Links
Sunday Notes: Sakic doing some scouting, Olausson on a tear
A good Sunday to all. About 55 degrees and not a cloud in the sky here in Denver. But it’s supposed to go down to the teens in the next couple of days. That’s Colorado weather. Let’s do some NHL notes, starting off with one involving Avs GM Joe Sakic.
- Kevin Kurtz, Islanders beat writer at the Athletic and a good dude, noted earlier today that Sakic was on the list of people in the press box today for the Islanders’ game with the Montreal Canadiens. Who could he be looking at? A lot of names could be tossed out there, but I’m going to guess it would be a veteran D-man.
- We still don’t know what’s going to happen with Bo Byram this season (he remains on personal leave) so Sakic is probably going to need to factor in his situation to the March 21 NHL trade deadline. Jeff Petry of the Habs is supposed to be available. Zdeno Chara could be available. A lot of guys from those two out-of-the-hunt teams could be available.
- Yes, the Claude Giroux rumors still exist. I stand by my report from last week that Colorado is his No. 1 choice of a potential destination.
- Avs 2021 first-round pick Oskar Olausson is on another scoring tear. He was traded from the Barrie Colts to the Oshawa Generals a few weeks ago. In 17 games for the Generals, he has 11 goals. He scored four in a game the other night. He has 23 goals in 39 combined OHL games this season.
- Is he going to make a guy like Andre Burakovsky expendable? Could be. Burakovsky is UFA this summer and is making $4.9 million right now. If the Avs need to clear up some cap space to sign others (Nichushkin, Kuemper, Francouz?) then a guy such as Burky can be let go easier when you know a forward like Olausson is on the way.
- Vegas: Frustrating setting in for the Vegas Golden Knights these days.
- Philadelphia: Hockey Now’s Sam Carchidi says the Philadelphia Flyers should go after Johnny Gaudreau if he becomes a UFA this summer. Also, Broadcaster Lou Nolan will be honored by the Flyers.
- Vancouver: The Vancouver Canucks lost two defenseman to injury Saturday in a loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
- Larry Brooks is puzzled why Tuukka Rask would be a Hall of Fame candidate (NY Post)
- Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons thinks that the Marc-Andre Fleury to the Bruins NHL trade rumors are true. He lists the B’s as the only team Fleury may end up with.
- NYI: Stefen Rosner had a dose of Murphy’s Law hit him on his first road trip covering the New York Islanders.
Avalanche offseason20 hours ago
How To Get That “Too Many Men” T-Shirt Worn By Nazem Kadri
Avalanche offseason2 days ago
Bo Byram Almost Kicked Out Of His Own Parade
Colorado Avalanche2 days ago
Jared Bednar Speech One For The Ages
CHN+2 days ago
DATER: Handicapping Who Stays, Who Goes From Avalanche UFA List (+)
Avalanche offseason3 days ago
Nazem Kadri: Avalanche Ownership “Made It Clear To Me They’d Like Me To Stay”
Stanley Cup Final1 week ago
Jared Bednar Rebuts Jon Cooper ‘Too Many Men’ Charge
CHN+5 days ago
For Joe and Debbie Sakic, Winning Never Gets Old (+)
CHN+2 days ago
DATER: Handicapping Who Stays, Who Goes From Avalanche UFA List (+)
Stanley Cup Final5 days ago
DATER: Game 6 Avalanche Thoughts, Observations, Exclamations
CHN+6 days ago
Stefan’s day was worse than Scott’s trip to Tahoe last year!
I still take the cake for worst night ever in travel, Super Bowl Sunday, Broncos-Seahawks. Got on wrong train after game, then couldn’t find my car after looking an hour in the parking lot. Turned out I was on the wrong side of the tracks, literally
2021-22 Burky and Kadri = 2022-23 Olausson and Newhook
Yep. Kadri and Burky are gone for sure.
Forget about Petry. I would go after Chariot. Rugged and shot down D-man is what Avs need.
I’m hearing Clutterbuck as possibility too
Dater – what does Clutterbuck offer the Avs?
Grit, PK, good defender
Scott Mayfield would be a good pickup if Joe can pry another D from NYI.
On second thought, I’d take an aging Zdeno Chara over Chiarot or Petry. Great character guy with tons of playoff experience. There is still some hockey left over in that 6′ 9″ frame. We need to flip Burky now while we can get something for him. Even if it’s cap relief, we’ll have enough bodies to fill in his wing spot. I can see the temptation to hold onto him, though. He’s a turnover machine but still has a great shot and good +/- numbers. In a bit of a goal scoring slump but that can change quick
I hope Joe picks up a large solid defensemen, albeit Chara, Chiarot or Mayfield and leaves the free agency dealing there. Chara would kind of liking picking up Borque, Chiarot is my pick, and Mayfield would be a great long term acquisition but Trotz is not going to get fleeced by Joe again.
Hope the Avs will trade Burky (4.9 Mio), Compher (3.5 Mio) and Sammy G. (5 Mio).
I do like the players, but just not their cap numbers. GoAvsGo, beat the Marchand-less Bruins today!
Have you looked at the standings? The Avs are buyers, not sellers. They absolutely shouldn’t break up the second line. Burky might not be showing up as much on the scoresheet lately (though he’s on pace for a 63 point season, a career high by 23 points), but when he’s not on that second line, the line isn’t as good. Sammy G is an amazing defenseman, is on a long-term contract, and is 25% of a league-best top 4 when Byram comes back. Why on earth would they trade him?
I get it regarding chemistry, but do you know when Burky last scored a Goal? It was on January 14th….
And the Avs only can be buyers if they sell someone… And at the moment those 3 guys are not producing/not playing well enough for what they earn.