After looking at how COVID-19 could affect NHL teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks we now take a look at another Central Division team in the Colorado Avalanche. Before the season was abruptly stopped the Avalanche were putting together a season worthy of winning the Stanley Cup but had also just picked up an injury to star center Nathan MacKinnon. They were second in the west behind fellow Central Divison rivals St Louis Blues having played one less game and were 7-2-1 in their last ten.
Given the growing injury list, you could say the Avalanche were lucky the season stopped when it did, but with 12 games remaining and 10 points ahead of third-place Dallas Stars you’d have to think they would have stayed put and had MacKinnon, Rantanen, Kadri et al back for the first round clash with said Stars.
They are also in a good situation cap wise with almost $5.5 million available at the time of writing. There will be a huge bump before next season, one would think, for restricted free agent Ryan Graves, while Andre Burakovsky and Valeri Nichushkin (both RFA’s) should also see an increase. Tyson Jost will get a raise as his ELC comes to an end, but the Avalanche term might be the problem with that one. There’s no doubt Jost will want stability with a long term contract but depending on his asking price the Avalanche should steer clear of anything more than 4 years. There’s also the possibility they do what has become common with Nikita Zadorov and offer him a one year deal. Again the price would have to be right.
As far as the crop of UFA’s go I’m finding it very difficult to picture any of them remaining part of the Avalanche next season, especially if the salary cap stays stagnant. Vladislav Namestnikov and Michael Hutchinson were picked up on deadline day as pure rentals while Colin Wilson has struggled with injuries all season. Mark Barberio has shown his versatility by playing both defense and forward this season, but with Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins on the way and Jacob MacDonald having a solid year with the Colorado Eagles at half the price this could be it for the Quebec native. The same can also be said for Kevin Connauton.
That leaves Long Beach Native… My Boy… the Californian stud himself… Matt Nieto. In case you haven’t guessed I’m a fan. Partly because he’s from California and partly because he’s hard to hate. The guy’s story is one for Hollywood and I would love nothing more than to keep him wearing the burgundy #83 for another while yet. He’s solid if not flashy but at $1.925 million and with Martin Kaut banging down the door after his cameo this season, Nieto’s days may be numbered.
Unlike the previous teams we discussed (Maple Leafs and Blackhawks) If the salary cap stays at $81 million the Avalanche would still not have a problem resigning who they need to this offseason. However, with the cap stagnant there is always a possibility that next year’s increase would not be significant either, despite a new US tv deal that should be signed. That’s when things get juicy for the Avalanche with Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog, Philipp Grubauer and Conor Timmins all expiring.
Game of Thrones NHL Team
The current deal with NBC and NBC Sportsnet expires after the 2021-22 season and depending on the increase could see the salary cap jump significantly, which is what most teams will be hoping for. At least for Joe Sakic and the Avalanche if it doesn’t they can sleep peacefully knowing they have Nathan MacKinnon at $6.3 million AAV until the end of the 2023-24 season. Doesn’t that just make you feel dirty!
