Colorado Avs

[claremont]

Is this a team in trouble for 2023-24 improvement? With the Valeri Nicuskin contract signed for 7 more years at $6.125M and the evidence of the intoxicated Russian / Ukrainian born woman found in his hotel custodial room, and his leave of absence for personal reasons, cast an incredible shadow? One would think so, and innocent until proven guilty but a lot of smoke here. Will he go on some form of LTIR substance abuse or similar extended leave or can his contract be voided for deterimental conduct?

Even if he plays, this team has cap room of $13.225M as constructed per cap friendly - 6F, 5D, 2G. LHD sometimes plays right Bowen Byram is certain to get some form of raise in the range of $3.5M to $4.5M in a bridge.  Alex Newhook (14g, 20a) will likely get a $1.5M - $2m bridge. They have $637,500 in bonus overages per puck pedia to be carried forward.  So that's say $6.5M at best to fill 6F, 1D to get to a 23 man roster. Yes they need all the LTIR room from Nicushkin. There is little in their prospect pool to get excited about so this team will likely shop for some bargain filler type contracts in the over the hill UFA pool - Jason spezza types anyone?

The avs have their 1st round pick. Seems a shame to let Mackinnon, Landeskog, Rantanen, Makar not have a stronger supporting cast for the year. LHD and sometimes plays right Samuel Girard $5M for 4 more years - have to wonder if he is in play for a trade.  The teams core is strong but the supporting cast especially bottom 6 forwards will be weak. 

[Habsology2]

It can't be just down to one person for the team's collapse. I don't know, the vibe in that team just didn't seem right, even before the Nicushkin issues. Maybe they should have gone out and gotten a top flight goalie to account for ups and downs.

[maas_art]

1 hour ago, claremont said:

LHD and sometimes plays right Samuel Girard $5M for 4 more years - have to wonder if he is in play for a trade.  The teams core is strong but the supporting cast especially bottom 6 forwards will be weak. 

In regards to Girard specifically & other converted LHD in general: Id be very surprised if Hughes would even consider trading for a LH Dman who plays his offside.

Why? 

Because we already have a plethora of talent at LHD:   Matheson, Guhle, Harris, Xhekaj & possibly our best prospect: Hutson (plus Eddy although I think he's gone this summer) At RHD we have a competent group of 2nd and 3rd pairing guys in Savard, Barron, Kovacevic, and prospect Mailloux.   What we lack is a true top pairing RHD (or at least another quality top 4.)   

While many coaches are fine with using a dman on his off side in a #4-6 capacity, its almost unheard of to do so in a top pairing situation.  So while Girardi is a quality top 4, if we dont need him for LHD i just dont see us having any interest in him or anyone else like him. 

[claremont]

4 hours ago, maas_art said:

In regards to Girard specifically & other converted LHD in general: Id be very surprised if Hughes would even consider trading for a LH Dman who plays his offside.

Why? 

Because we already have a plethora of talent at LHD:   Matheson, Guhle, Harris, Xhekaj & possibly our best prospect: Hutson (plus Eddy although I think he's gone this summer) At RHD we have a competent group of 2nd and 3rd pairing guys in Savard, Barron, Kovacevic, and prospect Mailloux.   What we lack is a true top pairing RHD (or at least another quality top 4.)   

While many coaches are fine with using a dman on his off side in a #4-6 capacity, its almost unheard of to do so in a top pairing situation.  So while Girardi is a quality top 4, if we dont need him for LHD i just dont see us having any interest in him or anyone else like him. 

Entirely agree there - btw Colorado is another example of a team with cap management needing bottom 6 cheap forwards. The market for Drouin getting a cheap contract deal (1 year term < $2M) could be very strong. There might not be a lot of teams that will want to bid up on a UFA like Monahan given the other UFA's that are on the market and not exactly a lot of teams flush with cap money

[maas_art]

1 hour ago, claremont said:

There might not be a lot of teams that will want to bid up on a UFA like Monahan given the other UFA's that are on the market and not exactly a lot of teams flush with cap money

I honestly think, unless we hit a home run & draft Bedard or Fantilli, there's a very very good chance we resign Monahan to a 1 year deal.

