Not the worst line up but not much room for slip ups. 1 D injury and MacDermid is a regular. Same goes on the forwards, and of course this means someone off the D corps is almost certainly a goner next season once Landy is back.

EJ has to know that if he wants to stick around, he's gotta do a Giordano for the Avs. Will be interested to see, but I anticipate he'll be a 7th d for the team.

I like everything else, too. I think LoC will remain on the 4th but putting in minutes any time the Avs start in their own zone. Big minutes in a lot of different lines.

I agree that if he wants to stick around he's gotta take a million or less. Problem is I think he's good enough to get far more than that on the open market, and money talks. I also like LoC on the 4th, not sure I like any of the players on the 4th on the 3rd, though.

Yeah I was really struggling with making the cap work without being ridiculous with undervaluing free agents. I contemplated trading Sam Girard for some cap relief, but I couldn't come up with a trade that made sense for Colorado. I think Girard is a piece they move regardless next season to make room for Landy or signing a Toews extension. It's a ****ty plan, but I think Avs management is just hoping the salary cap jumps by as much as some claim it will after next season. That would be a hugeeee help.

I'm expecting 88 for the next year as they got close to clearing the escrow thing this year. I think they'll really want to pump it up as much as they can as it will be bad for the league to be stagnant any longer. Even with that increase it will be tough and something will have to give. The next couple of years are going to be letting some guys like G and Manson go I think and the money is going to extend DT, MR and AG (and allow for bringing Landy back). If they can fit a 2C in there as well all good. Otherwise it's tread water and see how Newhook develops. Part of why I think bar something major happening the Avs won't move that '23 1st. Even someone like Stenberg might still be available at that spot and could develop into a future 2C though it would be a ways down the road. After that there may be some breathing room. Otherwise it's going to require a massive restructuring, and that may be bad enough as is. They're going to have to be very shrewd as the flat cap came at literally the worst possible time for the Avs.

Sharangovich ought to be either a 1-year deal, so he returns to RFA next year, or 3+ year deal, so that you buy up some UFA years. A 2-year deal would take him directly to UFA.

1-year at $2 million; or
3-year at $3.25 million

Oh, that's a good point. 1 year at $2 million would certainly be more beneficial to the Avalanche anyway

It's funny you bring up Stenberg because he's my #1 pick for the Avalanche at 27 if they keep the pick. I really like that prospect, he's a good 2-way player from what I've seen. As far as the cap goes, $88 million sounds about right, I don't think they jump from $83.5 million up to $90 million in one offseason, although that would be amazing. The flat cap really screwed a lot of teams.