Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche Mailbag: Kyle Dubas, MacFarland, Shopping Manson, and More

Ever since the Colorado Avalanche dropped the news of Gabriel Landeskog missing the entire 2023-24 season, things have been quiet. Real quiet.
So in the meantime, we here at Colorado Hockey Now took some questions that people had about the organization. With the recent firing of Kyle Dubas, some wondered if the Avalanche would check in on him. Is Chris MacFarland’s job safe? What about potentially pursuing one of the biggest villains in the NHL, Corey Perry?
Without further ado, let’s get to it.
From Sanjeev: Is Chris MacFarland safe or would the Avs entertain hiring Kyle Dubas?
We’ll start with MacFarland. Yes, he’s safe. For one, people need to remember back to Joe Sakic’s early tenure and how many people were calling for his head. Some patience is required, and the Avalanche have shown to be a very patient organization.
I also think people are really underestimating how big of a role MacFarland played in the success of the organization over the last 5-6 years. It’s not that much of a coincidence that things started turning around slowly once MacFarland arrived. The analytics department has grown tremendously since he was hired, and was used a lot in the moves that helped the team win the Cup last year. I think it’s mostly known by now, but MacFarland played a huge part in the Duchene trade and the patience the team displayed getting the right deal. He’s earned some rope, and plenty of teams were interested in talking to him for their GM role for a reason.
This is a big offseason for him, but I really don’t think much has changed in the front office, even though Sakic is not technically the GM. The two of them worked very closely before, and they still do. Sakic is still at every game, keeping a close eye on things. MacFarland is safe, but his job isn’t getting any easier with the cap crunch coming.
As for Kyle Dubas, the Avalanche apparently did try to talk to him back in 2017 after the horrific year, but never moved forward with anything. They even disputed it a little bit. Dubas is a very smart guy, but there’s just not room for him anywhere in the front office right now. I think he’d want to go somewhere where he’s got a lot more control. That wouldn’t be the case here.
From BK Wilmore: Is there ANY chance Val is back next season ? I know we don’t know what’s going on – but what does your gut tell you?
Yes, there’s a chance. Next season doesn’t start for another 4+ months. We’re still very early in the offseason, and there’s plenty of time for things to get figured out. Will we ever truly find out the whole story? I have my doubts on that, given how tight-lipped the organization is, but my gut says he’ll be back. Some clarity before the summer would be ideal for the front office.
From Jean: What do you think of Corey Perry with the Avalanche, even if i hate this player?
Let’s be honest – is there anyone who likes Corey Perry, outside of his family, his teammates, and the fans of whatever team he’s on? Probably not many, but that’s how he likes it.
The question is more now – is he any good? He had 19 goals in 2021-22, but dropped off significantly last year. I’m not a big proponent of +/-, but a -28 on a good team kind of sticks out. The next closest person on Tampa Bay was a -10, so that’s a rather large gap. Some of that is likely bad luck, as the team had a very low save percentage with him on the ice. The difference between his actual goals for percentage (39.66%) and his expected goals for percentage (54.86%) is pretty big, so that leads me to believe he’s a little better than his numbers indicate, but his general underlying numbers aren’t anything to write home about.
Still, he wouldn’t be first on my list of guys I’d go after. He’d add some size to the bottom six, but there’s always risk taking on a player who is almost 40. The wheels could completely fall off at any second, so it may be a few years too late at this point.
From Bennett Wheeler: If the Avalanche were to shop Josh Manson. What could they reasonably get?
Based off his last season and his contract, probably not much. It looks like his modified no-trade clause kicks in June 15, 2024, but it’s hard to move a player whose getting older, has had trouble staying healthy, and was very hot and cold when he did play. Manson brings a skillset that the Avalanche really do need, but that contract doesn’t look so great after one year. They signed him to that contract for a reason, because they really liked what he brought to the team, but the cap crunch is real, and business is business. If you can move him over one of the top four defensemen, it’s a no-brainer. I just don’t know how likely that is.
You probably aren’t going to get a lot for him if you do find a way to move him, other than some much needed cap room, but they’d also need to turn around and replace him with someone who has a similar skillset. I selfishly would miss him, because he’s a great in the locker room to talk to, but that doesn’t matter in situations like this (how rude).
From Luke: Which NHL team has the most amount of work (trades, signing, hirings) ahead of them?
Well, the Avalanche are up there. With the Landeskog injury, they have a little over $20 million to work with, but they also have a lot of roster spots to fill with that money.
Boston is one team that has a ton of work to do. There’s a real chance they lose their top two centers, one of which is their Captain, to retirement. They also have to re-sign Jeremy Swayman in net, who will ask for a raise. With just over $6 million in cap space and some big spots to fill (only 14 players signed), they will be busy.
Toronto, obviously, is another one. They need a new GM, and that GM has to decide whether or not they want to move forward with the same core that hasn’t been able to get over the hump. They have seven pending unrestricted free agents up front, and have to re-sign their starting goaltender. With just a hair over $9 million in space to work with, they have some tough decisions to make.
Edmonton has under $6 million to work with, but they’re another team that expected to go further and just didn’t. Most of that $6 million will go to Evan Bouchard as well, so doesn’t leave much room for upgrades.
The reality of the salary cap era is hitting a lot of teams that really went for it and didn’t win anything. At least Edmonton was a little smarter and went out and acquired someone with term as their deadline pickup.
