not worth what he's paid....ask anyone

By now, he is more worth his money than Iggy is. Thats all that matters. Its irrelevant that looking at bigger picture there are better players around NHL playing for less, since we cant have those. We could have Stastny however and if the only alternative was by that time 36 years old Iggy for just 1,5 mio less, we should have gone with Staz. Are there any high profile UFA wingers next summer we can hope to replace Iggy with, who will be available for contract we should deem as fair?

 

[Cousin Eddie]

If Landy is being traded I feel like the Barrie trade will happen first. Otherwise PC will hold leverage over Sakic since it will be obvious the Avs want to move Barrie to get Landy's replacement.

 

[Soedy]

I hope we bring back Skille but I doubt it.

 

[AslanRH]

By now, he is more worth his money than Iggy is. Thats all that matters. Its irrelevant that looking at bigger picture there are better players around NHL playing for less, since we cant have those. We could have Stastny however and if the only alternative was by that time 36 years old Iggy for just 1,5 mio less, we should have gone with Staz. Are there any high profile UFA wingers next summer we can hope to replace Iggy with, who will be available for contract we should deem as fair?

I'm not at all impressed with the UFA list next season once I scratch off the guys who will likely be re-signed (Benn, Steen, Marchand, Oshie, etc) but there is always Radulov!

2018 UFA Forwards

and the defense looks worse than the forwards

 

[tucker3434]

I hope we bring back Skille but I doubt it.

Would make sense. Seems like we need one more tweener to keep Grimaldi in the AHL.

 

[dahrougem2]

Just don't trade Landeskog, Barrie, or Duchene. Re-sign Barrie and MacKinnon to long-term contracts, re-sign Grigorenko and Pickard as well. Play out the season giving some kids good minutes in the NHL, and other kids huge minutes in the AHL. Try like all hell to move Iginla for any semblance of an asset at the trade deadline, and try to move players like Mitchell, McLeod, etc as well. If we make the playoffs, great. If not, it's ok. Iginla, Tyutin, Gelinas, Weircioch, Mitchell, Stuart's buyout, that's almost 16M coming off the books next summer. There should be no reason to not re-sign MacKinnon and Barrie, even if you have to overpay both by a little bit. The kids are coming and will be on good contracts, don't ruin this team by trading the good, young players because you've made mistakes with veteran players, most of whom suck.

 

[LieutenantDangle]

Landeskog-Mackinnon-Grigorenko
Colborne-Soderberg-Duchene
Comeau-Rantanen-Iginla
Martinsen-Compher-McLeod
Barrie-EJ
Zadorov-Tyutin
Gelinas-Beauchemin​

big minutes for barrie ej and equal minutes for the other two pairings, while beauch gets big pk minutes and gelinas and zadorov get pp minutes

 

[Hans Landaskog]

Why is everyone so hell bent on putting Barrie on the left side, he's 1 of only 2 natural RD we have....

 

[Mighty Makar]

Just don't trade Landeskog, Barrie, or Duchene. Re-sign Barrie and MacKinnon to long-term contracts, re-sign Grigorenko and Pickard as well. Play out the season giving some kids good minutes in the NHL, and other kids huge minutes in the AHL. Try like all hell to move Iginla for any semblance of an asset at the trade deadline, and try to move players like Mitchell, McLeod, etc as well. If we make the playoffs, great. If not, it's ok. Iginla, Tyutin, Gelinas, Weircioch, Mitchell, Stuart's buyout, that's almost 16M coming off the books next summer. There should be no reason to not re-sign MacKinnon and Barrie, even if you have to overpay both by a little bit. The kids are coming and will be on good contracts, don't ruin this team by trading the good, young players because you've made mistakes with veteran players, most of whom suck.

Agreed!

 

[LieutenantDangle]

Why is everyone so hell bent on putting Barrie on the left side, he's 1 of only 2 natural RD we have....

it would be because we dont have anyone else that can play big minutes. i mean sure, if you want to see a zombie shell of beauch by grinding him into the ground playing big minutes next to EJ then barrie can slot in the 2nd pairing. Ideally Zadorov could play top line minutes, but he's just not ready yet. Also this isn't an exercise on what I want, its an exercise on what i believe the starting lineup will be barring any trades

 

[Avs44]

Why is everyone so hell bent on putting Barrie on the left side, he's 1 of only 2 natural RD we have....

Multiple reasons...Beauchemin really did not look great next to EJ, nor can Beauchemin handle an entire 82 game season handling big minutes, so EJ could use a different partner from somewhere. Beauchemin and Zadorov also played really well together last year, so moving Beauchemin to the right side with Zadorov could end up being a nice pairing for the Avs. Also, Barrie is the type of defender who should have stable partner so he can let loose, having him have to deal with the mistakes a kid like Zadorov will inevitably make is just holding him back. Thus, if Barrie could make it work on the left, he could handle big minutes on the top pairing, have a stable defensive partner, and give EJ someone who can move the puck. I certainly hope that if Barrie stays Roy gives it a shot.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

HFB implosion in 5... 4... 3...

 

[Mighty Makar]

HFB implosion in 5... 4... 3...

You just saw that new thread on the trade forum eh? That rumor is from yesterday and it's most likely false.