Sabres ain't trading Levi

Obviously no

There is plenty of room for an inexpensive rookie that can score and make plays; even if he ends up playing wing, they have a spot for him no problem. I see him having a far better shot at the NHL than Olausson. And if he looks like a legit 3C option, you trade Colton to make more room to re-sign Georgie or add elsewhere.

I wouldn't want to trust a rookie G with the Cup window; it can take a long time for goalies to fully develop.

Let's tap the brakes on Kovy being a $4.5M player; dude hasn't even played a game of NA hockey yet. We'll see where he is after next season but he'll still be an RFA so no need to project throwing a ton of cash his way just yet.

This all this. Kovalenko has always profiled as a bottom 6 guy, and in the last 2 months I’ve seen Avs fan start acting like he is a top 6 guy that is going to be an instant stud. Ritchie is almost the opposite, before his draft year some were projecting him top 10 gets hurt, plays hurt the whole season, draft stock takes a hit and falls to COL. There is a reason COL would not trade him at the deadline and I’d be more than okay if on his elc he took the 3C role from Colton making Colton a trade candidate.

Levi is the truth, but he isn't what the Avs would look at imo. They tend to target Russians, ex- Caps, and back ups looking to become a starter.

Now we're repeating the Byram situation, playing a guy out of position to force him into the starting lineup. It's not setting him up for success. Plus Jost & Newhook proved a rookie skill guy doesn't work as 3C for Bednar. Only Captain returning would force major cap moves like what you're suggesting, as CMac would be in scramble mode.

By this time, Levi would have three pro seasons. I could see him in a Georgiev role & looking to flourish outside of BUF. His backup could be whoever, but its possible Prosvetov figures it out & becomes a solid NHL player.

As for NK51, I'm super high on him. You don't have to shelter Nik; he's proved his versatility & effectiveness at the pro level as an All Situations guy. He's Torpedo's Val Nichushkin. As opposed to Ritchie, you find an excuse to fit Nik into the lineup. If Igor Larionov says he's a top six guy in COL, I believe that.

A center playing wing is not an issue; if he can play at the NHL level, he'll play. Kovy still has to learn the NA game and talk is cheap; he's got to prove he's a top-six player. He currently projects as a bottom-six guy and with a guy that's basically done developing but coming in from overseas, it's a lot safer to assume he'll be a bottom-sixer than a top-sixer.

The only thing keeping NK51 from instantly joining the top six is the lack of vacancy. IMO he moves into the top six like Lehkonen did; start in bottom six & then naturally earn more ice time as his superior fit shines thru. I mean, Duhaime already got a L2 game & Nik is way better than him.

'There is plenty of room for an inexpensive rookie that can score and make plays; even if he ends up playing wing, they have a spot for him no problem'

This is what I'm responding to. Just recently CMac said Ritchie needs a chance to "thirve & just not survive" in the NHL. To me, their plan for him is a top six C role.

Saying he is way better than Duhaime when he hasn’t played a single game in the NHL is a stretch. I’ve seen highlights but that’s it. He appears to be tenacious and a good skater but he would have to do a whole lot more than that as an RFA to go from an ELC to $4M.

And I’m not trading Ritchie for any goalie prospect not named Askarov.

Easy no for the Avs and I imagine the Sabres probably feel the same for different reasons.

Its fine to take a wait & see approach. I'm just gonna leave this little tidbit here: AJ from DNVR just mentioned on today's pod that they asked Bob Hartley about NK51 & he thought Nik is a goal scorer & top six option. I admit, these types of statements get me excited.

@EARL08
That a huge offer, but the Sabres would say no.