No way. That's too much to give up for 2 years of Hertl - they will need those ELCs in a few years

I think Byram for Hertl 1 for 1 is fair.

Just a delusional trade

That is a pretty fair deal. If the sharks were rebuilding I would 100% take this

F*ck no. Hertl's good, but not THAT good.

That’s a horrific trade for the Avs. Also Newhook isn’t signing this year especially with the NCAA letting players play major junior this year.

I don't think Kaut is going to become a major player (feel free to remove him from the trade, for say a mid-round-pick instead). Compher isn't on an ELC. So, I assume that Byram is the sticking point.

It seems to me that by the time Mackinnon's contract is up, Byram's ELC will also have run out (as will have Johnson's contract, etc.)

Hertl is a #1 center signed to a fantastic contract (and nothing prevents the Avalanche from signing him for longer). Kaut is a B prospect, Compher is a third-liner, and the first-rounder is going to be late. The main asset going back is Byram, and as much as he is shiny and new and young, I don't think he is a slam-dunk to be a superstar in this league. Hertl assuredly, absolutely, inarguably, is a massive boost to Colorado NOW.

And, just as inarguably, Colorado's window is open NOW. They should be pushing their chips in, trading futures for current assets, and making a run of it. After all, they have just one more season of Makar on a discount deal and just three more of Mackinnon's sweetheart deal.

To be honest we'd rather have Newhook

that toronto trade is a joke right