Avs probably should be spending their remaining cap on a 3rd pairing defenseman to replace Jack Johnson, not another middle 6 center.

Maybe. There's like no relevant FA's that would cost much to invalidate this that would be a massive upgrade, though. Their forward depth has taken quite the hit. Their top 4 D should all play over 20 minutes. Even if they sign Nemeth or someone, that shouldn't cost over 1mil, then they just send Hunt down and it's the same thing.

I'd much rather invest in the perfect penalty killing 3C that can play 17+ strong minutes a night than worrying about what LD is playing ~12 minutes a night, but either way I think they could easily do both comfortably

6th D isn't playing much for the Avs if everyone is healthy.

Makar - 26
Toews - 25
Byram - 22
Girard - 21
Manson - 17

That leaves ~9 minutes a night for the 6th D when the other 5 hit their average. I think they are comfortable with the group of Johnson/Hunt/Malinski/MacDermid for the 6-9 D roles. Sure they could add someone, but there isn't much available in UFA that would be a tremendous upgrade on those 9 minutes a night unless they want to bring in Bear to put on LTIR for the first half of the season. I would be interested in trading for Peeke but that's about it.

Personally I would like to see them add a C/RW to fill 3RW and compliment Colton on the 3rd line. Backlund works if they feel he can play his off hand. Roslovic would be fine. Granlund with retention or after a buyout if the Pens need to move on from him to make room for EK's cap hit in a trade.

Colton will probably be getting significantly more than 3 mil per.

Not sure why, that would be pretty silly...

But if that turns out to be true, then for the context of this team Backlund can be sent elsewhere

If he was signing for less than 3 then you have to think he'd have signed in Tampa. He's likely going to come in north of 3 and the Avs intention is to play him at C as far as I'm aware. The Avs are better off keeping whatever (JLF in this case) and chasing a free agent for the 4th C spot.

... I'm not saying he should get less than 3? If he's anywhere between 3-4 then the trade works here as advertised. "Significantly more than 3" in your original post suggests something over 4mil, which he's just not worth...

'Colton should cost around 3'. Significantly more could be anything up to 4 or more (I will agree any more than 4 is a bad idea). You taking it as more than 4 is your interpretation of significantly, I'd consider half a mil plus significant, especially for a team up against the cap......and the trade still isn't worth it to the Avs for the other reasons mentioned. Maybe they'd consider it at the TDL but can't see any attraction for them prior to that. Nate, RyJo and Colton are pegged for the C spots so unless they plan on using Backlund as a 4C I can't see the fit.