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RFS_90

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Dec. 3, 2018
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Colorado Avalanche
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Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 6, 2023 at 1:45 p.m.
Thread: Not Trading Girard
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Ste_Catherine_Street</b></div><div>I don't think Girard/Byram can play right side in the playoffs. THey'll get crushed, and they both have serious injury past.</div></div>

This is a good point... I don't necessarily concern myself with injury history too much, because a lot of times injuries are freak things or whatever... but one thing that does happen when you play your weak side, is it makes every play along the boards an awkward play. Some players like TJ Brodie and MacKenzie Weegar are really good at making these plays, but for the most part it results in like an extra half second or so to move the puck... Which is often the difference between getting hit or not getting hit. Over the course of the year, and into the playoffs that takes its toll on the body.

One of the things Girard is really good at is making quick plays to avoid contact... which is crucial at his size... Forcing him to his weak side for extended periods is not ideal for that reason.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 6, 2023 at 1:40 p.m.
Thread: What It Might Look Like
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>bcooke</b></div><div>I think 2nd line is most likely unless they decide splitting MacK and Mikko is the best thing for offensive production. My biggest concern with Drouin is that he would be severely miscast as a bottom 6 player. But if he doesn't find a fit in the top 6 after an extended look, his contract is small enough, that he could be buried in the AHL and the Avs can swing a trade at the deadline for better top 6 option.</div></div>

I don't necessarily disagree with any of what you've said here. Val's health is a key factor in whether or not MacK and Mikko need to be split up. Hopefuly Val is back to his normal, healthy self, in which case, a second line of Drouin, RyJo, Val could really work.

The only pushback I'd have on the second part about miscasting Drouin is that the 3rd line is going to look different than it has in the past. Both Wood and Colton are strong at pushing offense and creating opportunities, and Ross Colton can really shoot... So I think we're going to see a more high-tempo offensive 3rd line, which should play well into Drouin's game.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 6, 2023 at 1:36 p.m.
Thread: Not Trading Girard
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Anus_McLeod</b></div><div>I disagree with your description. All three of the LHD can move to the right side without much issue. Girard had his best year playing mostly on his off side. Those three, along with Makar, make up the top four and are a key cog for this team.

It's much easier to find wingers than top 4 dmen with a good transition game. I don't think there is any desire to move any of those guys.</div></div>

I'm not really talking about how easy it is to find wingers... I'm talking about how easy it is to fit them under the cap with that many D making as much as they do. Absolutely my preference would be to keep all the defense they have and still add another impact forward. The reality is that the salary cap doesn't really allow it, so tough decisions sometimes have to be made.

For the record, I really like Sam Girard. I think the criticism he gets from the fans is ridiculous... He's a top 2 LD on most NHL teams. I just think two things. 1) Defensemen playing their weak side is suboptimal... It's doable, but it's not as easy a transition as it is for wingers. 2) Sam is clearly the 3rd best of him, Byram, and Toews... So, provided the Avs are confident in a Toews extension, he becomes the odd man out.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 6, 2023 at 1:31 p.m.
Thread: Not Trading Girard
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Jah1722</b></div><div>He wouldn’t even be on the ice when the stars were so he can’t protect them. Having a 4th line plug as protection is the most overrated thought in hockey. It doesn’t work because the plug is never on the ice.

Also when the ducks had Deslauriers, he was on the ice when PK Subban slewfooted Zegras causing his suspension. Deslauriers didn’t do a thing.</div></div>

I'm not sure PK Subban sloughfooting a player is an appropriate example, considering PK did that to everyone all the time without any fear of a tough guy coming after him.

Once again, MacDermid is simply there to cover for an injury. If the Ducks happen to play a team like the Coyotes, who have a history of targeting players. He's just under $1M for one year... He costs nothing, and he can provide some service to a team like Anaheim. Nobody is insisting that he plays a regular shift every night... but for a team that has the cap space and the desire to stop getting pushed around all the time, he makes total sense for one year at his cap hit.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 6, 2023 at 1:25 p.m.
Thread: Not Trading Girard
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>ArakinSkywalker</b></div><div>to me moving macdermid doesn't make much sense. He plays both positions, given he isn't very good at either, but it doesn't hurt us when we have cap issues and need a warm body to fill the roster. He probily had a career high in minutes last season and we won the div so i think it makes sense to keep him, even just for the intimidation factor</div></div>

They have added enough sandpaper that intimidation is not an issue. In the case of injuries, from a cap perspective, it is way more prudent to have cheaper players who are waivers exempt to go back and forth from the Eagles to the Avs than to have some guy making close to $1M sitting in the pressbox in case a player gets hurt.

