I really love this post, because all of the trades are super measured and looking at all of them you really don't see COL over spending on any of them.

At the same time you can also see just how quickly the Avs futures can disappear should they go this hard on rentals and not win the cup all of a sudden you are 5 long term assets poorer and the only asset that there is to show for it is a bottom 6 winger.

Just a really really good example of how even with high end execution of a vision, taking a more macro approach can show flaws in it still. We can also see how so many teams that were supposed to be contenders for a decade fizzled out so quickly after doing moves like this for a few seasons

Frank Seravalli said Lehkonen will go for a first

Deal

Dont think that'll be the winning bid on Giroux.

Compher at 3.5mil, Behrens and a 1st is close. But PHI doesn;t really need Compher, and they want/need a RD.

As a Habs/Avs fan I would rather see Barron to the Habs than Sampo. And for Avs Lehko would be a perfect fit

I understand that this may not win the Giroux sweepstakes, but I'm not comfortable giving up Barron. I will trade away one of Behrens/Helleson. Behrens has been playing the right side for DU and is a freshman defenseman who is almost a point per game. I think Philly would be happy if this was the best offer they got. They can get value for JT in the summer. Bottom 6 defensive centers who can also finish a little bit will garner some value (especially because he's signed).

I think this is the year for Colorado to do this because the west is so weak. Sakic should just stick to giving away 4th rounders for Namestnikov in the next few years when the west is much better so the Avs can get that next wave of ELCs.

Also with the Lehkonen thing, you can put a 3rd rounder in there instead of a 4th and that's totally fine. I just don't see how anyone will give up a first for him. I think Sampo and a 3rd/4th is a totally fair price because it's a forward with top 6 potential and a mid round pick for a 30-40 point guy who is good at defense (essentially JT Compher but doesn't get crushed in shot metrics every night). MTL will be hard pressed to get a solid prospect and a 1st or 2nd round pick for Lehkonen.