Avalanche News
Report: Avalanche One of Many Teams Interested in Nikolaj Ehlers
It was reported earlier on Tuesday that Nikolaj Ehlers is unlikely to make a decision on July 1.
The 29-year-old forward became the hottest free agent on the market following the Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, and Ivan Provorov contract extensions with their respective clubs. And of course, the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade that sent him from Toronto to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Prior to announcing his retirement, TSN Insider Bob McKenzie provided an update on Ehlers. He said several teams are speaking with the longtime Winnipeg Jets goalscorer.
Among those teams? The Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs haven’t made any notable UFA signings on the first day of free agency, and this could be why. Given their limited cap space, perhaps general manager Chris MacFarland’s priority is to sign Ehlers. If it doesn’t end up in Colorado’s favor, then shifting towards trade targets is likely the way to go.
It would be a huge moment if the Avalanche pull it off. Colorado hasn’t signed a UFA from another team for more than a $4 million AAV since 2018. And Ehlers might be their biggest ever.
The addition of someone like that could mean a lot of things. And it would all but certainly shift focus to Martin Necas, who is a year away from unrestricted free agency status.
We’ll see how things unfold in the coming days.
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Not sure how this helps our D, where the focus of effort should be
It would open up the possibility to trade Necas for a top 4 D & Girard for bottom 6 depth. Probably similar to how they handled Mitts after trading for Nelson
Yep.
https://x.com/DallasStars/status/1919170036561830369
Basically if they sign ehlers.
That means necas is expandable and can trade for avs needs like a package deal.
My trade would be to isles.
Necas
Girard
4th
For
Tsyplakov
Pelech
Duclair
Gatcomb
27 1st and 2nd
Fun fact: they can make more than just this move
Like Ari said. And I mentioned something similar in the Drouin comments. Sign Ehlers who I think is softer & a lesser player than Necas. But he’d be a bit cheaper presumably. Which would allow them to cut bait on ole Marty & trade him for a top 4 D? Or 3C & some other stuff.
Softer than Necas? That’s really soft based on your past posts. A cheaper “Charmin?” How you could you go for that?
I’m not arguing with you. Never go cheap on toilet paper or top 6 wingers. But Ehlers is literally a less productive player, always injured & has been even worse in the postseason than Necas.
I guess their calculus is they can save 2 – 3 against the cap AFTER this year on inking Ehlers at say 7. Instead of extending Necas at 10 or more. I don’t care for either player. In the postseason when it matters they’re both duds.
Should’ve kept Mikko lol. But I digress….
Ehlers figured it out this year with 5 goals in 8 playoff games. I like the 50-goal pace. I don’t like that he missed five games.
I think the boat has sailed on any quality free agents for the Avs. The best they can hope for is a trade now or at the deadline. I’d hate to see them sign a player for the sake of signing him. If it doesn’t help the roster then don’t do the deal. Keep your cap options open as teams that are out of the playoffs usually provide the best pickings as their depression sets in.
Oh I don’t know, I bet if you use your imagination a bit you could see them then trading Necas for some fairly decent defensive help. Not saying this is what they’re going to do or whether it’s better to have Ehlers than Marty (I happen to like Marty better though they’re pretty close to the same player) but I can certainly see that series of events unfolding. And the net of it would be pretty good – they get Ehlers without giving up any resources and they use the majority of the resources they got for Mikko to do… Read more »
Seems like a pretty round a bout way to fill a D spot. No guarantee whoever wants Necas has a D they are willing to part with and who fits with the Avs. Think we should have signed one of the UFA D available. Then if you want to move Marty, make that a separate transaction.
Have you seen the deals these UFA D’s are getting? Aside from Perbix – which kind of stings that we couldn’t pounce on him – they’ve all been astronomical overpays. I’m glad we sat those guys out so far.
Perbix was the target we missed for sure. Schmidt got $3.5m, overpay by $1m IMO, but with the cap going up, might be the new normal. We need a 3rd pairing left shot D and a 3C. Plenty of depth wingers we can fill in later if necessary.
