Équipe: 2020-21 Avalanche du Colorado

Date de création initiale: 27 avr. 2020

Publié: 27 avr. 2020

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

This roster is based on Graves being traded for futures. Short-term it isn't ideal as it removes Makar's current D partner, but with Zadorov resigned and Byram gradually easing into the team the loss of Graves will be manageable.

Offseason moves:

- Resign Burakovsky, Jost, Nichuskin, and Zadorov.

- Trade Graves to Montreal for 2 2nds (i.e. 2020 #38 and #39).
----> Montreal gets a young top 4 LHD in exchange for their extra picks.
----> Colorado has a logjam at LHD with Byram arriving, and this move gains them extra picks that can be used to boost the prospect pool. 2020 is a particularly important draft for Colorado given that prospects are usually around 3 years away from being ready, and that would put them in line to make the team on ELC's in 2023 right when Mackinnon's new deal kicks in. As such it makes a lot of sense to stock up on some high picks this year more than most.

- Avs go into the season with $6m in capspace just like this year, allowing them maximum flexibility to take advantage of trade situations that may arise during the season, as well as at the deadline.


********* 2020 DRAFT *********

With the 27th, 38th, and 39th draft picks Colorado selects:

- #27: JJ Peterka, an extremely fast and skilful scoring RW. (Alternatively RW/C Jacob Perrault).
- #38: Justin Barron, a solid all-around RHD who likely falls out of the 1st round due to injuries in his draft year. (Alternatively Topi Niemelä)
- #39: William Wallinder, a big and physical all-round physical LHD (Alternatively LHD Lukas Cormier or LHD Isaak Phillips, though the latter might be a reach due to his rawness and better targeted at #85).

The logic for these selections is two-fold:

1. Draft Value (BPA)
- The value in the late 1st will be in skilful forwards who have fallen in the 1st round, so a forward with a high ceiling makes sense there.
- There aren't a lot of Dmen at the top of the draft, but they will be highly valued early in the 2nd round.

2. Team Needs
Firstly, beyond Newhook and Kaut the prospect pool lacks high-end scoring talent. Ranta, Mutala, and Beaucage have potential, but they are mid-round pick long-shots with weaknesses to work on. It thus makes sense to augment the pool with a scoring winger with top 6 potential. The Avs roster/depth is very deep with young centers (i.e. Newhook, Bowers, Jost, Kamenev), so it makes sense to focus on wing rather than C.

Secondly, defensemen take longer to develop, and with an eye on post-Mackinnon-contract years it makes sense to draft Dmen capable of replacing Johnson and Zadorov. Drafting Dmen also safe-guards against the possibility of Timmins having concussion problems again, as well as the possibility of Helleson and/or Zhuravlyov not making it. By selecting a LHD and RHD Colorado's D would be very deep and completely set for the long-term and they could focus on forwards in subsequent drafts.


******** EXPANSION DRAFT **********

Protected (7+3+1):
- Mackinnon, Rantanen, Landeskog, Kadri, Burakovsky, Donskoi, Jost;
- Makar, Girard, Johnson (NMC)
- Grubauer.

Exposed: Compher, Nichuskin, Zadorov, Francouz.

Alternatively Johnson could be asked to waive his NMC (and we pay Seattle to not select him) so that we can protect Zadorov.

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