Backlund trade might be a little weak - Calgary fans, lmk. There is stuff that can be added.

Your 1st this year is definitely more enticing.

Definitely what I was expecting. That would be fine, too. Just hoping to part with next years’ if I could.

What the RyJo trade told me was the Avs aren't really interested in moving 1sts for help. They're going to look to take players off cap-strapped team's hands and find value wherever they can that doesn't cost them assets to acquire. A year of 34 y/o Backlund, even at half retained, isn't worth a 1st to Avs brass.

Fair with Ryjo just acquired its tough to say, but crazy if you ask me.
He's one of the best defensive C in the league, and his cap hit isn't that bad and would likely extend at a capfriendly hit (lower) to potentially contend with the Avs.
That 1st round pick isn't going to help the Avs go for another cup in their current window, I'd expect the Avs to invest heavily in a C with Landeskog down for next year too.

I'm just telling you that the Avs are very, VERY reluctant to part with 1sts. The only time they've done it in recent history is to acquire Darcy Kuemper because they couldn't re-sign Grubauer and they got desperate. There are other good forwards that will be available and I think their strategy will be to see what shakes loose that they can acquire for very little capital. They are especially disinterested in trading for old, expiring players even if they are good. Agree or disagree with the strategy, they don't trade 1sts as freely as some other teams do.

Yeah, I don’t really know if they do this, but I do like the Avs 1) signing known quantities in ERod and JJ, and 2) grabbing ANOTHER center if they can. It’s a little tight on cap tbh.

I agree rhey can find a cheaper 3rd center depth in free agency then trade a 1st for a 34 yr old.

Yeah, one of the real questions I wanted to pose here is 1) are any of the UFAs centers at 2.5mil or less any better, and 2) does newhook on the wing make more sense

u on drugs if u think Avs FO is saying no to Backlund with retention for the 27th pick

Yeah, the Avs just dropped a 2nd for a Lars Eller rental at the TDL, I’m not sure why this would be that crazy. I would prefer not this year’s first but I’d still consider it. You get a huuuuge safety net in Backlund. And a great locker room presence.

Say this deal doesn't happen. Fast forward to the TDL. Flames are gonna move Backlund. Avs offer that first. Is it out of line then? Absolutely not. Why would it be out of line now? And knowing this year's pick is as low as 27? Sorry, that's an easy yes from CMac & Co. Avs WOULD definitely prefer to move 2024 though because everyone in the NHL likes the 2023 draft class.

Avs trading a first for sharangovich, that's your 3rd center

U on drugs if you think the Avs - the real FO, not the ACGM's here - are likely to do a deal like this; they just don't do things like this. They'd trade a 7th to Pitt for Granlund at $1.5M retained before they'd do a deal like this.

Yeah, that's a possibility, too. I do think some (most) people get way too hung up on position rather than the quality of the player in general.

The Avs dropped a 2nd on Eller and regretted it. I can practically guarantee they make this year's pick unless a truly great deal comes along from a team that wants that pick real bad.

yeah, fair. And I like the Granlund idea. Just trying to see if another center that we pick up via trade would be a good option, bc I think the winger trade market is a tad more difficult to navigate this year. I think Mackinnon, Johansen, Newhook, and Meyers is a totally fine set of centers.

I think there are some people within the org that are ready to move Newhook to the wing. Didn't Bednar mention how much he liked Newhook on the wing? And with the rumors about the Avs not being out on JTC yet, it makes me think they are probably planning to give him a shot at 2LW if ERod gets too expensive.

I actually think the Avs are going to stay out of an overpriced UFA market and see what shakes loose after the big frenzy is over; that's how they landed ERod last year. And, honestly, if he doesn't get what he wants in UFA, he could be back which would be fine; he'd be a good 3rd liner that can play up if needed. He's actually a decent upgrade over JTC for playing that role.