Even if we aren't winning right now, I'm still 99.99999% sure we are going to make the playoff and before we start thinking about our off-season, i'd like us to do a trade a the deadline to bring F depth(and PK help).
Here is a list of couple of players I think we could target; (I didn't put the obvious player such as Kreider,Saad, Vantanen,etc. since we all heard about these possibility and I want to discuss other possibilities)
Offense Help :
- C.Smith - Nashville : 4 250 000 - Last year of the deal.
Pros :Would bring us the third line center we need and we could use him on the PK.
Cons : Nashville will probably still be fighthing for a playoff spot by the TDL
-T. Zajac - New Jersey : 5 575 000 - One year left after this year.
Pros : Would bring leadership, experience and help for ou third line.
Cons : longer deal, i'm not sure he would help us.
D Help :
- M.Scandella - Montreal - 4 000 000 - Last year of the deal.
Pros: Would give us better depth than what we have in the farm.
Cons: Not an upgrade on our 6D.
G Help:
- R.Miller - Anaheim - 1 125 000 - Last year of the deal.
Pros : Would give us a proven goalie if we still doubt Pavel or Grub. and we wouldn't have to pay a lot.
Cons : Not a starter anymore.
- R.Lehner/C.Cawford - Both in the last year of their deal.
Pros: Both proven NHL goalies.
Cons: In division trade
I might just quit watching hockey if Ryan Miller ever finds his way on to an Avs roster.
Oh he's definitely an issue. He just wasn't earlier because Makar was playing so insanely well that Graves didn't have to do much. But now Makar is leveling off a bit (and also getting a LOT more attention from the opposition) he's getting exposed. I know I seem like I'm slagging the guy but I remain a big fan. He's a perfectly good 6/7 guy, just like Nick Holden was, and unfortunately, like Holden, the Avs are overplaying him. He can't really make outlet passes, his defensive technique is poor, and he doesn't have the greatest instincts about jumping into the play.
If they can find a legit top-pairing guy for the right price, then get him. They can sort out Byram later (I mean, he's not going to be top pairing to start out his career).
The amount of people pencilling Byram into the top4 next year is concerning. I think henchy probably has the Avs outlook on their d corps pegged pretty well, but if they have a chance to acquire a legit top4 D without committing beyond 2-3 years I think they go for it.
If Byram or Timmins forces a guy out eventually then great, and if not then we’re not pissing away contending years. There will be some that disagree but I can’t see Sakic slow-burning this window, now that the roster is getting close.
There's really no evidence to suggest that. Personally I like Graves a lot better but he's not a massively better player than Holden was.
It’s like people don’t realize he’s still in the league and making a decent career for himself. If you’d told me 6/7 years ago that Holden would still be in the league in 2020 and playing significant minutes on a perennial contender I would’ve laughed you out of the room, but here we are.