Adrian Dater
First off, happy Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup parade day. Nice weather for it and everything. For those of you out of town who can’t go: Here’s a live streaming link from one of the local TV channels. For us old-timers, this is the third parade I’ve been in town for with this team. I remember the first one. I was sitting up in the Denver Post offices right across the street from Civic Center Park, watching the final celebration from there. I think I was on deadline with a bunch of stories to write for the big special section we put out a day later.
OK, so I’m going to do this quick and expand on it more as time goes along. But these are my early predictions of who stays and who goes from the current list of potential Avalanche unrestricted free agents:
Nazem Kadri: Stays – I thought it was a very encouraging sign when Kadri told “Real Kyper and Bourne” that he was told Avalanche management/ownership wants him back. I think the biggest question is: Does Kadri want more term as part of his next deal, or a higher dollar figure to maybe take a little less term? I’m sure he wants both, and some team might well give it to him on July 13, free agency day. How does three years, $24 million sound Naz? I can see the Avs going that high on a cap hit for Kadri. They might want it under that, but he’s only 31 and he is arguably the best No. 2 center in the league right now. If he gets some five-year, $40 million offer from another team, he’s probably gone. And, he just might get that. But I say the slight edge is that he will be back.
Valeri Nichushkin: Stays – Four years, $20-24 million, let’s sign right now. That’s a very nice raise from his current $2.5 million. And, I think it’s fair for both sides.
Darcy Kuemper: Goes – Tough call here, but assuming Kuemper wants a long-term, fat deal, I think he will have to be sacrificed to the Cap gods. Frankie could be the new No. 1, or maybe they sign a Marc-Andre Fleury to a short-term deal?
Josh Manson: Goes – For now, just a hunch. I’d hate to see him go, as I thought he was real good for the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs. But there’s only so much money to go around. He’s going to want $5 million per on his next day I bet. If the Avs trade Sam Girard and his $5 million cap hit (very possible) then bringing Manson back is much more feasible.
Andre Burakovsky: Goes – His $4.9 million cap hit would likely go up on a new deal. I just don’t see how the math works. Alex Newhook and Oskar Olausson should have bigger roles moving forward, so they can be more of a replacement.
Andrew Cogliano: Stays – It would have to be a relatively cheap, short-term deal, but I think Jared Bednar loved him, and so did his teammates.
Darren Helm: Goes – I think it was a great deal for both sides, but this has a one-and-done feel for a team with cap issues.
Ryan Murray: Goes – Injury-filled season, then healthy scratch in playoffs.
Nico Sturm: Goes – I might be wrong on this, but if they want to keep Kadri and Nichushkin, a lot of the Colorado Avalanche current $26.45 million cap space gets eaten up. Could be sacrificed to the gods.
Jack Johnson: Stays – Teammates loved him, he played well. Yeah, the career window probably is pretty short, but why not bring him back on a 1-2 year deal?