Avs_19
Registered User
- Jun 28, 2007
- 85,036
- 33,373
Vanek, Ehrhoff, Stafford, Sekera?
Vanek is our top forward, 40 goal pace last season and has hit 40 twice before.
Ehrhoff was probably our #1D. Sekera was in our top 4.
Stafford underperformed last year but is 27 and usually a 50 point winger.
Once we start going for players under 25, the Sabres would be wise to hold on to whatever they can. We're going for a shoot the moon kind of rebuild.
Vanek, 29, only has one year left on his deal and will get $7M+ on his next contract as well. The Avs will have to make him the highest paid player on the team and one of the highest paid players in the league or he'll walk.
Ehrhoff, 31, isn't very good defensively and is signed until 2021. The contract is way too long and I doubt the Avs have any interest in him.
Stafford, 27, is a solid player. That's all I've got.
Sekera, 27, is a good defenseman and I like him but at best he's probably a #4 on a contending team. He would be the Avs second best defensemen right now but that's not saying much.
Besides Vanek, none of these guys are game changers and they never will be. They're solid players you can surround your stars with but they're not players you build a team around. I don't like the chances of the #8 and/or #16 pick becoming a star player either.
It's hard to say how prospects will turn out and Jones/MacKinnon could end up being busts but they have the potential to be franchise players you can build around. I wouldn't trade them for "quantity" and I hope Sakic/Roy feel the same way.