Not sure I'd take that package, but something like Tyson Jost, Martin Kaut, Nicolas Meloche and Ottawa's #4 pick might do it.

Super low on the Kerfoot and Compher contracts

I'd say for Kane it would be for Kaut, Timmins, Andrighetto, and the #4 OA Pick

LMAO and the Avs would keep the four young players, including three first rounders.

LMAO and the Avs would keep Kaut, Timmins, Andrighetto and the 4th OA.

Kane is 30 and will likely only trend downwards from here. Not saying it's for certain, but it happens to the majority of players, and all that for maxing your cap and paying him 10.5 for the next 5 years. Acquiring Kane also means you're giving up one of Andrighetto, Compher or Kerfoot as you're way too low on those deals for Kerfoot & Compher and let Zadorov walk.......bravo!

That's all good, but none of those guys will help you win it all now. I'm not defending the trade, but sometimes it does make sense to pay what you have to in order to get the best player possible. Colorado has cap space to play with. Using it for a guy like Kane wouldn't be a bad move. If you don't agree, that's cool. If you do, then it's just a question of haggling.

I do find it interesting seeing Andrighetto's name being flashed around as though he were some great prize. He had a brilliant 19 games after being traded from Montreal and then has reverted to the mean. He's a 20-30 point journeyman, a flashy one at time, but nothing more.

That of course is the problem. Staying with the program is smarter as I still don't believe the Avs are in the 'win it now' window. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they do. I don't think Kane for the loss of those players and picks will make the difference, plus adding in the loss of players you can't afford to sign. This trade is basically losing 4 future prospects, Jost, Timmins, Dickinson, Zadorov and one of Compher or Kerfoot at least, plus most likely losing one of Girard or Barrie the following season. The defence is weakened by this roster, even if secondary scoring improves.

Naw, that's not right. The Avs have roughly $10M in cap space this year and, assuming the cap goes up by its annual $2M or so, you're starting with $12M. In a few weeks, Wilson, Brassard and Nemeth all come off the payroll, freeing another $9.5M. There is also the buyout of Orpik, which was a $2.5M hit this year and falls to $1.5M next year -- a net gain of $1M. So now we're at $22.5M. Assuming you want to re-sign Varlamov, he'll get a modest raise of $1M so, for simplicity sake, you're starting this signing season with $21.5M.

Let's assume Sakic is being generous and gives Kerfoot, Compher and Rantanen big contracts of $4M, $4M and $8M for next year. That's $16M, still leaving $5.5M.

Now let's assume you wanted Kane. That would mean trading off one of Soderberg, Kerfoot or Compher -- you wouldn't be giving them away and you'd get well compensated in the form of picks and/or prospects -- and you'd still be under the cap.

Fast forward to next summer, you have Barrie's $5.5M coming off the books (assuming Makar will emerge as the second RD), Soderberg's $4.75M, and another $1.5M being freed up after Orpik's buyout ends. So that's $11.75M. Add on the annual increase of $2M and you've got $13.5M or so to spend on Jost and Girard.

You can afford Kane. The only question is whether you want him.

Lot of assumptions on a best case scenario, plus no re-signing of Zadorov who is likely to take the best part of the 5.5 to lock up long term. Soderberg we're assuming either waives his M-NTC or they can work out a deal with a team he's willing to go to. Why would the Avs not re-sign Compher, Kerfoot & Zadorov? Makes no sense.

In addition I'll repeat. One player doesn't make a hockey team, especially one most likely to be on the decline. As this kind of cap usage means they can't add anyone else. Look at the team above. There is 3 mil of extra space in 19-20 (using your 2 mil rise and the extra 1 from Orpik). No Brassard. No Wilson. No Zadorov. No Varlamov. No Nemeth. Underpaid Rantanen, Kerfoot & Compher. Instead we have 3 bad UFAs (Hagelin, Benn, Hammond) and one not so bad (Nelson) who likely gets more to stay an Islander.

You're right. I missed Zadorov, but he's not going to get big $$ -- certainly less than $1M raise.

As for not re-signing the others, I wrote explicitly: "Let's assume Sakic is being generous and gives Kerfoot, Compher and Rantanen big contracts of $4M, $4M and $8M for next year. That's $16M, still leaving $5.5M. " They're all signed. You'd likely want to trade one of the forwards to make room for Kane, which would free up most of the cap space you'd need to take Kane on, even if Chicago kept none of his contract.

I disagree on Zadorov if they want to lock him u long term and I'll repeat, look up above, the cap space is now under 1 mil. Add on your 2 mil raise plus 1 mil from Orpik and you have 3 mil. With that you have to sign Zadorov, and Compher & Kerfoot to realistic money as well as sign a back up goalie as Hammond isn't realistic. Rantanen is more than likely 8-9 so there's another mil gone. The maths simply doesn't work for signing one guy who I will will repeat is likely to deteriorate and won't add in the long term only subtract. This premise really is subtraction by addition.