Well once again everything comes back to CMac not being very good at this. The situation they’re in now it appears they’re putting all their eggs in the Ehlers basket. The Coyle trade was premature. If after July 1 some team that desperately needed a 2C/3C hybrid. Then sure look at dealing him. Instead they created a hole down the middle, in an abhorrent free agent class. If they don’t sign Ehlers, you can’t trade Necas. So what assets do they have to move to both get a 3C & a top 4 D? I’m starting to think they don’t… Read more »
I agree wholeheartedly. Either deals too late or not good enough offers to make anything happen. At this point, the lack of recognition about the need to prioritize the defense and get tougher is self evident. But I also remember Joe Sakic in the past downplaying the importance of toughness and physicality with the Avs team. Which is kind of weird as Joe had Simon and Footer (plus a lot of other stout players) watching his back when he played.
It would be out-of-character for the Avs to make a splashy addition in UFA but, if he isn’t going to make more than what Nečas is asking for plus they can get some good assets back by trading Nečas, you do this in a heartbeat.
Ehlers would be a min of $8.5 m x 6 yrs. Avs have $7.6 m cap remaining. If they somehow sign him soon, other teams would have leverage when dealing some combo of Necas, Girard, Colton for D3 and D4 upgrade and bottom 6 forwards. Unless they do the trades first and have a handshake deal with Ehlers agent. Interesting stuff…
The Avs have $7.55M in cap space. They need a 3C, a bottom 6 winger, and another winger to replace O’Connor until he returns. They also need a 3rd pair defenseman if they do not want to start Middleton. The expected contract for Ehlers is 6x$8.1M, so $1.6 million more than Necas.
If Ivan and Bardakov come up to be the bottom 6 wingers to start the season, their combined salary is $$1.712M. Add that to the higher cost of Ehlers, that leaves you with $4.238M for a 3C and 3rd pair defenseman.
Not all of those things need to be addressed now. But ideally you find your 3C now. And you get a top 4ish defenseman.
As you stated, “If they don’t sign Ehlers, you can’t trade Necas. So what assets do they have to move to both get a 3C & a top 4 D?” The problem is if you do not address them sooner than later, then the 3C is also a journeyman. Unless of course the plan is to move Drury to 3C and have Kelly be the 4C again.
I agree. I was just saying in theory you want to address those things now. Not saying they’ll be able to. A bottom 6 wing can be added at the deadline. Or you can try a few kids to start the year. Steinburg, Ivan, etc.
My whole point was really about how much money the Avs have and any return you might get from a trade, still needs to fit. Swapping Necas for Ehlers will most likely cost more this year, even if the savings are for next year. The relatively inexpensive, but still good 3C’s and defensemen are going fast.
I got you. I would assume they would have to do more surgery to get under the cap. If they sign Ehlers (big if & don’t want that). Then they flip Necas for say a top 4 D & a pick, etc. I would assume they would deal Manson or Girard. This is all roster bating at the end of the day. For all we know they’re perfectly fine with the defense as is. And just want to add a #6/7th depth guy. The Coyle trade though makes me think they were or are targeting someone specific. For all we… Read more »
By the time this comment reaches CHN, there won’t be anything left in the cupboard to deal for. Unless CMac can swing a trade that makes sense – – I believe you are looking at the Avs roster for opening night – – replete with moving Eagles parts. Be still my pounding heart.
On a positive note and the basketball front, who woulda thunk that Josh Kroenke could have made such great deals (4) in such a short time to boost the Nuggets chances next season?
Colton mangiapane mantha
Kelly Drury prishchepov
That’s your bottom 6.
Sign Merrill play with malinski.
Mantha got signed by Calgary
I believe in Ivan ^2
A forward with size and grit would be nice..Works for me.
I would take Necas if part of his immediate family were kidnapped and would be harmed if he didn’t overpass and put a puck on the net.
Avs lost out on UFA D upgrades. All are gone except maybe Dumoulin?
Pius Suter is still out there. He would be a nice fit for Avs and much less $/term than Ehlers.
Dumoulin signed with LA hours ago.
I actually woundnt mind seeing us make a trade with the Caps. Send them Necas and girard. Get back Chychrun and Protas. Chychrun was arguably their best defender in the post season. 6’2” and 215 lbs is large enough to hold his own. Protas gives us the size and grit on 3C. I think both teams address some issues. Caps need more scoring which gets addressed in Necas. Plus Sammy G provides minute munching with an offensive upside. Avs get an anchor on the second pairing and an above average 3C. I wouldn’t mind switching out Protas for McMichael. We… Read more »
Sounds good to you. Sounds good to me. But does it sound good to CMac? Then the Capitals? Absent some trades, this looks like a real weak “D” core for Colorado. Maybe Middleton will play lights out and score 20 goals plus playing stout defense. Right.