This way, the Avs can carry an extra F who can actually contribute something when he plays, and an extra D who is Jack Johnson I guess... and fill in the rest with the likes of Brad Hunt, JL Foudy, etc.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 6, 2023 at 1:10 p.m.
Thread: What It Might Look Like
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>bcooke</b></div><div>I'm not sure which part of "Drouin is going to get a look next to Nate in the preseason and training camp, and the FO being comfortable in his ability to play with RyJo" means he's not the preferred option to fill out the Top 6 at least to start the season. Not saying whether it will work out or not, but based on what CMac has said in recent interviews and the players they signed, Drouin should get the first crack at a top 6 role.</div></div>

I don't disagree. Even a 2nd line spot would be fine. My concern is mostly with making sure Drouin can get the most out of himself in Colorado. I have some concerns about his ability to do that playing top minutes with Nate.

I do, however, like the idea of him playing with Val. I think Val can make up for some of his defensive deficiencies.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 6, 2023 at 12:25 p.m.
Thread: What It Might Look Like
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Scooter81</b></div><div>Drouin starts on line No.1 with Mackinnon and Rantanen.
Lehkonen moves over to LW and Nichuskin drops to RW.
O’Connor moves up to line No.3.</div></div>

I realize that Drouin on the 1st line is what some people are projecting... That is destined to fail. I don't care about the chemistry he had with Nate 11 years ago in Junior hockey... Since then, this guy has shown that the pressure of playing top minutes can get to him.

He's immensely talented, and he'll be a huge part of the team... However, getting the most out of him means putting him in a situation where he can succeed. To me, that's 3LW with Colton and Wood, and put him on the top PP to make use of whatever might remain of his old chemistry with Nate.

I'll be happy to be wrong about this... I love the Drouin pickup for the Avs. I just don't think the expectations should be as high as they seem to be with Avs fans.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 3, 2023 at 12:29 a.m.
Thread: More Beef
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Mglgoalie33</b></div><div>well, that's an easy no. Not only is a rebuilding team sending you picks, but they're getting back a player that can't slot into the lineup because of a logjam at his position.</div></div>

Explain to me this "logjam" at LD... because it just looks like a bunch of guys who are not as good as Girard... who is a 24-year-old top 4 D locked in at $5M for the next 4 years... This is why you're the team sending a bit of a surplus of draft capital. Meanwhile, the Habs have up to 14 NHL calibre forwards under contract...

Montreal is getting the better player, at a younger age, on a team-friendly contract, and $500K in cap space... but you're worried about a 2nd and a 3rd round pick lmao.

The Avs need a Top 6 winger, and they have a surplus on LD... They give up the better player to fill an area of need, and get 2 picks as a result.
Forum: Armchair-GMMay 26, 2023 at 7:14 p.m.
Thread: Spitballing
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Xqb15a</b></div><div>Bastian is 25 has 46pts in his career. Are you really going to try and sell the difference between him and a top 4 25yr old dman locked up for 4 years who literally averages 30pts a season and plays 20 minutes a game is a 2nd and 3rd. You need to reevaluate how you value players. Guys like Bastian are readily available while top 4 dman are worth a lot just look at what Hronek fetched in a trade.</div></div>

I think you're undervaluing how good Bastian actually is... he's a big body who skates well, has decent hands, and is a very good penalty killer. For a team that ranked in the bottom half of the NHL in PK%, he's an attractive add under team control. On an 82 game pace, he would've outscored Cogliano, Nieto, and O'Connor... All that said, I would certainly be willing to take more coming the other way from New Jersey...
Forum: Armchair-GMMay 26, 2023 at 7:05 p.m.
Thread: Spitballing
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>NMAvsFan</b></div><div>I'm still not sure Hayes is the right guy for the Avs; seems like the price is more attractive than the player. Doubt Malinski gets on the roster next year. Can't see the Avs trading Girard for a 4th-liner and picks; they aren't looking to trade him so the offer is going to have to be good. ERod is said to be asking for $4.75M.</div></div>

AFP Analytics has Rodrigues projected at 3 X $3.75M... I gave him an extra year of stability for $500K on the cap. I wouldn't sleep on Sam Malinski. He's not a 20 year old rookie... He's a 24 year old NCAA Captain out of Cornell, who put up strong numbers from the blue line and had 10 points in 14 games for the Eagles after signing.... He was 2nd on the team in scoring in the playoffs..... as a rookie blue-liner. He could very easily have a spot on the team come October, if EJ doesn't return.

Kevin Hayes is precisely what the Avs are looking for. John Tortorella moved him from his natural position at C to LW, and bumped him down to the 3rd line after the team decided to embark on a rebuild so he could give younger players more minutes... Even then Hayes outscored what was JT Compher's career year. He lacks defensively for sure... but that's not nearly the concern it is in this situation, playing alongside two elite defensive wingers in Rodrigues and Nichushkin. He has great hands, plays with good pace, and is money on the PP. He's also likely the best C they can acquire without giving up a 1st round pick... and given the state of their prospect pool, I would imagine keeping that pick would be the ideal scenario. I can't see a world in which Winnipeg or Washington are willing to eat any salary for Kuznetsov or Scheifele, especially without a 1st rounder going the other way.