Too much going on in that Avs trade. I’m going to split it into Compher+1st for Couture and all the other stuff for Nieto+3rd.

Couture is too old to get moved easily. $1.5M retention for so long is probably too much for any team. Couture isn’t a 1st round pick better than Compher when you consider how heavy his contract looks moving forward. Maybe the fit is right if Couture is 3-5 years younger.

Kaut is meh, Beaucage is promising but not an A prospect, MacDermid is awful but the team seems to like him. I like Nieto, but he’s probably not moving the needle much. I wouldn’t complain about this deal necessarily but it doesn’t really make sense to me for Colorado.

I see where your coming from but Couture could be one of the best deadline pickups in a long time, and for not too much either (a very late first an expiring contract and two low B-level prospects) His playoff track record is insane, he's providing almost a point per game with awful linemates on a very bad team this year, he also provides leadership, experience, and I think would fit perfectly on Colorados second line

Without the ability to pre-negotiate a contract extension, NJD will wait a few months.

Zetterlund isn't some throw in for the Devils, he's basically emerging as a top 6 winger for them.
I cannot see the Devils parting with him as he plays a big role on the Devils roster and adding him to Holtz + 2nd makes it very much an overpayment for Meier anyway.
Hope the Devils don't consider this if offered.

Yeah I feel that. Maybe I’m too gunshy about aging players, but I don’t want anything to do with term for someone that is signed from age 33 to 38. He’ll probably be good (great, even) for the next couple years, but that contract could turn sour.

Same reason why the Avs weren’t willing to give Kadri the big payday. Late 30s players with a lot of mileage on their body rarely can keep up the same level of production (unless you’re Crosby or Pavelski)

Even retained Couture creates big cap problems for COL, throw in his age and this is a COL isn’t even interested scenario. Props for being creative.