The Best Avs ACGM

That Mittelstadt contract is optimistic even if the Avs can get a good deal.

Habs don't make that trade and Avs need to add to the Philly trade (or just replace Manson).

That's a fair trade offer for Kovacevic (value wise), but I don't think MTL would really want Colton.

You've disappointed me in that Monahan wasn't re-signed by MTL and traded to the Avs for their first round pick in 2026.

Not sure whether MTL would have interest in Colton but Kovacevic is definitely a guy the Avs should be looking at imo but I'd probably pass on the Manson for Laughton deal from the Avs PoV and keep Manson if possible and maybe give Trenin a shot at the 3C job (I like Walker but I'd rather keep Manson's nastiness and physicality over 'more of the same' in Walker and not sure JK has the nastiness of JM). Trenin hasn't really actually played that much at C though even if listed as one (or at least he hasn't taken many face offs which to me means he hasn't played C much) but then the same was true for Colton prior to this year. Yakov has definitely been the most impressive of the 'deadline' additions for me so far, and has a rep for taking other young Russians under his wing and might just have Kovalenko actually on his wing too.

I feel like Colton would make their bottom six better but also recognize they have a lot of forwards when healthy. I could see it happening if they also moved, say Evans.

Ultimately the Avs could move Colton for a pick and make a different offer for Kovacevic, but I went this route for the sake of simplicity.

I think the team needs Walker more than you do. If Kovacevic can be Manson lite, then I think that's enough. Basically it comes down to if Manson + Malinski > Kovacevic + Walker. Close call but I like the latter, and especially if Walker comes on a good deal.

Edit: Fair point about 3C. There are other options, one of which could be Trenin. Maybe even Kovalenko, although it's tough to say considering he hasn't played a single game yet.