Deen's Daily
Deen’s Daily: Avs UFA Board; Florida Runs it Back; Vegas Getting Marner; Everything is Happening!
Free agency starts tomorrow and pretty much all the names at the top of the board have been taken off. The Avs have holes to fill, will they pay premium UFA prices? Also, Florida is running it back and the Golden Knights just got stronger.
All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — June 30.
Colorado Hockey Now
There were so many things announced around the league after Sam Malinski re-signed that it’s become a mere footnote. Even for Avs fans.
Malinski locked in a one-year deal that will walk him to unrestricted free agency in 2026. He’s basically a sure bet No. 3 right-shot defenseman on the Avalanche’s blueline next year. Hopefully this time he’ll have a better partner than Calvin de Haan and gets a chance to take another big step.
Read More: Avalanche Sign Sam Malinski To One-Year Deal
In other news, I released an Avalanche UFA board earlier this morning and highlighted some of the players the Avs can target in free agency. The first name on my list was Ivan Provorov, but he’s since signed a seven-year deal to remain with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His new AAV is a whopping $8.5 million.
It’s a bit high for my liking, but I’m happy for the Blue Jackets and their fan base. They don’t have to watch another key piece of their lineup walk in free agency like in years past.
Anyway, my UFA targets board is below. Keep in mind when going through the list that the Avalanche haven’t signed a UFA to a contract worth more than $4 million AAV since 2018. They don’t often get the big names.
Read More: Avalanche UFA Board: Finding the Right Fits on July 1 — Defense Options Available
Around The NHL
Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers are keeping the band back together. When you win a Stanley Cup(s), and you have something that works, you need to do what ever you can to keep those guys together. Florida has the tax advantage, and I do believe it matters in some scenarios (like this one).
Like I've said time and time again. The no-state tax advantage only works if you're already good. And once you're good, your top guys stay for less and it prolongsyour window.
So yes, it's absolutely a factor. But you have to build a good team for it to matter. https://t.co/QuutCNpRLs
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) June 30, 2025
Not only did Aaron Ekblad take a stunningly discounted contract for the max term, but Brad Marchand, who will turn 38 next season, signed a six(!!!) year deal to keep the AAV down. It’s a clever way to circumvent the cap in a way, but it’s a reminder that teams that win do what they need to do to keep their guys.
I honestly have no idea how anyone in the East is going to get through Florida next year. They’re better than they were to start the 2024-25 season.
Gotta find a way to keep your guys.
Your… 'dawgs,' as Nazem Kadri once said (remember him?) https://t.co/xCQ3LQ3MMO
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) June 30, 2025
Vegas Hockey Now: The Golden Knights did it. They are trading for Mitch Marner and signing him to the same contract Mikko Rantanen got. It’s yet another example of a great team getting better. You can’t sit back and wait for deals to come to you. Being aggressive is the only way.
I hate to beat a dead horse but if you told me 12 months ago Avs wouldn't have Rantanen or Marner and they'd be playing for Dallas and Vegas I'd have laughed and told you you're crazy.
Both those guys make $12M for max term now. Keep that in mind if or when Avs sign Necas
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) June 30, 2025
By the way, I do subscribe to the theory that the Knights made this deal to avoid being investigated for tampering. It feels like they’ve been after Marner for a long time, and the rumors were starting to get a little too suspicious for the NHL’s liking. The Leafs are going to get Nic Roy as part of the deal for Marner’s sign-and-trade.
Before dealing him, they also got a really solid return for Nic Hague from the Nashville Predators. I love that trade for the Knights, too.
NYI Hockey Now: Alex Romanov also locked in a max-term contract extension with the Islanders at a number that, quite frankly, isn’t all that bad.
Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings made a cap-clearing trade with Minnesota, and then signed a couple of young RFA’s. What else do they have brewing, and is K’Andre Miller part of those plans?
Boston Hockey Now: Boston Signed Morgan Geekie yesterday, and followed it up with three more contracts on Monday.
