Team: 2021-22 Colorado Avalanche

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 22, 2021

Published: Nov. 24, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Colorado’s Perspective
- The Avs are on an offensive tear right now, but their scoring depth has been challenged in previous playoffs.
-They lost Saad and Donskoi in the offseason. Resurgences from Kadri and Compher have helped make up for the losses, and hopefully Newhook continues to improve. But they could still use another middle-six forward.
-Donskoi is obviously a familiar face that fits Colorado’s style. He played on all four lines and both ways on special teams as an Av. He had 33 goals & 64 points in 116 games (approx 23 g / 45 p pace over 82 GP).
-Donskoi is signed through 22-23, which is key as the Avs have three important pending UFA forwards in Kadri, Burakovsky, and Nichushkin.
-With Kaut, they give up a younger player who they hope could become a versatile middle-six forward. As a team in win-now mode, there’s more value with the established player.
-The retained salary is necessary to make this trade work. Adding MacDermid gives Colorado a little more wiggle room financially. Once Francouz returns, if they take Matteau off LTIR they can start accruing daily cap space again (I think).

Seattle’s Perspective
-Donskoi is a quality NHL player. But at almost 30 years old and with this year and next left on his contract, he’s probably not part of the long-term plan.
-An argument could be made that Seattle could have asked for a similar return to Blake Coleman (1st + Nolan Foote) if they had traded Donskoi with 50% retained before the season started. Both players fill a similar role, produced similar offensive numbers leading up to the time of their (hypothetical) trade, and the remaining term and cap hits were almost identical. Unfortunately Donskoi is off to a slow start with Seattle (0g / 7a in 18GP).
-All that being said, there’s still an opportunity for Seattle to get multiple assets for Donskoi. As a rebuilder, the Kraken can give Kaut more of an opportunity than Colorado right now. He could potentially step right into Donskoi’s role.
-They get another top 100 pick with the 3rd rounder. I don’t think MacDermid adds much value, if any. Although Seattle did use an expansion pick on him and got a 4th rounder from Colorado (I’m sure Sakic would love to get that pick back).