6 rfa's next season to resign and only 4 million coming off the books plus 2 million in bonuses is not a good situation

Edmonton gets their much needed high-end defenseman and unloads Sekera's salary. They give up a 1st and RNH in the process. Colorado upgrades their C position a pretty decent amount in RNH and avoids a future contract dispute with Barrie while also acquiring #10OA.

Avs then sign Tavares at Market Value to create a team with tremendous depth at C - 2 #1C's and 1 #2C. They are complemented by young cheap wingers in Jost, Andrighetto, Kerfoot, and Greer, with a few vets mixed in.

On D the Avs are waiting for Timmins/Makar/Meloche so overpay on Nemeth and Barberio to keep them around on 1 yr contracts. Cole is brought in for some playoff experience and depth. All of Sekera, Cole, Girard, Nemeth, and Barberio compete for playing time while Timmins/Makar/Meloche get another developmental year.

The expiring contracts of Wilson, Nemeth, and Barberio free up cap space (plus cap ceiling increases) for raises to Rantanen, Zadorov and co at seasons end. They are replaced by the cheap rookie D next season. Cole is out the door next year, and Sekera the year after.

There is actually 9m coming off the books next year (Wilson, Nemeth and Barberio). Also, the Cole and Halak contracts could be revisited if forecasting for the future ends up short.

Cole will probably sign for at least $3M

Edmonton gets the short end of this stick!

Way too aggressive on UFAs when Sakic said that the team wants to get even younger and faster. Only one would be attempted to be signed and thats Tavares...the rest wont get even a look at.

And if the Avs pull off a Tavares UFA deal, they wont be trading Barrie for Nuge. That doesnt make any sense to have Tavares, Nuge, and MacKinnon fighting for C duties in your top 6 while you have good young C talent being blocked in Jost, Compher and Kerfoot.

Avs off season is going to be much simpler than this.

1 Top 6 Forward (Winger target JVR, Kane, Neal maybe) - 1 2nd Pairing Dman (Think De Haan), and lock up back up goalie (UFA or trade)...other than that i dont see much more than them staying the course and building the roster through their own picks and prospects

Do you think? I would be curious if this is the case. I am pretty sure Chia is looking to make a deal and really wants and needs what Barrie provides. RNH is pretty expendable with McDavid and Draisaitl. They also get rid of Sekera's contract with only a small amount retained, and Soderberg fits in as a solid #3C which is the role RNH was playing anyways. The cost of acquisition is #10 OA? Doesn't sound that bad to fix the oilers issue on D. They would have Barrie/Klef/Larsson/Nurse//Russell/+1 with McD, Drais, Soda down the middle.

I think this is the year to be aggressive in UFA. Most UFA signings turn out pretty bad, but getting a legit #1C is not something that is ever available in UFA. I don't think I would want any of JVR/Kane/Neal on the team. I'd much rather 'overpay' Tavares than overpay JVR. I would be surprised if Jost or Kerfoot don't remain as wingers in the NHL. I think you could already say Compher and Kamenev would be blocked if Tavares would sign, since Soda would be there in the #3 spot. I'd rather upgrade Soda and sell high on Barrie. I don't see Barrie in the long-term plan for the Avs with Makar and Timmins coming up, but they also can't trade him for Prospects. The Edmonton fit is pretty good and RNH has proven he can be a all-around guy which is what you need in a #3. I don't think RNH competes as a top-six. He's the #3 at ES here with PP and PK time. Maybe he finds some extra minutes when down games by playing on the wing.

It isnt the year to be aggressive. As mentioned in the previous post, with so many RFAs needing contracts in the next 2 years...Rants, Zads, GIrard, Jost, Compher, Kerfoot. You dont build a team through UFA.
That is what happened to Minny and every year they struggle to find ways to get under the cap to sign their own RFAs.

Like I said, the Avs will try to add 3 positions this year. They wont be over spending to to bring in or keep UFAs in Cole, Halák, Barberio and Comeau. Over 10m in cap space is basically dead there. That is over kill and not needed

avs have something special it the makting, they wont torpedo it by doing so many unnecessary moves that makes their team older, slower, and easier to play against with those signings. Outside Tavares, everything else is overkill and really not needed, you are making moves for the sake of making moves and thats not what Sakic does

You realize that Comeau and Barberio were on the Avs this season right? Both played relatively well. Yeah, Comeau could be replaced by someone younger (Greer? Maybe Compher) but he can still skate and brings with him PK proficiency and experience. He is one of the reasons the Avs made the playoffs this year, and he was better than the young guys in the playoffs. Someone has to kill penalties and Comeau is that guy. Originally I was planning on not resigning either of them in this if you don't you end up with a lot of uncertainties. I think these guys earned their contracts and fill a role on the team for at least next season. Maybe he signs a 1yr deal instead of two but thats starting to really split hairs. It's important next year not to take another step back, but the truth is we are waiting for Makar and Timmins and whichever forwards develop over the next couple years that is when our team will really take off, coupled with a Tavares signing and we would become a cup favorite overnight. That's why the older guys we are signing are almost exclusively 1 year deals, so that their salaries expiring can pay for the raises to Rants, Zads, GIrard, Jost, Compher, Kerfoot. None of which other than Rantanen, by the way are due for major raises at this point in time. The rest are still establishing themselves and some of them are almost certainly going to sign modest bridge contracts for the next few seasons.

There is simply nobody really ready to take these roles full-time so Comeau/Barb and Nemeth should all be back. The only additions here are Cole (which you've identified as a need - except you like DeHaan), Tavares, and Halak (who replaces Bernier). I think the backup goalie position matters but I don't think you care too much who it is. This doesn't need to be Halak - just 'someone' who can be a #1B in case Varly gets injured (not unlikely).

Letting Comeau/Barberio/Nemeth walk and rushing guys like Timmins/Meloche would be a huge mistake. It would be far better to give Timmins a year in the AHL and Meloche a year as the primary call-up, not throw him into a #6/7 role where he only gets in every few games. There is just too much uncertainty with the Avs wingers not to keep a guy like Comeau. After next year we will know what we have with Andrighetto, Jost, Kerfoot, Compher and possibly more.

Yes...that why I wrote bring in or keep UFAs. Please read my comments before posting...you talk about rushing in guys. Yes I mention bringing in a 2nd pairing Dman like DeHaan instead, bc hes a better fit than Cole...SO you have EJ Zads, Barrie CDH, Girard Nemeth....how are you rushing in Timmins or Meloche here? You dont bring back Barb and then sign Cole, tossing away cap and roster space. No need for both moves. You make 1 and look at upgrading not move lateral or even back with so many UFA signings. Cole just isnt the target Dman they will be going after, hes just not a good enough skater to be used properly with this Avs Dcore. When you have Lindholm and Siemens as 7th/8th dman to be healthy scratches. There is legit no rushing of Dmen here. Just getting the Dman that makes more sense instead of both Cole and Barbs.

Comeau is fine, and yes it would be nice to keep him but they wont if they have Wilson next year, and they love Bourque so much. Based on what Sakic said they will be trying to get young and faster....Comeau doesnt fit that if thats Sakics plan. This is what happened to the 2013 Avs, they locked up all their old guys after making the playoffs and really painted themselves into a corner. Avs have the ability to add some more speed and youth to a roster that is super talented. Locking up 28-32 year olds that arent really clear upgrades to their own home grown guys....you dont gain anything long term out of this

Nemeth is coming back, hes an RFA,....him, Nieto, and wouldnt be shocked to see them Quality Yak and Siemens too as BSN thinks avs will qualify all their RFAs.