Adrian Dater
Some speculation about the future of Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog has already commenced, not surprising given his status as a potential unrestricted free agent next month, July 28.
Some wonder if the Avs might just let the captain walk free because they can’t afford him in a flat-cap NHL landscape moving forward into next season. That was news to Landeskog’s agent, Peter Wallen, who told Colorado Hockey Now that talks have been cordial so far and expects that to continue.
“The one mutual thing both parties expressed is that they want to find a way to get this done,” Wallen said.
According to PuckPedia, the Avs currently have about $23.2 million of cap space under the hard cap of $81.5 million. That cap space could go fast, as the Avs not only have Landeskog as a potential UFA, but goalie Philipp Grubauer as well, along with Brandon Saad and P.E. Bellemare. Tyson Jost, Conor Timmins and a kid named Cale Makar are restricted free agents needing new deals.
The Avs will have some cap space freed up with the loss of one player to the Seattle Kraken in next month’s expansion draft, which could help in affording the big-ticket players such as Landeskog, Grubauer and Makar.
There would seem little to no chance the Avs would let Landeskog walk away with nothing in return. While not a spring chicken anymore, Landeskog will still be just 29 in November and is coming off the eighth 20-goal season of his 10-year career. Three more 20-goal seasons and he’ll tie the franchise mark held by Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk.
Gabe Landeskog, whose last contract had a cap hit of $5.571 million, had 13 points (four goals) in 10 playoff games. Based on pure market value, Landeskog probably could command up to $8 million on the open market, which might be a bit steep for the Avs. Yet, Landeskog has expressed a desire to finish his career with Colorado. He has a young family here, and enjoys the team and the city. There may be some wiggle room on a “hometown discount”, though that aspect of negotiations often gets overplayed in the media. Players generally want what they’re worth.
As Colorado Hockey Now’s Ash Glover detailed last summer, $7 million per on his next deal is the likely sweet-spot both parties might find palatable, on a multi-year deal.