Which is why I completely agree with Sakic taking a hard stand on this. If he gives in to Stastny's demands, a precedent is set for the next UFA. At the same time, he's as necessary a piece as they come for an up and coming team like the Avs. Big step back if you lose out on him, unless there is a solid plan B.

I don't think the NHL has seen the last of Heatley
- SotaPopinski

I think he will get a 2 year deal from someone...not sure who. I bet he has a few options....I hope its in Winnipeg.

Blues wouldn't trade Shattenkirk for Spezza straight up. Blues fans aren't talking about a deal for Spezza much at this point because Sens fans are out to lunch expecting more than Berglund, mid-level prospect, & a 1st for one year of Spezza. One Blues fan saying Shatty & Bergy is about as ridiculous as the couple of Sens fans who think they are getting Schwartz or Tarasenko. According to most Sens fans, Spezza is a lock to sign an extension here if we trade for him. Well, if he is so set on playing for St. Louis after his current contract, we are young enough to hope being even half healthy will get us over the hump next playoffs; and if not sign him for nothing in 12 months. All this assuming contract talks aren't going well with Statsny right now.

Like Avs fans, I struggle to see Statsny going anywhere other than St. Louis or Colorado, maybe a slim chance of NYR. Both Avs and Blues really want him, have a decent amount of cap space, and are where he spent his life up until this point.

The longer Statsny remains unsigned, the worse things look for Colorado in my opinion. Functionally, UFA period hit today. If he decides to go back to Avs, it can be announced at any time. If he decides on elsewhere, it doesn't get announced until July 1. No news is good news... as long as you're not an Avs fan.
- Antilles

You wont hear anything about him resigning until after July 1st. I think they talk to a few teams, wait for a few offers to roll in to see how serious they were in the pre talks. Teams can say all the want about how he is a fit for them, etc etc but until July 1st they can not make an actual offer. They will make the decision, probably by the time have gone back to the Avs and said these are the offers we have standing right now...what can you do.

Congrats to Nate Mac, Patty Roy and ROR.

Dater listed Greene as a target, maybe Boyle.
Sakic and Roy say they have a UFA target list, wont add for the saking of adding anyone. The guy they want for the price they want him at has to match or they move on.

Personally I hope its Stralman
- DDM-Coga

Didn't Greene re-sign already? Stralman would be a nice addition

Didn't Greene re-sign already? Stralman would be a nice addition
- SotaPopinski

He posted his list of targets before he resigned. But thats who Dater thought woudl have been one of the Avs main targets.

I would rather overspend on Stralman than overspending on Niskanen

I wanted the Avs to sign Nikitin, but after the Oilers did a sign and trade I realized that must have been a terrible idea.

Some idiot team will give Statsny 7 million plus, it will be a huge waste of money. He is only good with star players around him, if he went to a team with less skill around him he will be a 15 goal scorer and 40 points. The way guys are done at 29-32 years old now I would not sign him long term. Brad Richards, Mike Richards(maybe?)Vinnie LeCavier etc all done early.

He posted his list of targets before he resigned. But thats who Dater thought woudl have been one of the Avs main targets.

I would rather overspend on Stralman than overspending on Niskanen
- DDM-Coga

Same here. Sounds like Niskanen to Wild is a real possibility... not sure how I feel about that.

Same here. Sounds like Niskanen to Wild is a real possibility... not sure how I feel about that.
- SotaPopinski

He wouldnt be a bad guy to pair with Suter, but If I were a Wild fan I would just hope that Brodin has more of a bounce back year and look at signing a better depth guy or hope that Folin is battlign at camp

Avs are gonna suck if they lose him.

Avs are gonna suck if they lose him.
- Drij

It seemed like you already thought they sucked.

He wouldnt be a bad guy to pair with Suter, but If I were a Wild fan I would just hope that Brodin has more of a bounce back year and look at signing a better depth guy or hope that Folin is battlign at camp
- DDM-Coga

MacKinnon will shatter the 6 mill thing for Sakic.. The boy will make a crazy amount of cash over his career.

