Not Done Yet: 6 Bargain UFA’s That Make Sense For Avalanche

I have a hard time believing the Colorado Avalanche are done tinkering with their roster this summer.

The team has to re-sign Ross Colton and Ben Meyers, but even with those two signed, they still only have 11 forwards. While Meyers, along with Fredrik Olofsson, likely have the inside track to a roster spot, I’m not sure it would take much to overtake either of them. Like any other NHL team, the Avalanche should be evaluating all the options that are available to them.

There isn’t much left on the free agent market, but there are some interesting names out there that could be nice depth additions for the Avalanche this summer. (Editor’s Note: My previous top choice, Jesper Boqvist, was taken off the market Wednesday)

Sure, you have some bigger names like Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrick Kane, and Tomas Tatar are out there, but things would have to fall a certain way for them to end up on the Avalanche.

Let’s take a look at some smaller names that could make sense for the team to look at this summer. And see the full schedule for all NHL games at LiveSportsOnTV.com.

F Danton Heinen

Someone with connections to Colorado already (played at DU), he hasn’t been able to stick with one team since leaving Boston. Went back to Pittsburgh after not getting a qualifying offer last summer, but is back on the market this summer. His best year, in terms of offense, was his rookie year, and it would be unrealistic to expect him to get back to that production, but he’s still strong in other areas.

He’s not someone that is used on special teams in any way, which is something the Avalanche might need, but one of the better value forwards left on the market. Made just $1 million last year, so shouldn’t be very expensive, and is just one year removed from 18 goals.

D Caleb Jones

The other Jones brother. Solid at both ends of the ice, and can really skate, so he’d fit right in with the Avalanche. Considering the Blackhawks are rebuilding and don’t have a ton on defense, I’m not quite sure why they didn’t feel the need to qualify the brother of one of their highest paid players, but they didn’t, and he’s a free agent. The Avalanche don’t necessarily need to add a puck-moving defenseman, but you can’t say no to solid depth options, especially when it should come cheap.

D Cal Foote

Given the history of the last name in Colorado, I believe I’m contractually obligated to mention Foote. Drafted 14th overall back in 2o17, he hasn’t quite figured it out in the NHL, but opportunities will always be given to big, right shot defensemen in the NHL. If the Avalanche felt they could mold him into a solid depth option, it makes sense, but on-ice results in the NHL are sub-par. He won’t cost more than the league minimum, and the team needs some bodies on the blueline.

F Pius Suter

If the Avalanche really feel like they need help on their penalty kill (and I think they do), Suter is probably the best fit. He can skate, he can defend, and has topped 14 goals in each of his three NHL seasons.

The only reason I hesitated to put him on the list – cost. Suter made over $3 million each of the last two seasons. I highly doubt he makes that much next year, but he will almost certainly cost more than some of the rest of the names listed here, if not all of them. He could either be a dynamite 4C, or help out on the third line.

D Ethan Bear

If the Avalanche are willing to wait, Bear could pay off for them. He’s expected to miss the first two months of the season because of off-season shoulder surgery, and that’s part of the reason why the Canucks chose not to qualify him. Another right shot defenseman who is more proven than Foote, but a little older. With the signing of Jack Johnson, the Avalanche could certainly hold tight until Bear is ready to play, but there’s always a level of risk signing someone coming off major surgery.

F Noah Gregor

This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned Gregor with the Avalanche, and may not be the last. The Sharks chose not to qualify him after a tough year in which he only came on offensively late. Most of his value comes in the offensive zone, so you wonder just how much of a fit that is in the bottom six, but he skates really well and will be just 25 when next season starts.