POLL: Should The Avalanche Move a Defenseman For Forward Help?

The off-season is officially underway for the Colorado Avalanche, and we’re trying something a little different here. We want to get the fans involved and get their opinion.

Colorado has a clear need down the middle, specifically at 2C, and has to find a way to fix it. With a weak free agent class, trade may be the only way to find a solution.

So, the initial question is simple, and we want to know what fans think.

Should the Avalanche move a defenseman for help up front?

And after that question, part two pops up – which defenseman would you move if you were in charge?

It would make sense if you don’t want to move a defenseman for help up front. The Avalanche, when healthy, might have the best top-five defensemen in the NHL. They didn’t get to see those five play together much last season, but it’s hard to find good defensemen. This franchise saw that first-hand for years. It’s understandable if you don’t want to mess with that.

But if you do feel moving a defenseman is the best way to find help up front, which one would you trade? There are lots of factors that come into play with that decision. Age, contract status, and what they might bring back are the big three that come to mind.

Devon Toews is, in my opinion, easily the best defenseman of the three options, but he’s set to make a lot of money next year and is the oldest. Bowen Byram is the youngest, and might bring back the best return, but there’s a lot of risk in moving a player that young and that talented. And then you have Sam Girard, who is a steady top four defenseman, still young, and signed to a very good contract, but that contract comes with a lot of trade value.

You may notice another name is missing from the poll, and that’s Josh Manson. He holds a NTC until next summer, but the reality is, he likely doesn’t hold a ton of value right now. After missing most of last season, teams aren’t likely to give up much for an aging defenseman.

I’d love to hear from folks on what they chose. Now that we’re in the off-season, I’d like to try different things like this to get the community involved.