From Glen: There is lots of talk about the need for a 2C, but the Avs also need a 3C. Preferably a scoring one. Who do you see, both internally and externally, as a good fit and who would be your preference?
It really just depends on what happens at 2C. If the team goes out and finds a really good 2C, then it opens you up a bit more with what you can do at 3C. Say, for example, you go get Elias Lindholm as your 2C. That’s a guy who can do everything for you at the center position, playing stellar defense to go with good offensive production. If you get him, you probably feel comfortable with Alex Newhook being your 3C. Internally, the underlying numbers for Ben Meyers are a lot better than the raw production, but you aren’t going into the season with him in your top nine.
There’s not a ton of external candidates at 3C. Sean Monahan is someone, if healthy, they may take a swing at. Same goes for Jonathan Toews. How much either of them cost plays a role in this, but until proven otherwise, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with either at 2C, so a third line role sounds better.
Both spots are important, but the 2C spot dictates what you do at 3C a fair bit.
Thanks Evan for the mailbag. I understand the rationale that after spending on a 2C, you can then spend on a 3C. I do not see Newhook as the 3C. I think the Avs can do better on the UFA market, via a trade, or take a look at Maltsev. If Newhook is the 3C, then the Avs still need to get a LW. Pavel may get a look at LW, but I see that possibility on the 4th line. A 3rd line of Newhook-Maltsev-Malgin/Foudy could be a possibility. The Avs could also look at someone like Nick Bjugstad, who… Read more »
Evan, those were excellent choices of questions and great answers by you. There’s so much uncertainty regarding what the Av’s could/will do that I’m just enjoying the mess up in Toronto. Kyle did something to rile up Shanny. As much as I disliked Shanny when he played for the Dead Things, I’d sure hate to get on his bad side..
Evan, here is the Daily Faceoff’s latest Top 50 UFA’s and their projected salaries. It has Compher at 5x$5.3m and Rodrigues at 3x$3.7m. Names mentioned here recently: ROR 3x$5.5m, Monahan and Drouin, both at 1x$2m.
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/bertuzzi-severson-orlov-projected-for-richest-contracts-among-top-50-free-agents
I kind of like Kampf at 2 years, 1.8M per. It’s such an uninspiring list.
It is uninspiring, especially at 2C. That may have to be a trade. There are plenty of bottom 6 UFA’s, but if you want people that can score, it will be at a cost. It seems that for the most part, you have to spend close to $1m/10 points scored.
My eyes rolled so hard on the “we need a 2C” question. I guess the argument is we need to move on from Compher and Eller, and Newhook is a wing, and Meyers I’d trash? That’s an awful lot of negative assumptions. In the cap era and with the ufa class being pretty terrible, we better hope all of those assumptions aren’t true.
The Compher assumption is likely true, given the projections for his next contract. None of those guys are 2C’s. Eller is kind of the wild card. It was hard to gauge how much he liked it here, but the organization obviously targeted him.
I would try Eller! Believe he was a 4th liner in Washington that was really good. Also wins face offs and responsible defensively unlike a lot of other Avalanche forwards, I.e. Mikko. What have we got to lose, try him. In the meantime, I would try and ship out Newhook, Girard and possibly Compher. Even though, I like him but we need to get back some better players in a trade. I would go and get Nylander, if he is available? Maybe Koneckny, Hayes or Provorov if they are available. I don’t think Flyers would trade Koneckny? Hope Big Val… Read more »
The Athletic has Eller at 2x$2.3m. As pointed out, how much the Avs spend on their bottom 6 depends on what it costs to get a 2C, extend Byram and Newhook, and get a d-man. Does a 4th line with Eller and O’Connor look good with Cogliano/Meyers/Pavel?
I see lindholm but do you really think avs would trade for him on a 1 year deal. I would say if Lindholm did a sign and trade at like 5×5.5 avs should do it, but then what would they have to offer. Of course a 1st rd but what else. Then you got byram, avs could either go short term with little cap hit or long term with big cap hit. I think locking up byram first will dictate the rest of the avs offseason. It would be nice to have compher back to center the 3rd line as… Read more »
The Avs are short on talent, period. Whether it’s a 2C or winger – Colorado needs players who can put the biscuit in the basket. And they need to perform in the playoffs. Meyers is confusing to me. He has the size and he competes night after night but it doesn’t show up on the scoreboard. Hoping the Avs don’t sour on him and that he has a breakthrough season.
Agree on Meyer’s. Very frustrating guy with no finish? He looks like a good skater and defensively sound ; however, can’t score to save his life? A lot like Kaut was. To me, that guy could skate and handle the puck but it never ended it up in the back of the net!!! Just goes to show, I guess, how hard it is to produce in the NHL!
I think we have to realize that Meyers, Newhook and other young players are still developing. I think patience is required before the front office makes rash and expensive moves unless they are no brainers. There are not a lot of assets to be used. Let’s be glad they won the cup last year with the loaded roster they had.
It’s a pipe dream “what if” but the Avalanche could potentially get both Jonathan Toews and Jonathan Drouin for around 2mil each. That would take care of depth down the middle and they’d have 5 to 6 mil to acquire a legit 2C with some change left over to cover depth D. It would also leave room for a prospect or two to crack the roster.