Johnson invokes his NMC on the Arizona trade. I would also avoid moving Barron if possible. Maybe Philly would have interest in Girard.

for a 3rd pairing D, the Avs might benefit from someone with a more physical edge. EJ is supposed to be that guy... except he might break into a hundred pieces at any moment.

Maybe replace Yandle with Braun?

Only problem is I couldn't see them moving Girard. 6 years at 5 mil is a very good contract.

It's an insanely good contract. But with Mac, Byram, Kadri, someone has to be the odd man out and he's the one. They'll try to move Johnson too but it won't be enough.

The odds that they trade Girard at all are very slim, especially with the uncertainties about Byram’s health. There’s no chance he’s traded for a rental. The fact that he’s on such a good deal is all the more reason to keep him as the rest of the team gets more expensive.

Avs will not move a good player on a great contract for a rental. Just doesn't make sense to move a great contract to "free up" cap space since you need great contracts to contend in cap-world. Mac contract will be solved with money from Johnson contract expiring. Byram will of course be a future problem and could lead to either him or G leaving, but that will happen earliest summer 2023.

COL isn’t trading for Giroux and a) not sending money back one of Jost or Compher. b) COL ISNT sending there two top prospects for a rental. c) COL doesn’t want Yandle.

EJ 1) isn’t a cap dump 2) COL needs him 3) he blocks that move in a heart beat

Not saying they have to include Girard in this trade. But there are other guys who have been vital to Avs success who are up-Burakovaky, Nichuskin, Newhook the same year as Mac. Johnson's 6 mil won't cover Mac.

Mack's next contract all depends on what the cap is. Historically, superstars have signed for a percentage of the cap, so odds are Mack will do the same. He's making $6.3m right now and if you take EJ's $6m and devote it all to him then he'd be up at $12.3m which, unless the cap surges, would be 15% of the cap. For reference, when Crosby signed his last deal, it was for 13.5% of the cap ($8.7m/$64.3m). We'll be just fine.

O and we're not trading Girard. Kadri will walk, Burakovsky may as well. Priority will be Kuemper and Nichushkin. Newhook slides in at 2C.

To echo this point, $12.3M AAV would make MacKinnon the second highest paid player in the NHL. Barring a 150 point season next year or a monumental collapse, he should come in right around that number.

they could, but they arent giving up both Barron and Oskar to do so, that is an easy No from the Avs

they also arent dumping EJ treating him like a negative asset, hes not. Hes much better than Duncan keith who got a 3rd round pick and a young Dman.

EJ blocks the trade which is a bad trade anyway and yes, overvaluing Giroux by some considerable stretch.