Something might be up. Colorado didn't snag any FA defence, Zadorov is still unsigned despite him being #3 on their blue line.

In terms of roster players, there's got to be defence coming back. So if you were going to offer a weak package that 30 teams would easily outbid you on, at least bring defence into it.

Otherwise the plan is to play MacKinnon and Landeskog as a D pair, and let Duchene resume his 1C status.

'

They said from Day 1 going into the UFA period, they are not going to sign any UFAs since they want to play their own prospects that they like.

Mironov signed his ELC and came over from Russia, he played 200 KHL games, they are giving him a shot. They love Anton Lindholm who impressed in the AHL and his 12 game NHL call up last year. He will be filling in the depth spot too. Barberio was a nice add via waiver wires. He held his own in a Top 4 role on the 2nd pairing and will be giving him another crack at it.

What annoys Avs fans is this same narrative, just bc you arent familiar with the Avs prospects doesnt mean Sakic hasnt made his D core better....which is will be compared to how bad it was with Beauchemin, Tyutin, Weircoich , Gelians, and Goloubef. They tried they trade for and sign Dmen route last year and it was a dumpster fire. They are trying to build their D core through their own prospect pool....could be terrible too but thats what they need to find out with these guys. Are they NHLers or not. Ill take own young drafted and developed players in Bigras, Siemens, Lindholm, and Mironov to fill the core over scrap trades and signings from other teams

coga16

The best teams don't draft and develop at a rate fast enough to fill out Colorado's NHL blue line, and Colorado has fewer players on the table to pick from. That's if I'm assuming the Avs have 4 NHL D (instead of 2), and are only wanting to fill 3-4 spots.

Pick any team you want. If they add 1 D from their farm team in a year, that's a good year. 2 is excellent.
There is no way the Avs fill out their blue line. They won't have the talent+luck to double their odds, they haven't the bodies to double their spins of the wheel.

The primary problem in Colorado is NHL players leaving faster than they are arriving. It's not just with the stars like Stastny, O'Reilly or Duchene wanting to get out asap.
Wiercoch was a great addition last year, that he didn't work out is the problem the Avs need to fix. Coaching, atmosphere around the team, paying attention to the wrong stats, pressure from above?
Will there be any of the players from the O'Reilly trade left next season?

You certainly do know the Avs prospects better than me. You're up close, like someone driving in a traffic jam who's ready to pounce on the gas pedal. I'm just the bird in the sky who sees the whole thing as slow and predictable.



The Duchene trade situation is a fiasco, the Avs are desperate for defencemen. These things have already happened. Fixing them doesn't change much.
The way the Avalanche will dig themselves out of their hole is with coaching. Boring hockey, cut down on goals against. Once they're stable, then they can start developing the guys who only get 10 minutes a night so they'll want to stick around. The stars will enjoy coming to the rink because they feel like they can make a difference.

Coaches under heavy pressure don't make the smart moves for the team and franchise, they just do whatever they can to survive another week. If the team loses 10-0, no one is cool with saying "Yeah, that's right, we intend to play a bunch of prospects and we're probably going to lose 12-0 tomorrow because I noticed some things they need to learn tonight".

The way this is headed is a bloodbath. Sakic fired. Coach fired at end of season. Duchene traded just to clear the air. A bunch of journeymen vets filling the spot of any rookie who couldn't win a spot on any other NHL team. Then hopefully maybe honesty comes in and there is a steady rebuild. You don't get lost time back.

Based on this assessment, I respectfully request that you just keep to commenting on your own team, I dont think you have a grasp or understanding of the Avs currently or their history the past few seasons.

Let's just list Colorado's D because there is actually a pretty big logjam on the left at least that most people don't seem to understand, anything coming back in a Duchene trade has to therefore be high end prospects and picks, a legit top 4 D or some serious asset on the scoring front:

Siemens - former 1st round pick and if he doesn't get a shot this year then one would have to think he's done. LHD.
Lindholm - played a handful of games last season and the Avs are pretty high on him. LHD.
Bigras - played 31 games the season before last then got injured last year in the AHL. Left hander but can play both sides. LHD/RHD.
Geertsen - Another prospect who is considered by some to be close to ready for a shot at the big time but may need more time in the AHL yet. LHD.
Mironov - 200 KHL games under his belt and is expected to be on the NHL roster. LHD.
Boikov - Another good Russian prospect, probably needs more time yet. LHD.
Warsofsky - Diminutive D who is probably only going to be AHL but has some NHL experience. LHD.
Graham - Right handed cover D man but could get a shot on the third pairing. RHD.
Cowen - PTO and could get a shot for the third pairing. Former 1st round pick trying to save his career after injuries. LHD.
Zadorov - Will be 1st or 2nd pairing if he signs. LHD.
Johnson - We all know about. RHD.
Barrie - We all know about. RHD.
Barberio - Pleasant surprise who could hold his own on the second pairing but is truthfully probably a third pairing guy. LHD.
Meloche - Really good prospect RHD who may need a little more seasoning but could get a look. RHD.

That's before we get to any unsigned prospects like Timmins, Makar, Clurman etc (all RHD if memory serves correctly)

Avs therefore have a likely D of: Zadorov (if signed) with Johnson, Mironov/Barberio with Barrie, Any of Lindholm, Cowen, Siemens, Bigras, Barberio/Mironov to fill out the bottom two.

Still a significant improvement on last year. Rather see some younger guys getting a shot at it than a bunch of past it place holders. I agree with Sakic there. Those that think we have 'fewer players on the table' are sadly misinformed! That said, Montreal would need to either be adding D to the trade OR trading Drouin for Duchene. Avs get Drouin to play with MacKinnon. Montreal gets a number one centre. Avs would probably have to send more back besides.