@Richard88

How I picture it.

Colorado can have Staal for just the 3rd. They already have a 3c probably for next year in Arttu Ruotsalainen.

Interesting idea.

Why would Nashville do that trade though? Jarnkrok costs half as much as Donskoi and produces basically the same amount of offense. If they move Jarnkrok it's because they're commiting to a rebuild, and Donskoi does nothing for them. Jost is young enough to fit a rebuild though so makes a lot more sense for them.

Don't you think it's a little ambitious to expect a 23 year old 'prospect' with zero experience in North America to just slide into a 3C role?

Buffalo made a similar mistake by moving O'Reilly thinking that Mittelstadt could replace him and that didn't work out great.

That's the tricky part. It probably takes a sweetener better than Kamenev, but I put him in since they drafted him.

Logic for them would be to still try and be competitive while also rebuilding a bit. Otherwise maybe a guy like Forsberg bails. Whether that logic is sound is questionable but that is my thought process.

Arttu is already in Rochester playing top line minutes in the ahl.

He has played in 216 Liga games. He’s playing in the AHL now. And is wasting his time. His defense has been really good too. Hopefully they can see him in NHL action this year.

My move if I were Joe would be to work a trade for Staal, giving the coaching staff the chance to put pieces around him to find what works with a veteran center. It would be great to move out one of Donny or JTC but I don't know. I think you'd almost have to give the pick in order for them to take him but, as mentioned, they may not be able to protect Compher but they also may not want to - if he gets picked, so what? I keep coming back to the Avs needing that 3C situation to improve before they can do much else.

They were also asking Mittelstadt to replace O’Reilly as the second line center, less than a calendar year out of high school. They were asking for too much. Artuu is significantly more experienced and older than Casey was when this was being asked of him. I’d be more concerned if they plan to ask Dylan Cozens to play second line center next year.

That's reasonable. They'd probably bite if you offered Donskoi + 3rd I think. They're unlikely to be a very attractive destination for free agents the next couple of years if they're rebuilding, so swapping Janrkrok for a guy with a little extra term might work if they also get that futures piece in the form of a pick.

Ah sorry, his capfriendly page didn't include AHL stats so I overlooked that. Thanks for clarifying. That makes a lot more sense that he could be an option next season if he's in the AHL now, especially if he gets a callup at some stage and does well.

If we're paying a 3rd + prospect sort of price for Staal there's a case for going all-in and just doing Compher+1st instead. The difference between a late 1st and 3rd + prospect might not even be that great given that this draft class is considered weak and also underscouted.

I agree with your last point about a 3C. The moves I've suggested for Iafallo and Jarnkrok have always been in conjuction with adding a 3C, rather than being the only additions. Avs 100% need a 3C.