GDT: NHL Free Agent Frenzy 2024

[S E P H]

What are the thoughts here about Tyler Johnson for the 3rd/4th line centre role? Avs need to do something to force Wagner out of the lineup as the extra forward.

 

[Balthazar]

Just because Brännström signed for free with the Avs doesn't mean he would have signed the same deal with any other team. Some markets are undesired by free agents and so Girard having some term would actually be attractive for certain teams.

Nah, the gap between those contracts is way too big for similar players

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Look, I want to move Girard as much as the next guy, but who would replace him? If Bo were still here, sure. But there isn't a single top-4 caliber defensemen on the roster or in the system after Makar, Toews, Manson and G. Behrens has an outside shot of one day being a top-4 guy, but that day is far away. And Brannstrom just ain't it. So unless a top4 D making less than G is the return, he's staying.

 

[hockeyfish]

What are the thoughts here about Tyler Johnson for the 3rd/4th line centre role? Avs need to do something to force Wagner out of the lineup as the extra forward.

Think I'd rather just have Wagner.

 

[Ararana]

Who would move into the top 4 on D then?

Avs have one of the best top 6 and top 4 in the league. Don’t mess with it.

Out of curiosity, which one of Landeskog or Nuke do you think is getting injected into the top six to give them 'one of the best'?

 

[BobRossColton]

Girard+2nd for kurashev ?

 

[The Abusement Park]

What are the thoughts here about Tyler Johnson for the 3rd/4th line centre role? Avs need to do something to force Wagner out of the lineup as the extra forward.

My thoughts are that we would still need a 3/4C.

 

[Richard88]

What are the thoughts here about Tyler Johnson for the 3rd/4th line centre role? Avs need to do something to force Wagner out of the lineup as the extra forward.

Avs need a bottom 6 C who Bednar can rely on defensively, especially with PK and face-offs. Is Tyler Johnson that guy? Doubtful.

 

[dahrougem2]

What are the thoughts here about Tyler Johnson for the 3rd/4th line centre role? Avs need to do something to force Wagner out of the lineup as the extra forward.

He has played wing for years now

 

[AslanRH]

the new dude and Girard are not remotely interchangeable.
The exhibited floor of one is the exhibited ceiling of the other at this point.

 

[Avs9296]

Brethren, with all due respect he was supposed to play six months ago and another six months before that. He got the extra surgery and now they're going to be extra cautious with him. I would be shocked if he plays at the season opener or any time this year 2024. He probably gets his first game somewhere around March after the Four Nations gimmick and at that point, he should honestly be shut down until the playoffs. Think about it, we could've used his money for Marchessault if he already tested out his leg and realised he couldn't play anymore. I want Landeskog back as much as anybody, but we're approaching three years now and at some point, you have to come to the conclusion from the Avs point of view that he's handicapping the team more than helping. Has that point come yet? Not sure yet, but I do know that Avs missed out on an extremely good free-agent class because of this situation.

What your suggesting is purposefully shutting him down for cap space reasons if he is able to play.

I'm saying if he's able to play he needs to start playing because the longer he takes off the less likely it is he'll have a somewhat normal NHL career afterwards.

 

[Linds]

What are the thoughts here about Tyler Johnson for the 3rd/4th line centre role? Avs need to do something to force Wagner out of the lineup as the extra forward.

Does he still play C? I thought he moved to the wing

 

[UncleRisto]

Does he still play C? I thought he moved to the wing

No, of course he did.

 

[MacKaRant]

Brethren, with all due respect he was supposed to play six months ago and another six months before that. He got the extra surgery and now they're going to be extra cautious with him. I would be shocked if he plays at the season opener or any time this year 2024. He probably gets his first game somewhere around March after the Four Nations gimmick and at that point, he should honestly be shut down until the playoffs. Think about it, we could've used his money for Marchessault if he already tested out his leg and realised he couldn't play anymore. I want Landeskog back as much as anybody, but we're approaching three years now and at some point, you have to come to the conclusion from the Avs point of view that he's handicapping the team more than helping. Has that point come yet? Not sure yet, but I do know that Avs missed out on an extremely good free-agent class because of this situation.

