Lots of talent for sure.

Not sure he's the guy you want to spend 6.5M on though.
- Scabeh

There aren't a lot of options out there to begin with

There aren't a lot of options out there to begin with
- martok2309

Agreed.

Parise would be the obvious choice but only one team will end up getting him.

If he doesn't sign with the Habs..... I'd take a chance on Kostitsyn if the price is right.

asper Denverpost.com

Mueller and Wilson not at practice today - no reasons given...yet

If the Avs were to sign a top 6 forward in the off season, then they would have to let one or two go, in order to make room for that player.

You don't put Mueller, Jones, Landeskog, or Hejduk on the third line. Jones is a UFA...and if the Avs are planning to sign a big UFA this off season (probably not, seeing how cheap they are), then it makes sense to trade him before the deadline.

I wonder what our record against the Avs has been the last couple of years?
- whipper334

Lmao everyone knows this is calgary's last chance to do anything this year. I wonder if your team will make the playoffs more than once in the next 10 years.

Outlook doubtful.

you need 3 strong centers in the nhl i dunno if i would trade stasney for carter with his injury history. i think there focus should be sign a winger this summer, or maybe trade hishon, gaunce, oliver, van der guilk, porter, see if you cant upgrade a bit! Sherman should have never let Thomas Flishmen walk last summer
- jonathonpeddle

Trading hishon would be a foolish move at this point in time. There is no way the avs were going to give him the money that FLA did and the High altitude would have had problematic effects on his embolism. He is a great player but it just didn't work out.

Hejduk is in the twilight of his career. The question marks right now are stastny and jones IMO. Mueller still hasn't been back for too long.

Really what the avs are atm is O'reilly, duchene, lando, Ej, varly, seimens. With everyone else just filling out the rest of the team.

asper Denverpost.com

Mueller and Wilson not at practice today - no reasons given...yet
- 10baci

Wilson was sick yesterday so it probably is that and Mueller's been fighting the flu so that is possible reason. Mueller hasn't had any setbacks yet and he's looked the same as he always has.

Hejduk is in the twilight of his career. The question marks right now are stastny and jones IMO. Mueller still hasn't been back for too long.

Really what the avs are atm is O'reilly, duchene, lando, Ej, varly, seimens. With everyone else just filling out the rest of the team.
- Meeqsb

Don't leave out Elliott and barrie. They are as good as Siemens and EJ in the long run.

Stastny+pick/prospect for JVR and Simmonds would make my day...

Stastny+pick/prospect for JVR and Simmonds would make my day...
- Dissent

JVR is currently out with a concussion last time I heard but that would be an AMAZING deal lmao.

Raydar lando JVR would just destroy and summonds is a great bottom 6 guy. Not sure if philly would do it though

P.s. Hello NHL 12

Don't leave out Elliott and barrie. They are as good as Siemens and EJ in the long run.
- martok2309

They are both going to be amazing players, I am just not done feeling them out to have a solid opinion on them yet and I also wonder if there is a place for both of them on the team as they are both more offensively minded and both under 200 lbs

They are both going to be amazing players, I am just not done feeling them out to have a solid opinion on them yet and I also wonder if there is a place for both of them on the team as they are both more offensively minded and both under 200 lbs
- Meeqsb

They are both offensive yes but they have exhibited good positioning in thier junior careers and at times during their NHL stints. Elliott is also a shoot first player while Barrie is a pass first. The difference is night and day and would be perfect together on a powerplay or when the game is on the line. Just something to keep in mind.

I honestly think the Avs are going to trade for someone right before Duchene comes back.. Discussing Kostitsyn earlier was perfect. That guy has the untapped skill to come in and allow someone like Duchene to turn it on with a change of scenery.

AK46 is the obvious choice because of price and having never really broke out. If he could.. Galiardi - Duchene - Kostitsyn could hold us over until the end of the year when we can sign at least one more Free agent winger.

Parise and Semin could both end up seeing Free agency. There is an obvious first choice there but as I have said before we could easily afford to add two big free agent contracts even after adding a 3.5-4M salary in AK46 or Ruutu.

If we trade for AK46 now we would look like.. (I still like Ruutu better but AK46 could fit w/Duchene)

This year.. this might be tried and then swapping Mueller/Galiardi would be tried if it didn't work. Lines are not in order of ice time.. As we all know Sacco would play which ever line was more effective the most. At least this way we have lots of options for matchups.

Jones - Stastny - Hejduk

Galiardi - Duchene - AK46

Landeskog - O'Reilly - Mueller

DVG - McC - Winnik

------
Next year w/Parise or Semin...

AK46 - Duchene - Mueller

Parise/Semin - Stastny - Hejduk

Landy - O'Reilly - UFA/Jones/Hishon

Galiardi - McC - Winnik
------

That would be a roster for next year... With Stastny we have a deep center core to build around. Without we just have a chance at a really good top 6. I want a top 9.. A lot of unknowns for the off season. Will Hejduk retire.. Will Jones still be around.. Will Semin/Parise/Suter make it to free agency.. With this it's easy to tell what the best/worst case scenario is and where our holes are.

One too many top 6 in your team? Here's a solution: Trade two of 'em for a better one player! BAAMMMMM! Problem solved.

