Offseason Plans: Colorado Avalanche
So, I’m going to try and help out every team in the league this summer. Some(most) may not be good, but credit me for trying and feel free to leave your opinions, criticism, or your own version of what will happen for the teams. After randomly thinking of a team, I’ve decided that I’m going to start with the Avalanche.
After securing the 3rd Overall Pick in the 2009 Draft, the Avalanche managed to improve a great deal from their tough 2009 campaign. 2010 was a great year for Avs fans, sliding into the playoffs and snagging two games from the Sharks before being shown the door. They have a few key guys to re-sign, and a trade or two could go a long way towards making this a cup contender once again.
Re-Signs:
Adam Foote 1yr/$2.75M
Marek Svatos 2yr/$5M (2.5 Cap Hit)
Foote is a great guy to have on the blueline for you. He’s getting up there in age, but he still knows how to play the game, and he can mentor young guys like *****miskey and Quincey. Not to mention the fact thathe’s the captain. Svatos is still young, and only played 54 games this year. He definitely had somewhat of a down year, as 7 goals in 54 games is mediocre at best. A full season and he could probably get you about 20-25 goals.
To Chicago: 1st in 2010 (19th Overall), 2nd in 2011 (COL)
To Colorado: Kris Versteeg
Versteeg is a solid 20 goal player who could probably get about 30 with a good playmaker on his line. With Chicago’s major cap issues, picks are really the only return they’ll get for the guys they decide to auction off. Versteeg can play wing with Duchene and would get around the same total he had in 2010(22).
To Boston: 2nd in 2010 (49th Overall), 1st in 2011 (COL)
To Colorado: 1st in 2010 (17th Overall)
Select Emerson Etem 17th Overall
Free Agency:
Sign Ray Whitney 2yr/$4.8M
Right now you still don’t have a first line winger to play with Stastny and Hejduk. Whitney is 38, but can still score and produce with the best of them and he’d be a great veteran guy to have in your top 6.
Lineup:
(2.4) – (6.6) – (3.0)
(3.1) – (3.4) – (2.05)
(0.85) – Peter Mueller (1.0) – David Jones (0.838)
(1.033) Cody McLeod – Kevin Porter (0.85) – T.J. Galliardi (0.875)
(4.5) Scott Hannan – John-Michael Liles (4.2)
(2.75) – Kevin Shattenkirk (1.3)
(0.6) Kyle *****miskey – Kyle Quincey (0.85)
(1.812)
(1.25)
Total: $43.258M (40.283 after the bonus cushion)
Please feel free to leave your thoughts, along with advice and criticism.