The Colorado Avalanche have gained cap space, where do they go next?
Sportsnet: Corey Masisak of the Denver Post The Colorado Avalanche have a little cap space now after releasing Sam Girard’s contract, but they have no trade assets. They can use a third line center. Do they have enough to call one of the big names? Does it help them?
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Matt Marchese: “They’re making a trade to clear cap space. And that’s where I want to start. My first thought was, they’re opening up cap space, they’re doing something big here. Is there something big, or is this maybe just a few moves that can close that space? Where do you think this is going?”
Masisak: “Yeah, I think, I think my first reaction to that trade was, well, it was, so the next trade might be a big win.
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Like, Sam Girard was a good player for them for a long time. Brett Kulak is a different player. You know, or not, as you want to say, like asset management, like, whether or not the average / no quote won the trade. I think we’ll need to see what happens in the next week or so before making a final decision on that.
Yes, I think, I mean, the biggest need they have is a number three center. And that, they’ve opened up enough space now where they can do that big thing: like they can go after one of the great, you know, one of the best centers on the market, and really, like, do this, like, okay, ‘What are you going to do with Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, and name that third guy.
Or, you know, if they, the other thing I’m sure we’ll get here is that they’re short of goods to trade with. So if they got into a bidding war, it was for someone, you know, if you know, if they were trying to get Ryan O’Reilly or Vincent Trocheck or somebody like that, you know, they might not be able to get past other teams.
So if they just end up with, you know, 3c that’s better than it is now, you know it’s going to fill a need, but it’s not going to be the splash that we might think is coming.”
Marchese: “So when you say 3c, I mean our starting point was we thought Nazem Kadri was a good fit. I don’t know what, how is the desire to take on significant salary for many years with Cale Makar’s upcoming extension there?”
Masisak: “Yes, I mean Naz is the trickiest one in the group.
Like me, if you look at that group of guys that have been talked about a lot, like Ryan O’Reilly, it’s like 475 yards rushing for them. Because he is really beautiful. He and Nathan McKinnon really get along, and he’s only one year away from 4.5 million. It’s like, almost like a perfect storm of likeness, it’s exactly what they need and want.
Now, you have a little history with this organization, obviously, and whether or not that, you know, whether that’s what they can win or not, that’s one thing. And then, like, if the Predators just made Ryan O’Reilly available, 10 teams are going to want him, and it’s going to be a huge bidding war, and ABS probably won’t win that.
So there is, yes, there is Nazem Kadri. He is one, you know, one ex Av. It is extremely popular in this market. I think the fans would enjoy having him. But, like, part of the issue with that, like, they didn’t sign him for a long time because they signed him, they were worried about the back end of his contract. Well, he’s behind on his contract now.
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And so, yes, I mean, what, what, what, what, three years left after this. I think CADRE is 7 million, that is a lot to be taken by the third institution, as you say, especially as you know, a blank check that they will have to give, kill my chart, kill my car, sometime between July 1 and June 30 of next year. “
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