The Avalanche It was a short period off season. But they’re not complaining, because short seasons mean long playoffs. But now training camp is around the corner, with just over a month left of the season.
General Manager Chris McFarland and front office at Avalanche have nearly $4 million of cap space, which means the team can still sign another one, and bringing players into camp on pro experience contract numbers is another way to add. Currently, the depth chart is not much different from Version 2.0 Back in mid-July, but there are some departures for the update. Let’s take a look at those, along with some general reflections on where the players are.
| a key |
|---|
|
contract player |
|
Unrestricted Free Agent |
Note: The players included in this depth chart are those who appeared in at least one Colorado game last year or are major additions such as Alexander Georgiev.
center
| player | age | 2022-23 Cap Heat |
|---|---|---|
|
27 |
$6.3 million |
|
|
27 |
3.5 million dollars |
|
|
35 |
$1.25 million |
|
|
21 |
$908333 |
|
|
23 |
$912,500 |
|
|
32 |
750 thousand dollars |
He went: Nazim Qadri (Calgary), Nico Sturm (San Jose)
Nathan McKinnon Entering the final year of his contract eligible for an extension, his camp was in contact with the avalanche. Those talks are likely to start as training camp approaches. A Colorado star center will command a huge average annual value, a value that will likely make him the highest-paid player in the league, at least for some time. The salary cap will already get a $1 million increase in the 2022-23 season, and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daley is optimistic about 32 Thoughts Podcast that there will be Significant capital appreciation after the 2023-24 season. This means multiple things. For example, McKinnon will want a significant increase from the $6.3 million he made, as he would have done regardless of cap setting. Second, if Avalanche is the team giving that raise, it won’t take as much of their total max area as it would if the roof was stuck at $82.5 million.
Nathan McKinnon’s day with the Stanley Cup finally arrived. What would he say to his younger self?
“Just enjoy the ride a little bit more. I was a bit psychotic as a kid.”Tweet embed He recounts an unforgettable day in Halifax:https://t.co/c134zx9Uta
- NHL Athletic Association (TheAthleticNHL) August 22 2022
I’ve seen people mention McKinnon’s comments in 2019 as “take less again“On his next deal because he wants to win. I would caution people against assuming his next contract is going to be well below market value. Remember, these quotes are way back in time, and things change. McKinnon has continued to produce at an elite level since he made it. Plus he’s Now he won the Stanley Cup, of course. His contract was one of the best deals in NHL Since it took off in 2017-18; This is his window to sign a massive extension.
When discussing McKinnon, mention people Sidney Crosby take less to help penguins. But this statement is a bit misleading, especially if you look at its contract structure. Crosby signed a 12-year contract worth $104.4 million (US$8.7 million) that began at the start of the 2013-14 season. The deal, though, was pretty big, with Crosby bringing home $86.4 million in the first eight seasons—an average of $10.8 million per year. The longer contract, of 12 years, lowered the AAV against the maximum salary, but the Pittsburgh captain secured himself plenty of money early on with a contract structure that was no longer allowed. It is not directly comparable to McKinnon’s situation.
In other center news, Kadri signed with Flames a seven-year deal with AAV worth $7 million. That was hard for the avalanche to match what they would likely have to pay for McKinnon. JT Comfier And the Alex Newhawk They appear to be the most likely internal favorites to start the season in second-line position unless coach Jared Bednar puts him in the position. Miko Rantanen there. There are still many useful free agents on the market, including Evan Rodrigues of Pittsburgh, but none of them are proven to make the top six. He could wait for the avalanche and see how their positions shake, then strike a deal before the deadline.
left wing
| player | age | 2022-23 hit the cap |
|---|---|---|
|
29 |
7 million dollars |
|
|
27 |
$6.125 million |
|
|
27 |
$4.5 million |
|
|
35 |
$1.25 million |
|
|
22 |
$925,000 |
|
|
24 |
$800,000 |
He went: Andrei Burakovsky (Seattle), Dylan Sikora (Chicago)
The left wing ton has not changed since version 2.0 of the depth chart, apart from Mikhail Maltsev Signing a deal worth $800,000 for a year. He’ll be a free, restricted agent again next year. Helm, listed as center, could be on the left wing depending on how the lineup is shaken.
right wing
| player | age | 2022-23 hit the cap |
|---|---|---|
|
25 |
$9.25 million |
|
|
25 |
$1.05 million |
|
|
22 |
$863,333 |
He went: Nicholas Ob-Kobel (Toronto), Kiefer Sherwood (Nashville)
There aren’t many names here, but a lot of avalanche centers and left flankers can also play on the right side. Nichushkin did this for a significant part of the playoffs, for example, and played hockey perfectly.
Kuyt remains one of the most interesting players in this niche. Corey Bronman, Sun the athleteRecruitment gurus and prospects, remain optimistic about Kuyt’s future, even though he has had his career up and down.
“He’s not an offensive dynamic,” Bronman wrote, “but Kuyt can create chances and in ways that will translate.” In a recent article, where Kuyt ranked third among avalanche prospects. “I think he will achieve that and play aggressively in the top nine with more chance.”
If this ends up being the case, it will be a huge boost to the avalanche. Judging by how the avalanche most likely entered the camp, there would be opportunities to seize it. We’ll see if Kuyt can grab one.
left defense
| player | age | 2022-23 hit the cap |
|---|---|---|
|
24 |
5 million dollars |
|
|
28 |
$4.1 million |
|
|
28 |
$987,500 |
|
|
21 |
$894,167 |
|
|
29 |
$762,500 |
|
|
28 |
UFA |
He went: Jack Johnson (Chicago)
Jack Johnson signed a one-year deal with Black Hawks, ending a successful year in Colorado that began with PTO. Ryan Murray is still on the market. However, he has a mark in his hometown of White City, Saskatchewan. It’s a shame Murray got injured at the end of last season. He was starting to get close to his level, but by the time he was ready to play the game, an avalanche had fixed their defensive pairs in the playoffs.
They are so proud of their boy! (White City, SK) # Stanlycop @Avalanche Tweet embed Tweet embed pic.twitter.com/acQYwR3Ror
- Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 5, 2022
right defense
| player | age | 2022-23 hit the cap |
|---|---|---|
|
23 |
9 million dollars |
|
|
34 |
6 million dollars |
|
|
30 |
$4.5 million |
He went: Jordan Gross (Nashville)
Cal Makar He was at the BioSteel camp with a host of NHL stars, including MacKinnon, Conor McDavid and more. I expect him to still be good at hockey in 2022-23.
Goalkeeper
| player | age | 2022-23 hit the cap |
|---|---|---|
|
26 |
$3.4 million |
|
|
32 |
2 million dollars |
|
|
22 |
$88,833 |
|
|
26 |
750 thousand dollars |
He went: Darcy Comber (Washington)
Allowing Kuemper, the goalkeeper, to walk was a risk for the front office, but Georgiev now has the opportunity to start on the one he craved. Then there is Francos, who has proven to be a dependable second-round goalkeeper who can come on in the big games, especially when he plays behind the Colorado defense.
(Photo by Nathan McKinnon: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)