I honestly think the Avs are going to trade for someone right before Duchene comes back.. Discussing Kostitsyn earlier was perfect. That guy has the untapped skill to come in and allow someone like Duchene to turn it on with a change of scenery.

AK46 is the obvious choice because of price and having never really broke out. If he could.. Galiardi - Duchene - Kostitsyn could hold us over until the end of the year when we can sign at least one more Free agent winger.

Parise and Semin could both end up seeing Free agency. There is an obvious first choice there but as I have said before we could easily afford to add two big free agent contracts even after adding a 3.5-4M salary in AK46 or Ruutu.

If we trade for AK46 now we would look like.. (I still like Ruutu better but AK46 could fit w/Duchene)

This year.. this might be tried and then swapping Mueller/Galiardi would be tried if it didn't work. Lines are not in order of ice time.. As we all know Sacco would play which ever line was more effective the most. At least this way we have lots of options for matchups.

Jones - Stastny - Hejduk

Galiardi - Duchene - AK46

Landeskog - O'Reilly - Mueller

DVG - McC - Winnik

------
Next year w/Parise or Semin...

AK46 - Duchene - Mueller

Parise/Semin - Stastny - Hejduk

Landy - O'Reilly - UFA/Jones/Hishon

Galiardi - McC - Winnik
------

That would be a roster for next year... With Stastny we have a deep center core to build around. Without we just have a chance at a really good top 6. I want a top 9.. A lot of unknowns for the off season. Will Hejduk retire.. Will Jones still be around.. Will Semin/Parise/Suter make it to free agency.. With this it's easy to tell what the best/worst case scenario is and where our holes are.
- Steve-B

Something is not right with your team: you have 3 scoring lines!! Some players will complain about their ice time.

Don't leave out Elliott and barrie. They are as good as Siemens and EJ in the long run.
- martok2309

Elliott and Barrie will be very good.

But not EJ or Siemens good.

Elliott and Barrie will be very good.

But not EJ or Siemens good.
- Scabeh

In a different way, they will be very good. Elliott more than Barrie.

Something is not right with your team: you have 3 scoring lines!! Some players will complain about their ice time.
- Dekker

Because players complain about their ice time on Boston, Philly, and Vancouver? Or Pitt? You need a deep team to do any damage in the playoffs now days. Just like Chicago.. Their top 6 is really good but after that it falls off hard.

Elliott and Barrie will be very good.

But not EJ or Siemens good.
- Scabeh

Elliott actually has the height that if he could get close to or at 200lbs he would do a lot better. Elliott - Siemens could be a dynamite second pairing behind EJ - X..

That's talking 2 years out though..

Because players complain about their ice time on Boston, Philly, and Vancouver? Or Pitt? You need a deep team to do any damage in the playoffs now days. Just like Chicago.. Their top 6 is really good but after that it falls off hard.
- Steve-B

Do you remember trading away Scott Young, Mike Ricci and Chris Drury because we have too many offense players. I respect your idea, it looks good on paper but I'd rather having 2 very good lines like we had with Sakic and Forsberg. O'reilly and Landy are too good and exciting to watch to be on a 3rd line in my humble opinion.

Do you remember trading away Scott Young, Mike Ricci and Chris Drury because we have too many offense players. I respect your idea, it looks good on paper but I'd rather having 2 very good lines like we had with Sakic and Forsberg. O'reilly and Landy are too good and exciting to watch to be on a 3rd line in my humble opinion.
- Dekker

While yes they fit into a 2nd line role based on numbers.. As good as O'Reilly - Landy are.. they are both very good defensively.. O'Reilly is having a break out year but he has 41 pts not 51.. Lets not kid ourselves and call him an offense first center.

The two guys we have on this team who have gotten or came close to 70 points are the other two centers. Which neither of are as good as O'Reilly defensively. Which makes him.. The 3rd line center. He is a hard worker and I doubt either of him or Landeskog would complain about being relied upon for some of the toughest match ups.

No one on this team is on pace for 70-80 points. Given upgrades on wing who do you think has the best chance to put up those kind of numbers? Duchene, Stastny, O'Reilly? You can also look at it this way.. Offensive, Two way, Defensive when you talk about their skill sets. If your 3rd line can give you 100-140 points collectively while being a great defensive unit. I will take that any day. Deep teams win in the playoffs and we have a chance at that if we fix our issues at wing.

Ask the Hawks top 6 players who are burnt out if they would complain about more support and a little less ice time?

That is the difference between a great team and a good team in 1-3 years.

Back on topic.. I must say the idea of Duchene playing with Galiardi & Porter/Kobasew makes my stomach hurt a little. It's also a shame if Jones continues to produce and Duchene takes his spot.. We do really need to trade for at least one guy with some offensive skill.

"Here" is hoping the Avs pull another Flash type deal. A D man for a offensive potential winger. (And it works)

Good points my friend ....but AK46 on 2nd line instead of Landy?? Really? Have you seen AK playing on a regular basis? I did...and I'd take Landeskog over AK laziness any day of the week. O'reilly will surpass Statsny next year as best 2-way player so do you really want a 6,6M 3rd line center?

Nash and Vermette to Co for stastny jones barrie and a pick

Plz Plz Plz