Colorado declines. Drouin doesn't fit what they're going for, and that price is too steep. Best bet for Montreal is a deadline deal (imo). He can rebuild his value if he gets opportunity and performs well.

I did say in the description it could be any team and I get what you are saying but if you lose Burakovsky and or Nichushkin in FA you are going to need another top 6 winger and Drouin at half price could be of interest to Sakic. TBH though my hope for the Avs is they can find a way to keep everyone and make another couple runs lol.

Yes I did see the description. I'm probably one of the few that reads them, lol. Maybe another team takes a shot on him at that price, but I feel like his value is at a low point. Asking a first, even with another pick coming back is pretty steep. But maybe it won't be at the tdl. I think that's probably when you can get max value, although it obviously depends on his season.

With respect to the top 6 aspect, I really think Nichushkin and Lehkonen shifted Colorado's focus on what they want from their forwards (i.e. back checking, 200 foot game, or whatever else you want to call it). I don't think Drouin (who I'm not nearly as down on as some) fits that mold well enough. He probably wouldn't be option A, B, or C. I could see Colorado chasing Mikheyev, for example, if they aren't able to retain their guys. I do think they'll keep the team together more than most expect, but maybe that's me being too optimistic. We'll see.

bura is as good as gone.

drouin would be a luxury and even at 2.75m the avs might be better off signing helm and cogs for that price

That's all fair and I totally understand the Avs perspective on the shift in focus to two-way wingers lol

Those guys elevated the play of our stars in the playoffs. And they complement the puck moving defensemen really well by helping shut down zone entries and/or create turnovers. It resulted in a really clear blueprint.

BTW, even though I always liked Lehkonen, boy was I wrong about that being a bad trade for the Avs. I really like Barron, but the results speak for themselves. He is such a good fit here.

I read the description but I dont think going from 33rd to 5th OA is worth it in this draft when they have to take on Risto's 5 year deal and give away Dvorak and Petry, two assets, that can fetch multiple decent picks. I absolutely hate it. Just draft a guy like Sam Rinzel or Ryan Chesley at 33 instead of going for Jiricek.

The hope would be for Nemec to fall to 5th but even if not Jiricek is a great prospect to add to the RD pool

Easy no from Colorado. Sakic won't move that 1st for a rental. And even if it ends up being a 2nd logistically that doesn't work either as you'll be waiting until 2025 for that 2nd...

The ideal scenario would be Drouin plays and thrives in Colorado and resigns there but with no guarantees I don't see it working out either lol.

I don't see it.

Assuming that Nichuskin (UFA) and Lehkonen (RFA) re-sign that'll fill the top 6 forward spots (along with Rantanen and Landeskog). Drouin would be on the 3rd line but he's not an ideal fit there as he doesn't PK or play heavy (that was what NAK was in the lineup for, even at the expense of Newhook or Burakovsky at times in the playoffs).

I thought of that too, that is why in the description I added that it could be any other team as well.