I agree that this is the season that we need to figure out whether Landy will be a player for us during the final years of the contract or whether he'll be on permanent LTIR for the duration.

I don't see how this summer could have played out differently though. Landy is not being traded and he's not actually retiring and giving up that money, so what can he or the Avs even do?

The earlier he comes back this season the better--as long as we know what is the prognosis by the TDL, I think we can make this work.

 

[EdAVSfan]

Every year we sign some guy for cheap and immediately have him replace an established roster player on our team.

I say this regularly. But it’s astounding to me how much time you guys seem to have to be able to watch ALL the other teams play and hone in on specific players and how good they are.

 

[Foppa2118]

Who would move into the top 4 on D then?

Avs have one of the best top 6 and top 4 in the league. Don’t mess with it.

I think if G was traded, it would be for a cheaper, buy low, less proven, puck moving D.

If Manson is moved, it would be for a cheaper, buy low, less proven, big, physical stay at home D type.

They'd probably just replace them with a similar guy, and they're pretty good at finding buy low candidates, looking to prove themselves.

 

[The Moops]

I think if G was traded, it would be for a cheaper, buy low, less proven, puck moving D.

If Manson is moved, it would be for a cheaper, buy low, less proven, big, physical stay at home D type.

They'd probably just replace them with a similar guy, and they're pretty good at finding buy low candidates, looking to prove themselves.

Who would you try to replace Girard and Manson with?

 

[Mighty Makar]

Who would you try to replace Girard and Manson with?

Provorov, Savard, Larsson.

 

[PAZ]

He isn't, but one of the Avs biggest kryptonite of the past couple of seasons is heavy forechequing teams (Vegas, Dallas, and some degree Seattle) and you're supposed to improve in those weaknesses, but Avs got absolutely worse in this regard with him in the top 6. He got eaten alive by clubs like Florida, Carolina, Boston, and Philly before they fell off the cliff.

Brannstrom is fine for the regular season, frankly ideal when teams play at a lower intensity.

As long as they find a replacement at the TDL i'm good with the signing.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Provorov, Savard, Larsson.

Dont need to replace Manson, he was fine. We do need a good PKer though, give me Larsson plz

 

[dahrougem2]

I'm fine with the team as-is until the TDL, then would love if both Seattle and Montreal were on the outs and we could acquire Brandon Tanev, Adam Larsson, and Joel Armia. Give it one final hurrah before Mikko's new boat anchor contract kicks in.

 

[Richard88]

I think if G was traded, it would be for a cheaper, buy low, less proven, puck moving D.

If Manson is moved, it would be for a cheaper, buy low, less proven, big, physical stay at home D type.

They'd probably just replace them with a similar guy, and they're pretty good at finding buy low candidates, looking to prove themselves.

The fact that the rumoured ask in a potential Colton trade was a cost-controlled RHD seems to indicate that the front office recognises that RHD is their biggest priority right now.

Manson is 33 and behind him at RHD there's nobody in the organisation with legit top 4 upside (or even top 6 depending on what you think of Malinski).

The pipeline for LHD's is also comparatively good with Behrens and Gulyayev behind Girard who himself is still at a prime age.

Point being it's likely that the Avs will try to target a RHD specifically in any prospective trade in the near future, whether it's Colton, Girard, Manson, or anyone else getting moved.

 

[Freaky Styley]

There's still an opportunity to sign Kylington for relatively cheap and trade G. Not without it's risks either

 

[Tommy Shelby]

I wouldn't be surprised to see us sign Justin Schultz to a 1-year, cheap deal

 

[dahrougem2]

I wouldn't be surprised to see us sign Justin Schultz to a 1-year, cheap deal

Avs have signed 4 UFAs if you include Drouin for what is likely the NHL roster. I'd be very surprised if they sign anyone else. PTO? Perhaps, but signing from now? I doubt it.