He wouldnt be a bad guy to pair with Suter, but If I were a Wild fan I would just hope that Brodin has more of a bounce back year and look at signing a better depth guy or hope that Folin is battlign at camp
- DDM-Coga

I wouldn't mind Orpik, but Niskanen would give an offensive boost at least. Not sure what to expect from Folin, though some seem to be expecting a lot.

MacKinnon will shatter the 6 mill thing for Sakic.. The boy will make a crazy amount of cash over his career.
- bixll

Rules are made to be broken

Nope we overpay for him on a 3 year deal

- top shelf 15

Him and his penalties.

Cant see him on the Ducks. He would have to leave the exact same kind of money on the table that he would to resign with teh Avs to fit under the cap system.

If he doesnt resign I think its Blues, Rangers, and mention by another Avs guy...Dallas as the destinations
- DDM-Coga

Rags are out per Larry Brooks. Want to use their cap on their RFAs and a couple of their UFAs

Cant see him on the Ducks. He would have to leave the exact same kind of money on the table that he would to resign with teh Avs to fit under the cap system.

If he doesnt resign I think its Blues, Rangers, and mention by another Avs guy...Dallas as the destinations
- DDM-Coga

Rags are out per Larry Brooks. Want to use their cap on their RFAs and a couple of their UFAs

Avs are gonna suck if they lose him.
- Drij

youre usually so upbeat, what happened

I wouldn't mind Orpik, but Niskanen would give an offensive boost at least. Not sure what to expect from Folin, though some seem to be expecting a lot.
- SotaPopinski

Oprik on a 2 year, max 3 year deal,its not a bad investment. Anything beyond that might come back to haunt you...based on some of the Pen fan comments about him lately

Same here. Sounds like Niskanen to Wild is a real possibility... not sure how I feel about that.
- SotaPopinski

Wow is there no structure in Minny???? Just from these comments I have Stastny, Vanny and Niskenen going there ... thats a good 18 mil spent.

Be careful or you'll turn out like Chicago and Boston ... try to trade players to free up space. Wild have 22 mil of cap space to sign 5 RFA ( one being keumper) not much to play with there!

I like the fact that the Avs have a "structure" for the team and aren't going to go nuts and blow their cap space at once, but using Duchene's 6 mil hometown discount as a line they won't cross is going to tear the core apart in a few years. Expecting everyone to take a hometown discount will only lead to more players leaving once they're unrestricted. They don't need to overpay anyone but they need to be reasonable and negotiate with the players.

I like the fact that the Avs have a "structure" for the team and aren't going to go nuts and blow their cap space at once, but using Duchene's 6 mil hometown discount as a line they won't cross is going to tear the core apart in a few years. Expecting everyone to take a hometown discount will only lead to more players leaving once they're unrestricted. They don't need to overpay anyone but they need to be reasonable and negotiate with the players.
- westonie

I think they are being fair with this approach but I agree they do need to realize that a hometown discount can only go so far. Best way to fix that is start winning cups, then taking those discounts are easier to justify

Hate to get off topic in an aves thread but Shattu looked pretty terrible on d last year. He was OK offensively but a major liability, especially in the playoffs. If we trade for Spezza in pretty much positive he is gone.
- cuethenoise

So if we trade one of our main puck-movers and offensively minded defensemen, who is going to step into his minutes on the power-play? Our power-play would be weakened.

If he was so bad, then why did he make the US Olympic team?

They really need to figure out if Cole is a good partner with Shattenkirk to round out the pair. I read a long time ago they played together in U-18 or something and really have been at a loss to figure out why that hasn't been a regular thing.

There is not one Blues prospect anywhere close to doing what Shattenkirk offers; the ones playing pro are not noted for offense and Armey was quoted in article today they need more time in AHL.

MacKinnon will shatter the 6 mill thing for Sakic.. The boy will make a crazy amount of cash over his career.
- bixll

Mackinnon is the reason for Sakic's structure. He will be the only player to make more than Duchene. If we hand out a contract to anyone that is worth more than Duchene's contract before Mac is due to reup, he will make stupid money. However, if we keep everyone below Duchene's contract Mac likely resigns for about 6.5 LONG term.