I mean, the team looks great, the D looks to have a lot of potential, but I am concerned with a few things. I don't think Timmins is ready to be thrust into a top-4 spots and handle those minutes yet. I don't think Byram is ready for big-game responsibility either, even though there I'd agree it is likely we see him in the NHL in 2020-21. My sense on D is that Colorado should go after someone like Chris Tanev. He'd look might good playing with a number of these youngsters on the backend. As a cheaper option, I think the Avs should consider Radko Gudas. He'd be a cheaper option with less term require than Tanev.

At forward, though it would cost more than simply dollars (ie a UFA signing), I would look for a better fit in the top-6 then Mike Hoffman. I am not sure how well he would do playing the type of game the Avs run, and his locker room presence is still very much up in the air as far as I am concerned. As far as good fits go, the Avs might consider Kasperi Kapanen from the Leafs, who has experience playing with Kadri. I would also think the Jake Virtanen, though he'd be tough to pry away from the Canucks (Shane Bowers, prospect +), would look mighty terrific beside Kadri. That would be a line to mess with. In the event teams are given a CBO, there would be a very real chance Anaheim would buy-out Adam Henrique. I think Henrique's style would be a good fit with this group as well, even if he's a natural centre and could potentially fill either the 2C or 3C slot, which gives this team some great middle depth. If the Avs could pry the rights to Josh Anderson away from Columbus, I think he would look stellar on this team as well, and that probably wouldn't cost the Avs a whole lot. Other potential targets might include Nikolaj Ehlers from the Jets (though the Avs would have to pony up NHL-ready D), Jonathan Drouin from the Habs and Connor Brown or Anthony Duclair from the Sens.

Dude. I think somewhere you forgot to include consideration for things like: A) The Playoffs are Physical. Like. Age you in Dog Years Physical. B) The Locker Room matters. What am I getting at? You giving away EJ does so much bad all at once. It screams to our core that you don’t respect and honor their Contracts let alone their sacrifices on and off the ice for the team’s greater good. And come Playoffs, having a legit body who can clear the front and fight and throw the body around and who is a total stand in front of the media, take accountability, team first guy, is the ONLY way players like Makar and Bowen can comfortably continue to grow into the players they are to become. Giving away your best defensive d-man within the conference is a catastrophic move.

There is no need to buy out Johnson as he is still effective at the role he is asked to play albeit overpaid.

Hoffman is a hard pass at that contract. That’s to much term and to much money for a guy that is already in his 30’s has the potential to be a locker room cancer (or his girlfriend). A guy like Toffoli who is younger and cheaper, or Dadonov even Namestikov would be a better option.

Burakovsky is also going to get more $ than that. How do you think a 25yr old who is having a better season than Hoffman is going to sign for $3M less than him?

If we're handing out $7m+ contracts I'd much rather give it to Burakovsky than Hoffman. Not that I think Bura should get that, but my point is just that Hoffman isn't a good fit for this team. We don't need another shooter on the 2nd line, and there are questions about lockerroom fit.

Also, not that I think CBO's or a johnson buyout will happen, but what would be the point in buying him out if you're going to roll with $7m in unused capspace? Makes no sense.

Kaut isn't a C btw, he's a RW.

That Hoffman contract is ugly and buying out Johnson is a bad idea

Too much for graves low on Bura

I'd prefer not to buy out johnson yet, even if the last year or two of his contract will be ugly. don't like the hoffman contract. i'd be ok with that money on a 1yr term but that's a far as i'd go.
too much term and money for graves.