Thrilling offseason

Not terribly interested in Kessel - too slow and defensively useless plus he has term after this year. I'm sure he can still score but he would weigh this team down.

Scratching Cole is wasteful. Avs would be better off finding a trade partner who would be willing to take him if Avs retained half his salary but I think they will keep him and play him. Byram isn't as ready as some people seem to believe. If Timmins can stay healthy, I hope he does get to play but his comfortability in his own zone seemed suspect when he did play.

It would be better to have Kaut in the lineup than OC; he has far more offensive potential. OC is a good 13th forward and I like what he brings but there are guys with more talent who need to get into the lineup.

I dont care if kessel is bad defensively hes out there to score against the leagues second pairing dmen, with kadri who is good defensively..

I also dont think byram is ready a full nhl season but I dont think there is any merit to sending him to the WHL when their likely wont be a season at this rate, the avs will need 7 nhl dmen as EJ is likely to be injured at some point and barberio going to the swiss league.

Kaut has been loaned out to the Czechs league and will not be on the 20-21 squad

The Avs are going to care that he is slow and a defensive liability. There are better options.

Byram doesn't benefit from playing in the WHL but they could send him to Sweden (possibly). Barberio isn't even under contract with the Avs. There are options available for depth D.

What makes you so sure Kaut won't play in the NHL this year? He's on loan which means he can be recalled any time. He's a better option than OC to hold down a regular roster spot.

I think they've built a good enough team where they dont need phillip to be defensive minded, bellemare, calvert, kadri, nish

And who's better than kessel at that price?