Deen’s Daily: Decentralized Draft is Staying; Kovalenko’s NHL Stint Ends
Former Avalanche Forward Is Heading Back to the KHL
Deen’s Daily: What Are the Avs Doing at 3C?; Sharks Add 2 Veterans
7 Trade Targets That Could Solve the Avalanche’s 3C Hole (+)
Deen’s Daily: Manson Re-Signs; Dallas Dumps Dumba — RHD Always Have Value
Avalanche UFA Board: Bottom Six Depth Options Remain on The Market
‘There’s One Big Goal Still’: Burns is Excited to Join Avs
Deen’s View: At 40, Burns Isn’t Done Yet — But Where Does He Fit on Colorado’s Blue Line? (+)
Report: Avalanche Used Charlie Coyle to Solve Their Miles Wood Problem
Deen’s Daily: Ehlers Heads East; Burns Itching For a Stanley Cup; Trades Coming?
The FA market SUCKS this year; literally all the big names are already off the board. There isn’t anything but bottom-six and 3rd pair guys available so it will be interesting to see which way things go; it’s entirely possible prices go up but it seems equally plausible that prices go down because the quality of the pool is so low. I could see the Avs trying to plug holes with guys like Beauvillier; their only other option is to make some trades since they have no other assets to work with. On that point: NTC/NMC clauses for some players… Read more »
Really glad CMac cleared out all that space to sign….whom exactly?
We’ll find out in the next few days.
Couldn’t be happier than Marner is in Vegas. It feels like Vegas is more concerned about getting the big fish than building a cup caliber roster. They trade Hague & Roy. Pietrangelo is done for it sounds like the year (at least). So if somebody can explain to me how going out & getting one of the softest players in the league at 12 per makes them better, I’m all ears… Props to FL. Their prospect pool is bare. No 1st’s until 2028. F*ck it, try to win another cup or two. Brad Marchand isn’t playing until he’s 43 lol.… Read more »
How does cap circumventing work if they closed the loophole in 2026. Does Marchand have to play out till 43 or if he decides to retire does the cap hit just count and his roster spot?
His contract is buyout-proof since he’s 35+. They’re in win-now mode and don’t really care about the implications beyond the first three years of that deal; if the cap keeps rising, his hit will be what $3.5M is today which is manageable.
Should’ve traded necas
What would prevent them from trading him?
This.
If anything, it makes more sense to wait out the market. Teams that strike out on Ehlers and Boeser may be more desperate and the Avs can use that to their advantage in a Necas trade.
We talk a lot about sacrifices on the ice, blocking shots, finishing checks, playing through injuries… but the real sacrifice is giving up $2–3 million a year purely out of salary cap patriotism. That’s what team spirit looks like. Just ask MacKinnon. Every morning, he brushes his teeth and wonders why Rantanen isn’t around. He searches for answers. Then slowly, staring into the mirror, it comes to him: “Oh… maybe my $12.6M per year.” And even sweet Cale Makar, two seasons into the league, flashing that million-dollar smile who thought to himself: “You know what, I’ve been good.… Read more »
Imagine trying to convince people that Cale Makar didn’t take a discount when he signed his contract the same year as Darnell Nurse…
I admire Makar, truly. He redefined the modern defenseman role. But signing for $9M per year after just 101 regular season games? That may have been premature, not in terms of talent, but in terms of team context. And we’re seeing the consequences all over the league. Take Edmonton: Nurse’s $9.25M contract has frozen the Oilers’ cap space. The result? They couldn’t fix the goaltending situation. And who knows… with a proper goalie, Edmonton might already have one or two more Stanley Cups. Depth doesn’t come from wishful thinking, it comes when your stars tighten the belt so… Read more »
I wonder if Rangers sign Gavrikov for the big $$$ and term he wants, if CMac could make a deal with Drury for K. Miller? Would he do a 1 for 1 for Sammy G.? Doubtful…