Deen's Daily
Deen’s Daily: Burns Brings the Beard to Denver; Isles Land KHL Star; Ehlers Decision Coming?
The Avalanche added a grizzled veteran on the blue line. Where does he fit? Also, Pius Suter is off the board and the top KHL UFA has signed an NHL contract.
All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — July 3.
Colorado Hockey Now
The Avalanche didn’t strike on July 1. They also didn’t sign Nikolaj Ehlers on July 2. Actually, Ehlers still hasn’t made a decision on where he’ll play next, albeit Carolina and Washington are the rumored favorites.
But the Avs did sign Brent Burns, along with his glorious beard. And I’m very, very intrigued by this move. Burns is 40 years old but can provide a lot of things the team needs. His size, penalty-killing prowess, puck-moving ability, and reliability are all great qualities of his game.
His personality as a veteran presence will also mesh well. (I honestly can’t wait to ask him, off the record, about the Carolina Mikko Rantanen experience).
Read More: Veteran Defenseman Brent Burns Agrees To One-Year Deal with Avalanche
Around The NHL
Pius Suter Signs With Blues: The best remaining center on the market has been plucked by the St. Louis Blues, signing for two years with a $4.125 million AAV. I thought he’d get $4.5 million with term, so this isn’t a bad signing at all. I would’ve loved for the Avs to get their hands on this guy for the third line if the money made sense.
NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders are landing the top KHL free agent. Forward Maxim Shabanov signed a one-year entry level contract on Wednesday. Listed at just 5’8, 157 lbs, the 24-year-old has spent his entire career playing in Russia. I’m really curious to see if his game translates. He had 67 points in 65 games last year, before posting 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 postseason games.
Vegas Hockey Now: Want to know how much value right-shot defenseman hold in the NHL these days? Wait until you see the gamble the Vegas Golden Knights made with one of their young RHD.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Speaking of defensemen, the Pens are taking a chance on a young blueliner looking to kickstart his career with a fresh opportunity.
Montreal Hockey Now: Where does Zach Bolduc fit in the Habs’ lineup?
Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings signed a depth forward to a two-year deal. Was it even necessary?
Ottawa Hockey Now: Lars Eller is still kickin’ it in the NHL after signing on to join the Ottawa Senators. Where does he fit?
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?
Another Bluesers signing that I’m not happy about… Bjugstad, 2 years @ $1.75m AAV. He could been a great low-cost option for us at 3/4C. Bummer.
Yeah, the Blues getting both Suter and Bjugstad for less than $6M was another missed opportunity.
Exactly my point. People get mad at me cause I keep saying avs ain’t doing crap while everyone else is making moves.
There are a number of teams that are up against the cap (or over) more than the Avs. No need to get angsty on July 3rd. It’s a waiting game to see some solid players needing to be shipped out by their teams before they have to be cap compliant. Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see a move (or more) closer to training camp
Bjugstad’s game slipped last year and he’s about to turn 33. His 2-year deal isn’t without some risk.
He’ll be making about double the league minimum. Seems pretty low risk to me.
He kind of sucks. Not sure why you would’ve liked the Avs to sign him. Maybe if they didn’t have Drury, he’d fit at 4C. But he’s not good enough to be the 3C.
They actually had a really, really good 3C. This guy named Charlie Coyle. Who they traded for apparently no good reason.
We won’t know for a while unless the Avs make more signings or trades between now and then but, are they finally going to give roster spots to guys like Ivan, Prishchepov and maybe even Bardakov (he’s more of a wild-card since he hasn’t even played a game in North America)? They also have guys like Brindley and T Makar that could be given a look. The Avs aren’t known for rostering young players and haven’t cared about getting non-top 10 pick prospects to the NHL in forever but they’re getting to the point where they may have to shift… Read more »
Not opposed to 1 or 2 guys getting a longer look to start the year. But as it stands now you’re lookin at 3 empty slots in your bottom 6. Counting LOC. Which isn’t the end of the world on July 2nd. With Coyle their 4th line was set (once LOC returns). And you had 2/3rds of an awesome 3rd line in Coyle & Colton. And I’m baffled as to why considering their free agency plan wasn’t to target anyone who made significant money. Why blow that up? They could’ve traded Wood (not buying that nobody would’ve taken him at… Read more »
The fact that CMac brought up Bardakov unprompted in his two previous press conferences makes me think he’s got the inside track to a spot on the opening night roster, assuming he doesn’t play his way off the roster in camp.
I agree with you, especially on those five guys specifically. Bardakov and Makar are 24, Ivan is 22, Prishchepov is 21, and Brindley is 20. Let’s see what we have with them! I would even add the 22 year old Behrens as well. I keep going to Dallas in my head, and their willingness to give important roles to unproven, slightly older prospects, such as Harley, Stankoven, and Johnston. Safe to say they’ve each worked out (with Stanky the key piece in getting Rantanen). Heck, Robertson was still on the young side when he was brought up. And none of… Read more »
My guess is
Colton Drury ??????
Kelly bardakov ???????
Welp.. if CMac really was waiting for Ehlers, it was all in jest.
He just signed with Carolina.
So does he have a plan?
I’m no expert, but it seems like we’ve missed out on several guys that would have been good gets.
Including letting Coyle go.
Label me confused..
I’m with you. This is legitimately beginning to piss me off. Their bottom 6 is dog shit on paper (again) & probably in reality. Trading Coyle was idiotic. They cleared 8 million pre July 1 to sign 64 year old Brent Burns & Joe Veleno (rumored) who you could probably bring in on a PTO next off – season…because he sucks.