Devon Toews: Can The Avalanche Afford To Keep Him?
Steven Stamkos isn’t the only player in the NHL that may have to test free agency after this year. Devon Toews has been playing on a bargain contract ever since the Avalanche acquired him from the Islanders. This may be viewed as a champagne problem but Toews deserves a serious raise and I have no idea how Colorado is going to be able to afford him.
Toews, 29, is in the final year of a contract that will pay him an AAV of just $4.1. He’s criminally underpaid for a defenseman who notched 50 points while playing sheltered PP minutes. He also sported a 54.7 CF% rate a season ago, which is just phenomenal. In reality, this will all depend on what Toews is looking for. Toews probably deserves what Cale Makar is making, but Colorado can’t justify paying him that. If Toews is looking to accept a slight hometown discount, maybe there is a way to keep him.
The problem is Vince Dunn just signed a deal that will carry an AAV of $7.35 million. I’d argue Toews has more of a track record of success. The cap is also expected to spike in a significant way next year. The problem is Colorado has zero cap space and would be way over if Gabriel Landeskog wasn’t on LTIR.
Also, with Toews heading into his 30’s, at what price point do you walk away? The Avalanche had to make a similar business decision with Nazem Kadri. In a perfect world, Colorado would have kept Kadri. The problem is he got an offer from Calgary to the point where it didn’t make sense to match. Kadri’s point total dropped in a drastic way in his first year with the Flames and that deal now seems like an overpay.
There may be a way to do it but we all know the elephant in the room. If Bowen Byram explodes (and he will if healthy) they’re going to have to give a sizeable raise to him. It’s doable but Colorado will have to part with guys like Sam Girard and Josh Manson in order to bring Toews back next year. Regardless, it’s something to watch heading into this year. Toews may price himself out of Colorado. If you play fantasy hockey, Toews is a big-time sleeper I encourage you to pick. He has all the motivation in the world to light it up to increase his payday.
The positive is that Toews seems intent on staying. Maybe there is a chance he takes a discount. Avalanche fans should feel nervous but also encouraged that there is at least communication. This is a key contract extension to get done prior to the start of the season.
Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
Click here for more NHL content
