Avs Protected List (7-3-1)
Nathan Mackinnon,
Matt Duchene,
Gabriel Landeskog,
Sven Andrighetto,
Mikhail Grigorenko,
Joe Colborne,
Matt Nieto,
Tyson Barrie,
Erik Johnson,
Nikita Zadorov,
Semyon Varlamov
(Francois Beauchemin waves NMC)
Boston is reportedly very interested in acquiring Landeskog and they do here. Colorado has shown interest in Carlo in the past, and while he looks like a promising young defenceman, the price to acquire Landeskog will be high. Frank Vatrano, who also looks like a solid young player, is put in the trade in order for Colorado to take on the albatross contract of Beleskey, who still has three years at almost $4 million per year. Also, the Bruins acquire Grimaldi, who was once a top prospect in the Panthers organization and who still shows some decent promise.
As San Jose could possibly lose both Thornton and Marleau, they need to acquire a forward, and they get a young, elite one here in Duchene. While Timo Meier was a 9th overall pick two years ago, he struggled in his rookie season, only scoring 6 points in 39 games. However, he still looks like a good prospect. Him and the first round pick are traded for Duchene, and Chartier is dealt for Comeau. This may seems like a lot, but with Pavelski, Burns and Vlasic all getting older, the Sharks window of opportunity is closing fast.
In the expansion draft, Francois Beauchemin waves his NMC so that he is not bought out, and Vegas selects the young backup, Calvin Pickard.
Colorado is not very active in free agency, besides bringing back Reto Berra to be the backup goalie to replace Pickard, and signing depth forwards Jordan Weal and Jack Skille. Weal has shown good scoring prowess in the minor leagues, and will get a chance here with the Avs, after being blocked on the depth charts with LA and Philadelphia.