Colorado Avalanche Free Agent Game!
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It’s no secret that the Colorado Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup and that the entire state of Colorado and all the fans across the world have been partying for the last few weeks. These guys worked their butts off and overcame a short history of second round exits, injuries and beating the back-to-back defending champions. This roster from the top down was masterfully constructed, the trade deadline acquisitions were again insanely impactful, but getting back to the championship next season will require some additional cap wizardry by GM Joe Sakic.
The Colorado Avalanche have 12 KEY Free Agents that were major contributors and there is only so much salary cap available. I think these free agents can be bucketed into three categories, most likely to resign, who knows (I want them back), and likely no longer Avalanche next season.
Most Likely to Re-sign
Andrew Cogliano – Already re-signed and will be back with the Avalanche to run it back!
Valeri Nichushkin – I think Val is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. He had an absolute world class showing in the Stanley Cup finals. He’s one of the best two-way skaters in the NHL and could be a candidate for the Selke Trophy next year after his play in the playoffs. I think most fans believe he will re-sign, and the contract negotiations are reportedly in progress.
Arturri Lehkonen – This was another trade deadline acquisition from the Canadians that will go down as one of Joe Sakic’s best moves. He was an impact player for the entire playoffs. Nathan MacKinnon said that he would trade 10 first round picks for Arturri Lehkonen. When there were injuries, Arturri was elevated to the top line. He works his tail off, he’s incredibly talented, he is in the prime of his career, and he is beloved by MacKinnon and his best friend Mikko Rantanen. I think Joe gets this guy a good-sized contract. He’s also a restricted Free Agent meaning the team has more flexibility with him.
Darren Helm – I just personally think that Helm was one of the unsung heros of the playoff run with physical play, veteran depth, and his contract matches what the Avalanche have to offer. He could be a good bang for the buck to solidify the back half of the roster.
Nikolas Aube-Kubel – I think in the same vein as Darren helm, King Garbage has a big impact as a bottom-6 forward who brings all the things the leaders and coaches on this team want from their players. Hustle, physicality, toughness, and hockey IQ. I think they get it done, and it is well deserved.
Who Knows?
Nazem Kadri – This man overcame injury, surgery, racism, targeting, stereotyping, a nasty label and happened to have a career year while winning a championship in his age 31 season. He’s been quoted saying that he wants to be back but that he knows his value. I’ve personally seen the $8.5 AAV number floated around on social media, which I think potentially prices the Avs out of his ballpark. Fans want him back, Avs want him back, he wants to come back, but we all know it is a business and he might have outplayed the money the Avs had for him. That being said, getting Darcy Kuemper off the books and not paying him $6mil a season, might have given the Avs some wiggle room. We might not be done seeing the Avalanche make moves to free up cap room as well.
Josh Manson – If this wasn’t one of the best trade deadline acquisitions in the NHL I don’t know what was. This man had game winners in over time, he had monster hits, he brought physicality and toughness, he was a serious competitor, and it would be tragic to see him leave. That being said, I think I’ve consistently read that he loved the Anaheim Ducks and he wants to try and go back. He’d be welcomed back with open arms if the contract is right, but I’m not sure the Avs have the kind of money to shell out if he wants a big raise. The Avalanche have one of the deepest defensive cores in the NHL, Cale, Toews, EJ, Girard, Byram, Ben Meyers I don’t know if the Avs can justify the amount of money they are paying their defensive unit if Manson gets a contract and they don’t move Samuel Girard=.
Mikhail Maltsev – I don’t know what to think if this guy. He was a big trade acquisition in the Ryan Graves trade to the NJ Devils… he’s only 24 years old and he’s a big 6’3” 200lb left winger that seems to have a ton of potential… but he started the season on the ice with the Avalanche then we never saw him again. Felt like he wasn’t ready and got buried in the minors. I don’t know exactly how much money he will cost or how close to moving up he is, but this seems like a candidate for not returning. He is however, a restricted free agent so could have more control over his contract situation and maybe I just don’t have the visibility on his impact or standing with the organization.
Likely not an Avalanche Player Next Season
Darcy Kuemper – If you had asked me three days ago if I thought Darcy was resigned to run it back, I would have said 100%. But that is how quickly the NHL moves. Joe Sakic traded with the New York Rangers, two third-round picks and a fifth-round pick for goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, and Sakic was quoted saying that they think they now have a good 1-2 punch in Frankie and Georgie. I think Kuemper is on the move again.
Andre Burakovsky – No disrespect to Burakovsky, but I feel like he lost his spot to Arturri Lehkonen. Burakovsky had an up and down Stanley Cup playoffs where he was clearly balling injury and was so inconsistent it was hard to trust his production. He scored some big goals, but he also had some ugly turnovers that lead to goals, he missed time, and he overall just wasn’t part of the team that felt incredibly memorable. I think he is a skilled player but I don’t know if he had the kind of year that justifies the pay raise he’s likely looking for.
Nico Sturm – This one I have a hard time placing, I think the Avalanche traded fan favorite/fans most hated Tyson Jost to the Minnesota Wild for Nico Sturm, then during the playoffs he only played when people were injured. To me that feels like a candidate for no resigning… but then again when he did play, he popped out as a hustle player that contributed and brought energy every game. I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets a contract, but I just don’t know how the organization feels about him.
Shane Bowers – I cannot be the only one,but this kids name has been flying around the Avalanche franchise since the Matt Duchenne trade, and if he doesn’t have a freaking impact on a single Avalanche game, I’m going to be pissed-off. He is a restricted free agent so he could be a candidate to get a contract, but it will again likely be a two-way contract where he must break into the Avalanche rotation which he hasn’t been successful with yet. He’s still only 23 years old, and the Kadri departure could open up a bottom six roster spot for him to battle for… but I mean Megna seems to have him beat as the call up… and he still has to get over Newhook, Compher, O’Connor, Helm and others… he’s probably gone.
Conclusion
Joe Sakic has proven to be a master of roster construction and knows how to surround his core with championship caliber players. In Joe We Trust. Turn the lights off, Carry me Home! If somehow, he brings back Lehkonen, Val and Kadri, Manson, in my mind, that will be doing the impossible, but I would be the happiest Avalanche fan.
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