I get the upside of some reclamation projects but I think the Avs need some stability with established players right now. I would pick maybe 1 reclamation project player then surround them with established quality NHL players

It's obviously highly unlikely that the Avs look like this on opening night, but none of these guys are terrible or strictly boom or bust (like Yak). All of them are NHLers who have lost confidence and some scoring touch.

I'd have minimal worries about Mantha, Foote, and Yegor. Gurianov and Puljujarvi could crash and burn, but they can be buried if needed.

Almost like an expansion team approach

Lol, but also starting with some nice pieces in place (MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanen, Byram, Toews, Manson, Nuke, and Lehkonen). Hey, those expansion teams got pretty good pretty quick. Think one of them even has some hardware now.

I dont think Yegor is a reclamation project, but Mantha, Foote, Gurianov, and Puljujarvi all have risks accociated with them imo. Besides Mantha all of the other guys you signed are cheap enough to not have a large impact if they dont work out but at that cap hit I still think there are better UFAs that could be signed that are more reliable. Mantha's 5.7M really limits what they can do at 2C if Newhook/Sharangovich dont step up, I think there are better ways to spend that $

I am saying that in a good way. A lot of worthwhile players discarded due to age, cap, whatever. If you have cap space to burn on a couple $2m $3m guys…putting them around good players in a proven system is nice reclamation route.

(Ideally you could merge them into one super player…Mantha’s size, Puljujarvi board play, Sharangovich’s quick stick, Gurianov’s speed….)

I would much rather put Yegor Sharangovich in a package for 27OA. We have plenty of prospects who could break into the bottom six, which is what I see Olausson panning out to be. Also, you could use some ELC players, so trading Olausson doesn’t really make too much sense from an Avs perspective either?

There's a lot of interesting guys out there. I know a lot of people are saying it's a poor year for free agents but I'm going to be very interested to see who gets qualified this year in the RFAs. There could be a few surprise options there to take a punt on with the way the flat cap has played out and the havoc it's now causing......best laid plans of mice and men and all that.

From your list there, if JP is cheap enough you take a shot. Foote I'd chance a 4th on but that third could be more valuable in a move for a 2C. Mantha I'd definitely take a punt on for 4th. If he plays to potential he could add a bit of what we've lost with Landy. Maybe see if we can squeeze 700k retention or something. I think the Caps would just be happy to clear that 5 mil. Drouin (though not on the list) also still intrigues me if he came cheap enough. Sharangovich and Gurianov are both interesting too dependent on cost.

Other RFAs I'd keep an eye on are Frederic as with Boston's cap trouble there's always a chance they let him go. Both of the McLeod brothers would be interesting but I'd expect them both to be signed, though Ryan could be more vulnerable, and I really like Zack MacEwan for some grit and sandpaper on the 4th or as the 13th forward if LA don't qualify him. No idea what any of those guys might cost in a trade for their rights. McBain would be a guy I'd look at too but Arizona should give him a QO unless someone is brain dead there, and again no idea how much his rights would cost. I find RFA rights to be one of the hardest things to value.

I think Colorado either lands a big fish 2C or keeps that pick, but I get where you're coming from. Personally, I think Olausson is more high risk high reward and could be a 2RW or a nothing burger. I'm any case, he's still a year away at best, and Colorado needs help asap. It's a good trade for the Avs imo. Not sure if it is for NJ, but I think it's at least in the neighborhood.

That’s the thing. It’s great for Colorado, but I don’t see how NJ makes out. I would do Olausson for Sharangovich if I believed Olausson could reach what Sharangovich is/was now. Fitz in the presser said he was looking to trade into the first and Sharangovich is his best trade chip.

Fwiw, he did outproduce Brandon Hagel in 21-22. It’s his first season where he wasn’t on pace for 20G. Shows what he’s capable of if you have the right system and linemates for him.

Edit: FWIW Olausson does remind me of Nolan Foote (who was another late 1st round pick). Wicked shot, size, but has massive holes in his game and a very long development curve.

I think the Avs do some iteration of this ACGM this year. But I think they find an answer at 2C (Maybe sign ROR instead of trade for Mantha) and then fill the rest of the roster with value deals and take some chances on reclamation projects or RFAs that don't get QOs. Then use the trade deadline to replace the reclamation projects that don't pan out.

I trust Mantha and Sharangovich but not Gurianov and Puljujarvi at all. Miles Woods and Cogliano would be ideal.

Our trash is yours. Feliz Navidad!

Cogs should be 4LW. I guess I forgot to sign him since CF has Olofsson in the lineup by default.

Wood will cost too much and probably for too long, so there would need to be cuts somewhere else. All else equal, I'd prefer him to either guy you mention, but I can't make the money work in this fictional scenario.