Team: 2023-24 Colorado Avalanche

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 26, 2023

Published: Jun. 27, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

After acquiring Ryan Johansen we put him on a 2nd line with Rantanen and RFA Alex Newhook (signed to a 2x2 deal as projected). Byram gets his 4x5 deal and we switch up the pairs by putting him with Makar and Toews with incoming NCAA RHD Sam Malinski as a mentor. Girard-Manson will stick together.

The only bottom 6 players we have on our roster after signing RFA's is Logan O'Connor (4th line RW) and Ben Meyer (hybrid C/LW). Both guys are "change of pace" players who are very effective in 12 minutes of deployment but have not yet shown they can be relied upon for 3rd line minutes yet.

Re-signing Malgin to that line makes a ton of sense for chemistry and his offensive contribution. Likewise, I don't see him as a 3rd line level player. That line however is an "energy line" with actual NHL experience as opposed to letting our influx of college free agents (Pavel, Polin) learn on the job. Olofsson and Foudy can challenge for playing time and gaining experience and therefore will be listed as "scratches" for this roster. I really like Foudy and what he brings but making that transition to the NHL as a contributor is hard enough, let alone for an undersized center.

So we need a 3rd line that can fill the gaps by our top 2 lines, contribute offensively, and serve as a matchup line when needed. We have $4.5 million to spend and might as well use it all up as we can't accrue cap space for the TDL due to usage of LTIR on Landeskog.

Using these sources for contract projections:
https://dobberhockey.com/2023/05/27/free-agency-2023-updated-salary-projections-for-the-top-100-free-agents/
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/offensively-early-stanley-cup-picks-for-2023-24

Right now Max Pacioretty and James van Riemsdyk are projecting to come in around $2 million or less AAV on a short term deal as goal scorers and Power Play specialists; especially on a contender like the Avs. Getting one of them would be huge for scoring depth. We'll allocate $1.5 million for one of these spots. Mike Hoffman (buyout candidate), Jonathan Drouin, or Zach Parise could be fallback options.

Noel Acciari is a perfect 3C on this roster, especially under $2 million AAV - which is also probably what Toronto is thinking too and he could be coming in around $3 million; but we'll see with their retooling where he sits. If he stays there then I take a run at David Kampf for the same price range. Fall back plan would be Nick Bonino or Paul Stastny. Not many options at this price range. Lars Eller would have to take a paycut from market rate to stay at this price point but I would rather stay with him as 3C versus anyone besides Acciari/Kampf. We'll allocate $2 million for the 3C position.

If we add a goal scoring or playmaking veteran and a solid center then we need a cheap two-way winger or defensively responsible winger to complement them. Jesper Fast would be the top choice, but I highly doubt Carolina will let him walk, or that he will be in our price range. Puljujarvi (if not tendered), Kiviranta, or a healthy Donskoi are intriguing (and affordable) fallback options. Mathias Janmark and Vlad Namestnikov are also on the radar but probably are above our budget. We'll allocate $1 million for this spot.

FOOTNOTE: If I'm the Avs GM, I also inquire about Tampa Bay's LTIR contract for Brent Seabrook which only has 1 year left on it. Since we are in LTIR this year maybe they add a sweetener for us to take it on so they can get out of LTIR? The Leafs might also be in need if Muzzin stays on LTIR this year.