After knocking off the top seeded Western conference Flames team and taking the Sharks to 7 games, the Colorado Avalanche have shown the NHL that they are becoming a contender. They added some great prospects at this year's draft and although they have a number of key RFA's to sign, and a big UFA decision in Barrie upcoming, this is a team that looks as though it will be in the mix for a few more deep playoff runs over the next few years.
RFA's
Rantanen - Signs a 5 year contract at a little over 11% of the cap (similar to Patrick Kane's post ELC deal), 5 x $9M. The Avalanche get perhaps a small discount for giving Rantanen the ability to go UFA in his prime.
Kerfoot - Signed medium term as an improving middle six forward 3 x $3.333M
Zadorov - Was very good in the playoffs so he is kept on for three years at $3M
Compher - Signs to a bridge deal betting on himself while allowing the team to see if he continues to improve 2 x 2.625M
Andrighetto - Apparently not part of their plans going forward per recent news. I thought he'd make a decent fourth line forward on a 2 year deal at a slight pay cut 2 x 1.25M.
Dries - One year 13th forward type deal for 800k.
Graves - One year #6/7D type deal for 850k.
Kamanev - Two year deal to play fourth line for 925k.
Greer - Two year deal to play fourth line or develop in the AHL for 800k.
Toninato and Lindholm are qualified for the AHL team.
UFA's
Nemeth, Bourque, Brassard, and Varlamov are let go to find deals elsewhere.
Wilson is offered a 3 x $3M. He may get more money elsewhere after the playoffs he just had, but Colorado won't want to overpay for a middle 6 forward when they have plenty young ones of their own coming up. I expect he will stay aboard on the team that gave him his second chance in order to mentor some of the younger forwards and have a shot to go deep in the playoffs.
Slightly overpay Tim Heed on a one year deal at $1.25M to have an NHL level RHD to cover for injuries to start the year.
With the Avs issues being scoring depth I think they may shoot to get two of the tier two guys (Zuccarello, Nyquist, Dzingel, Lee) rather than one of the upper echelon guys (Panarin, Duchene, Pavelski) if they don't acquire a top six forward in a trade. If they move Barrie for a top 6 forward, then perhaps they open the vault for one of the top UFA's.
Pavelski goes the Iginla route and joins the up and coming Avs on a three year deal at $7.333M as they offer more money than San Jose and he feels they have a similar chance at the cup after seeing the seven game series against them.
Trades
Commented on each in the trades themselves. Overall, the Avs have to decide whether they will re-sign Barrie or move him. Given their defensive prospects that are developing I think they move him, but they can't trade him early in the year without getting a defender back as both Johnson and Cole are recovering from surgeries. I think I found a good fit with Vegas who is trying to shed cap and want a top pairing RD.
Lineup
Byram should get a 9 game audition given the Avs defensive injuries, but they may have to send him back to Jr. to add muscle and develop further as they are already fairly deep at LHD at the back end, especially once Cole gets back. I could also see Timmins getting a look on the right side if he looks recovered from his concussion issues, but I have them looking to a add a short term veteran RHS defender to support the team while Johnson works his way back into the lineup. Like last season, they can load up their top line, or now that they've gone out and added some depth in their top 6, they can spread around the scoring a little.
Washington needs a 6/7 LD with NHL experience in a year they want to go deep into the playoffs. Avs retain money so they can bury him in the AHL if he's beat out by younger defenders and return a seventh in order to entice the Caps to send a better pick for him.
Colorado acquires a top six forward they can use to balance their scoring in Smith, and a #4D in Miller who can help to bridge the gap between Barrie and give time for their younger defenders to grow into their future roles in the top 4.
Vegas gets the offensive minded #1 RD they have been trying to acquire (after missing out on Karlsson). They also likely obtain the cap space they will need to retain Barrie in moving two players with longer contracts for him.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
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