I understand Crouse but why Kessel?

Way too much. If Kessel costs about a third, then that's a first, very good prospect, etc. for Crouse. He'd be a nice add, but that's huge price.

I get it - it's a risk but here's my reasoning: He doesn't play D, we all know that. But if he's playing on the 3rd line with Crouse and Newhook (when everyone is healthy), he can provide some offense and puck distribution on that third line which the Avs need to see happen. And his minutes would be limited on the third line so that helps. He could also do some damage on the 2nd PP unit because he can still shoot it.

Not very likely, IMO. Crouse is a huge (pun intended) part of the young Coyotes squad. They would have to really like Behrens to even consider it. The other parts are not very appealing. More likely the ask for Crouse is Newhook or Barron+

Phil only has 6 goals this season but he's racking up lots of assists. 37 points in 60 games.

The rub is that you're not just getting him as a rental - he has many years of team control left. To me, that's worth more than spending a 1st on Giroux or Copp, the former unlikely to re-sign and the latter being pretty pricey and a lot older than Crouse. The Avs are never going to use Kaut so might as well use him to sweeten the pot because AZ is reluctant to move Crouse.

The Avs are getting into tricky cap territory and are going to lose Bura and Naz; they need young, cost-controlled guys that can produce. They don't draft and develop their own so this is the price for getting one from someone else.

A 1st isn't very appealing? Also, Behrens is a solid prospect. No chance the Avs trade Newhook but they might exchange Barron for Behrens.

Yeah but he's not signed to a discount contract like Hagel. He'll want a raise, which likely means they forego signing someone else.

I feel like that's a bit unfair; what other RFA's have term at $1.5M but also produce like Hagel? The Avs have very little capital to work with and will have even less if they blow their 1st on someone like Giroux. So they're already in trouble and will have to dip into UFA or use their younger guys (whom they seem to not want to play). So, they need someone who is cost-controlled moving forward. The have the space to re-sign Nuke, Kuemps and Crouse. Bura and Naz are all but gone.

Look at it this way: if they blow their 1st on Giroux or Copp and they walk, then where are they? They've got a lot of spots to fill and that's either internal (not bloody likely) or external which will cost more and they don't have their 1st to use in a trade. This helps get at least one good player they have control over on board.

They get one decent player at the expense of possibly three cost controlled assets (Behrens, Kaut, 1st). Crouse is a bottom six player on my eyes. I wouldn't spend that much.

So whom would you go after that seems more like a Hagel? I'm not excited about spending a 1st plus Barron on Giroux (the offer we've heard is on the table).

There's no one I can really think of, and especially at the deadline. Kubalik would be the closest in my head, but gotta determine if it's a buy low situation or if he was a bit of a flash in the pan.

I think the best play might be someone like Stastny. Not prohibitive but adds a fair amount of elements the team needs. Maybe he even stays a other year. Reassess in the off season.

I agree that Stastny would be a decent add

Massive massive overpay. Crouse imo is one of the most overrated players on CF, career high shooting % paired with career high minutes, 45.2CF and -8.5xGD, he’s big yeah but on the Avs he is at best their 8th best forward yet giving up all of that? No bueno.

COL overpays by an insane amount here

Terrible idea and a huge overpay.