If we come out of this draft with a high end centre like Smith, Moore or Yager (either with our pick or with another acquired pick) then we may have all the centre depth we need (New guy + Suzuki + Dach + Beck + Evans + Dvorak) but may want a 1 year band-aid solution.

For Monohan, if he believes last year's injuries were a freak accident then he has 2 choices:

1 year show me deal + a long term deal next summer 
or
Long term deal this summer, almost certainly for a much lower cap hit (if anyone will even give him anything).

Sure, he could try to re-establish himself on a contender on a 1 year deal but who is giving him the ice time we would?  I think its a win-win situation - again, totally dependant on how we fare at the draft.  If we manage to snag #1 or #2 then we likely dont resign Monahan. 

[claremont]

22 minutes ago, maas_art said:

I honestly think, unless we hit a home run & draft Bedard or Fantilli, there's a very very good chance we resign Monahan to a 1 year deal.

If we come out of this draft with a high end centre like Smith, Moore or Yager (either with our pick or with another acquired pick) then we may have all the centre depth we need (New guy + Suzuki + Dach + Beck + Evans + Dvorak) but may want a 1 year band-aid solution.

For Monohan, if he believes last year's injuries were a freak accident then he has 2 choices:

1 year show me deal + a long term deal next summer 
or
Long term deal this summer, almost certainly for a much lower cap hit (if anyone will even give him anything).

Sure, he could try to re-establish himself on a contender on a 1 year deal but who is giving him the ice time we would?  I think its a win-win situation - again, totally dependant on how we fare at the draft.  If we manage to snag #1 or #2 then we likely dont resign Monahan. 

Certainly hope we can land Fantilli or even Bedard and luck out for Smith. With the exception of Bedard, I don't think either one plays next year in the NHL - certainly not Smith who is committed to Boston U, but Fantilli is interesting - what more does a Hobey Baker award winner have to learn in the NCAA but I suspect he returns there. I concur with you a 1 year band-aid solution or even 2 year is required. A 2 year puts a bit of pressure on DVO to up his game or either the newbie or DVO become more valuable at next year's trade deadline. 

[CaptWelly]

39 minutes ago, claremont said:

Certainly hope we can land Fantilli or even Bedard and luck out for Smith. With the exception of Bedard, I don't think either one plays next year in the NHL - certainly not Smith who is committed to Boston U, but Fantilli is interesting - what more does a Hobey Baker award winner have to learn in the NCAA but I suspect he returns there. I concur with you a 1 year band-aid solution or even 2 year is required. A 2 year puts a bit of pressure on DVO to up his game or either the newbie or DVO become more valuable at next year's trade deadline. 

I will say with Fantilli I would not be surprised whoever he ends up with if he plays in the NHL. He has size , I know he's young but he's already got the full beard and he is strong and fast. He also has some serious skill and moves. Slav played the whole year though I think it would of been better for him in the AHL. I know he has size but doesn't know how to utilize it yet and at one point not only falling on his own a lot he was being lined up and hit pretty good. Fantilli has been playing in North America and playing NCAA, has been playing against men mostly 18-24/25 in NCAA. They also get more weight room and nutrition playing NCAA. He's one if you watched him play at all didn't shy away from any physical play and is strong for his age. 

[jennifer_rocket]

Colorado have only six total draft picks in the first four rounds of the next three drafts. Are we thinking they would deal any of those away? I suppose it's possible, but man... I feel like you have to try to hang on to those. They also have supporting cast guys like Compher, Eller, Rodrigues, Cogliano, Helm, Johnson, and a few others with UFA status. Colorado sort of feels like a team that MIGHT be on a decline. Landeskog hasn't been close to a full season since 2018-19. I know they have some amazing top end talent with the likes of Mackinnon, Rantanen, and Makar, but... I don't know. They don't strike me as a Cup favorite over the next few seasons. I know, I know, they just won the Cup. I get it. I suppose they might look for trading partners to add depth to keep them competitive. Maybe Montreal can help there. Josh Anderson as a possible target for them?