Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers respond to questions in the Avs Mailbag every other Tuesday during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.
The expansion of the NHL in Seattle took another step forward this past week. Now, with an expansion draft seemingly on the horizon what moves do you see the Avalanche making to mitigate the loss of a very skilled player? By rushing young players like Tyson Jost and Sam Girard into the NHL it seems the Avalanche will be exposing several valuable assets to the expansion process. For example defensively Erik Johnson, Nikita Zadorov, Tyson Barrie, Girard and Ian Cole will need to be protected. From the forward group Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabe Landeskog, Carl Soderberg, Alex Kerfoot, Jost, Matt Nieto, J.T. Compher, Matt Calvert, Sven Andrighetto will also be eligible to be selected.
Would a trade of Barrie for younger assets exempt from the expansion draft make sense? Assuming the same rules apply that were used for the Las Vegas expansion draft the Avalanche appear to have some difficult decisions to make.
— Kirk Wallander, Denver
Kirk, you’re obviously dialed-in with the expansion process, although it might change from the 2017 Vegas Golden Knights. In that expansion draft teams could protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or eight players regardless of position. We don’t know the rules for Seattle. But you’re absolutely right, the better you are — especially young and coming out of your entry-level contract — the more you have to lose. Make sure you look at the contract, both value and term, because you might not have to protect Johnson and his $6 million salary through 2022-23 because Seattle isn’t willing to take on that deal. And if you have Tyson Barrie under contract perhaps you expose him because you have fellow right-shooting, like-minded defensemen Cale Makar and Conor Timmins coming up. Make no mistake, the deepest teams are going to lose a good player — but you can bet it won’t be the likes of MacKinnon, Rantanen, Landeskog, Jost, Kerfoot, Girard and Philipp Grubauer, among others.
I don’t think I am alone in thinking this, but Mikko is becoming my favorite player. Any chance the Avs lock him up to a long-term deal?
— Sam, Lowry
Sam, it’s an interesting topic because MacKinnon has that team-friendly cap hit ($6.3 million) and is the franchise player. Rantanen is absolutely a future all-star worth $8M-plus, but we sense he’ll take less to not rock the boat. He’ll either signed a long-term deal in the MacKinnon ball park or do a two-year bridge deal worth $4.5M or so annually. Rantanen is such a good, unassuming person I don’t think this will become a big issue.
MacKinnon is on fire to start this season, is this the year he takes the Avs back to the postseason again and wins the Hart Trophy?
— Jeff, Aurora
MacKinnon is the best young right-shot forward in the game right now, and I do believe he will continue to produce like a superstar and lead the Avs back to the playoffs. Thanks for your question, Jeff.
Mike I know you are going to be covering the Avs all season, will the paper have anyone with the Denver Pioneers at all? College hockey rules and DU games are fun.
— Tay, Englewood
We’re working on it Tay, but you’re absolutely right, DU games are a blast and the college game is fantastic. I enjoy going back and forth, the NHL and NCAA from week to week. They’re both great games.
Hi Mike, why is Landeskog our captain? I feel like there are better leaders on this team. Thanks.
— Rick, Denver
Rick, there isn’t a better leader in that locker room. The Avs have hit it dead-on with Landeskog as the captain, Johnson with an A and MacKinnon (franchise player) with the other A. Trust me, if you worked with these guys on a daily basis you would see Landeskog is the right guy.
The season is young but would still like to hear your predictions on what to expect from the Avalanche. Seems like this could be a better team.
— Mike, Longmont
It is a better team, Mike, because the D is deeper, the forwards a little older and Philipp Grubauer is an option in net. The only thing that can slow this team down is injuries, particularly to MacKinnon, Rantanen or Girard.
Are the Avs running any ticket discounts or deals for fans, I would love the catch a couple games this year.
— Jackie, Canon City
Jackie, there’s always deals out there. Check in with my boys (and girls) at dawgnationhockey.org, the non-profit group that aids in hockey people in need. Visit the Avs site too.
Hi Mike, I think Avalanche fans should be excited about this season. Wanted to see how beneficial it is for the team to have the Colorado Eagles of the AHL in northern Colorado.
— Dale, Loveland
It’s massive, Dale, just massive. During homestands (Avs and Eagles), the Avs will send a young player to Loveland to play instead of being scratched or getting low minutes. And it’s so much easier to keep tabs on guys. As far as the Colorado hockey landscape, we now have an ideal ladder — all the young organizations, NCAA, AHL, NHL. The NHL-AHL partnership helps grow the game.
Mike, not sure if you have answered this one before but wanted your thought on the Vegas Golden Knights. Is it a good place to catch a game? I was thinking about making a Vegas trip when the Avs head out west.
— Eric, Denver
Eric, yes my man, seeing a game at T-Mobile Arena just off the strip is OUTSTANDING. That place is selling out every night, the weather is good, and you walk out the main doors and you’re basically on the strip. Do it.
Mike, I have more of a personal question for you and wanted to ask what your favorite part of hockey being back is?
— Emily, Englewood
Hi Emily, my favorite thing about the hockey season is I get to go to the rink every day — practice rink or the Pepsi Center. I love being at the rink. I’m also and avid beer-league hockey player and my son is playing junior-A in Boston this year. Hockey season is the best.
Hey Mike, someone mentioned the other day in passing that the Avs have the best young coach in Jared Bednar. I gave it some thought and feel he may be the best, your thoughts?
— Alan, Littleton
Well, Alan, I usually learn something from a Bednar press conference. He’s very detailed and thinks the game in so many moving pieces. I think he’s a great coach and I know he’s a player’s coach — the guys love playing for him.
Mike, I don’t know much about our new goaltender Grubauer. Is he just a serviceable backup or does he have a chance to compete with Varly?
— Will, Pueblo
Oh, yeah, Will, he’s the real deal. Was Washington’s No. 1 guy going into the postseason in April before losing the first two games. Mid-20s and big future ahead of him. Probably the Avs’ No. 1 goalie the next three to five years.
Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers respond to questions in the Avs Mailbag every other Tuesday during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.