With several key veterans heading towards unrestricted free agency and a strong roster that’s already one of the top offensive teams in the league, expectations are high in Colorado with the belief that they will look to make a big splash to cement their contender status. As part of his trade bait list released earlier today, TSN’s Chris Johnston reported in a separate segment (video link) that they’ve shown interest in a pair of prominent veterans in Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Flyers center Claude Giroux.
Fleury has had a quiet year with Chicago compared to his Vezina-winning campaign last season but has still managed a respectable .910 SV% and a 2.88 GAA in 34 starts. For context, starter Darcy Kuemper’s numbers are only a little better at a .916 SV% and a 2.54 GAA. Pavel Francouz has been even better in limited action but missed all of last season and most of this one due to injury so some quality insurance between the pipes would make some sense.
As for Giroux, he has continually made it clear that he has not yet decided whether or not he’ll waive his trade protection to facilitate a trade. It’s a decision that seems likely to come close to the March 21st trade deadline but it’s easy to see why the Avs would be interested. He’s on pace for close to 30 goals and 70 points and would make a strong attack much deeper. He’d also be a big boost for them at the faceoff dot as Colorado’s team success rate is only 47.3% while Giroux is one of the league leaders at 60.6% and with greater emphasis placed on situational draws in the postseason, that’s an element that will be of interest to many contenders, not just the Avs.
However, while Colorado may want these players, finding a way to fit them in on the cap will be tricky. They project to have less than $1MM in cap space at the deadline, per CapFriendly while Fleury carries a $7MM AAV and Giroux checks in at $8.25MM. Clearly, the Avalanche would need at least 50% retention on either player if they were to get one of them and would either need to send some sort of salary offset the other way or involve a third team to hold back another 25% of their contract to make the money work. The fact GM Joe Sakic is showing interest in some of the top talents suggests that this is their year to go all-in and if there’s a way to get another top veteran, they’ll find a way to make the money work.
Even though it makes sense for the flyers and would help the club I just don’t know if he’ll waive his NMC. Even though he could re-sign on the cheap in the off-season. Obviously if he’d amenable to a hometown discount.
It depends if Giroux wants a real shot at winning the Stanley Cup. If he does, he has to waive his NMC. I think there are two or three teams that he’d waive it to go to.
Who is the salary offset that Colorado sends the other way? The players that they have that make the most money are all guys who play big roles on the team. Maybe JT Compher goes back the other way in one trade & maybe you could move Francouz’ $2 million in a Fleury trade, but other than that, I’m not sure where the offset comes from.
Compher heading back home to Chicago makes for the best story.
A third team to be involved? Sakic and Fletcher call Bill Armstrong the Coyotes would like to help :)
Interesting decision for Giroux. I think he has a young infant at home and has been in Philly a long time. If he is traded then has to decide to uproot his family for temporary residence elsewhere or live without the family for a few months to chase Lord Stanley. Would also like to know what the Flyers think would be proper compensation. Would it be comparable to the Bourque trade? (Bourque and fellow veteran Dave Andreychuk were sent to Colorado in exchange for Brian Rolston, Martin Grenier, Samuel Påhlsson and a first-round draft pick
Listen, there is a chance Kuemper could stay healthy during the playoffs. And if he does, he’s a pretty good goalie.
But, a true contender would be INSANE to make that bet. Glad to see Sakic realizes it.
MAF on the Avs? I don’t know who beats them.
Interesting to see if Sakic goes all in. Adding either one or even both would push them over the top. I think MAF in the playoffs would be a huge boost from rolling the dice on Kuemper.
So I know it’s a long shot..but what if Giroux to Colorado for Jost and a 1st in 23….then Fleury to Colorado for JT Compher and a 2nd in 23..then Sakic trades Kuempher to Oilers for Yamamoto and Broberg now that would be a dandy….
Edmonton can’t afford that. Kempner makes 3.5M, Broberg and Yamo make 2M combined and they have about 750k in space.
Kuempher….Kempner
Kuempher…. Kempner