Even before this past regular season played out, it was always the Avalanche’s MO, at least with this front office, to build through trades rather than the draft.
At some point, they’ll run out of assets, and maybe they’re inching closer to that. But you can’t argue with the concept. Free agency works in some cases, but you’re often overpaying for talent that likely costs less against the salary cap if acquired via trade.
The Avs have a second-line center problem. They traded their best prospect in Calum Ritchie, for a rental in Brock Nelson that probably isn’t sticking around.
So, like they did with Nazem Kadri, Ryan Johansen, and Casey Mittelstadt, could Chris MacFarland and the front office explore the trade market for a second-line center?
Here are six guys that could make sense.
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Before getting into it, I do want to preface this by saying, I’m not entirely sure how much the Avs’ assets interest other teams, let alone the ones that have a player that could slot in at 2C. It’s the guys we always talk about. It’s Ross Colton, Josh Manson, and Samuel Girard. You can lump Miles Wood into that group, but he doesn’t hold value on the market.
I don’t usually like to make mock trades, I’m more interested in pointing out the players who could make sense. I consider myself a well-rounded hockey guy who has way more knowledge than I need about 32 different teams. But in the end, I cover the Avalanche. I’m around this team all year, and I usually see things from a lens that could benefit the Avs specifically.
It’s easy to see the upside for the team you’re covering. But for the other team, what are they getting? And why do they want that player?
All that’s to say, here are six centers that could solve the Avs’ problem. What it would take to get them, and how to make it all work, is a question for the front office.
Phillip Danault, C, Los Angeles Kings
Age: 32
Contract: $5.5 million cap hit, UFA in 2027.
This might be my new favorite target. Is Danualt available? I’m not sure.
But what I do know is, the Los Angeles Kings just lost to Edmonton in the first round for the fourth consecutive season and replaced their general manager because of it. Ken Holland is in, Rob Blake is out.
The Kings also have Quinton Byfield playing center behind Anze Kopitar, and it might benefit them to use someone like Danualt to gain some depth on defense. (I don’t think playing Joel Edmundson for 23+ minutes per game against the Oilers was the right move.)
Danault is a strong two-way player who Nathan MacKinnon once described as the toughest center to go up against. He’s got two more years at a reasonable cap hit and is a great playoff performer, especially on the defensive side of things.
Could you imagine him in a shutdown role with Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin? That would be fun.
Chandler Stephenson, C, Seattle Kraken
Age: 31
Contract: $6.25 million cap hit, UFA in 2031.
Another team with a new general manager, albeit this one was hired from within. Jason Boterill was elevated to GM in Seattle and could perhaps be interested in making some changes.
The first, second, third, and fourth reason why Stephenson would be a bad option is the remaining term on his contract. I’m not going to deny that.
But if Stephenson or Seattle are looking for a change, then perhaps salary retention could be an option.
So hear me out. If Stephenson were a UFA today, at the age of 31, would Colorado sign him to a six-year deal at $5 million per season?
And if that’s a reasonable scenario, would you be able to get the Kraken to retain $1.25 million for the length of this deal? After all, Charlie Coyle makes $5.25 million as your third-line center with a $95 million salary cap. If you’re okay with that, you’d probably be fine with a $5 million Stephenson as your 3C in the later years of his deal when the cap goes way up.
But even with this crazy, made-up scenario, I’m still left asking, what’s in it for Seattle?
Shane Pinto, C, Ottawa Senators
Age: 25
Contract: $3.75 million cap hit, RFA in 2026.
Like the Kings with Danault, Pinto is stuck in a situation where the top two centers on his team aren’t going away anytime soon. They’ve got Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens locked up long term.
So, if you’re Pinto, are you fine with being stuck behind them or forced to play on the wing? If not, maybe this would be an ideal target for the Avs.
He’s young, he’s got more offensive upside than he’s shown (which in itself is decent production). But more importantly, he’s a fiery physical forward who plays on the PK and can win faceoffs. He’s everything the Avs like.
Ryan O’Reilly, C, Nashville Predators
Age: 34
Contract: $4.5 million cap hit, UFA in 2027.
I’ll keep this one short because we’ve talked about it many times.
O’Reilly is 34, but he’s still a guy who makes sense. MacKinnon and he are buddies, and we all know what he brings at both ends of the ice.
I’m not sure what, if anything, the Predators plan to do with their long list of veterans. But if Barry Trotz is looking to make moves, Colorado should be all over this. Bring O’Reilly back to the team that drafted him to assume 2C duties.
Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild
Age: 23
Contract: RFA
The biggest reason why I’m against this move is that the Avs literally just tried something like this a year ago when they traded for Mittelstadt. Albeit Rossi has more talent.
Rossi is a smaller centerman who doesn’t have great defensive metrics, doesn’t win faceoffs, and doesn’t kill penalties. He had 60 points last season, but if the offense dries out, he’d be useless. That’s ultimately what led to Mittelstadt failing this year.
It sounds like the Wild are ready to move on from this player rather than sign him to a new deal. But it would be hard for them to be willing to trade him to a divisional rival.
I think I just talked my way out this one.
Mason McTavish, C, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 22
Contract: RFA
This is a more enticing RFA. Like the other young forwards in Anaheim, I’m willing to bet McTavish is excited for an opportunity to be coached by Joel Quenneville. Especially after some of the recent failed hires that group has had in recent memory.
But what if the Ducks decide to move on? McTavish had 52 points last year and finally looked like a player making strides toward reaching the potential that led to him getting drafted No. 3 overall in 2021. But Anaheim also has Leo Carlsson and holds the No. 10 overall pick in June. They also have Ryan Strome playing top-six minutes down the middle.
McTavish has got a bigger frame than Rossi, listed at 6’1, 219 lbs. But he also isn’t quite as well-rounded at both ends of the ice.
I’m also not sure the Avs want to trade for a player this young who needs more development. But if they did, I’d prefer McTavish over Rossi.
