Any explination on why the trades were made/accepted? This just looks like a worse and shorter window team.

Caps pass. Dowd is the best 4C in the game on a great contract and AA is starting to kill it.

Horrible trades for the Avs. Bennett isn’t remotely worth Girard and why in the world would COL trade a cost controlled asset like Newhook. If the intent was to make them worse congrats you did.

Had to clear one defenseman's salary, switch him out for a 2C making a bit less and locked down for two more seasons. Still have a great top 4 with Makar, Byram, Toews and Mnason. Also not moving the 1st.

Newhook's been a disappointment at Center and probably due at least $2M on his reup. Get a great defensive Center locked down for two years on a good contract and a big young depth Dman to shore up the bottom pair for only about a $200K bump

Should have about $2M cap space left.

I don't mean to toy with you Hasbro(sorry I cant help myself), I don't believe G for Bennet is fair value, but I could be wrong. It's the second trade I have more issue with. Newhook is 22 and in his 2nd season. He hasn't been 2c worthy but, he also didn't get consistent reps at center until the new year and Bednar has been saying positive things about his work down the middle. It is way too early to trade Newhook, especially for a little help in the bottom 6 and 2 guys who wouldn't make the team. Dowd being 32 and putting up similar points to Newy makes this a real head scratcher.

Not saying I wouldn't move those pieces if I were the Avs GM and the return was right but I don't think those are.

The Athletic in particular has both Bennett and Dowd rated higher than the guys they are being traded for and cost controlled players for the next two years while contending and buying guys like Foudy and Behrens a couple seasons to work their way into the line up.

I absolutely think AlAl can make the team.