The Colorado Avalanche are getting their trades done ahead of Monday’s deadline, this time dealing Tyson Jost to the Minnesota Wild. The Avalanche will receive Nico Sturm in return, opening up another chunk of cap space for any future moves.
Jost, who turned 24 just yesterday, never did quite fulfill his potential in Colorado. In parts of six seasons and more than 300 games, the 2016 tenth-overall pick set career-highs of just 12 goals and 26 points while hardly ever finding himself in the top-six. A part-time center, he has just six goals and 14 points in 59 games this season and his possession metrics have cratered.
It will be interesting to see where he fits into the Minnesota lineup, but the Wild aren’t just buying a rental here. Jost is signed through 2022-23 at a $2MM cap hit and will still be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent at the end of his current deal. At the very worst he’ll be another bottom-six option for head coach Dean Evason to try and fit into the right spot, but perhaps he can bring even more to the table when he’s not stuck behind some of the other more offensively talented forwards in Colorado.
In Sturm, the Wild aren’t giving up a ton, especially given he was signed as an undrafted college free agent a few years ago. The 26-year-old has nine goals and 17 points in 53 games this season and can provide some size to the Colorado lineup while only costing $750K against the cap. That’s the clear win here for the Avalanche, who have cleared a good bit of room that they can then use on someone else. Sturm had been scratched the last few games in Minnesota and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so this is no long-term play by the Avalanche. Still, the team did release a statement on their newest player:
Nico is a big, strong forward who also brings a heavy defensive presence. He is a defensive-minded center who can chip in offensively, is good on draws and can contribute on the penalty kill. We would like to thank Tyson for everything he has brought to our team over the last five seasons, not just on the ice, but in the generous and impactful work he has done throughout the community.
With an extra $1.25MM shaved off their books, Colorado general manager Joe Sakic is now primed to make an even bigger splash than the Josh Manson acquisition from yesterday. Rumors continue to swirl around Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux, who is slated to play in his 1,000th game on Thursday, though there are other high-priced targets that the Avalanche could now target. No matter who it is, it’s obvious that Sakic is willing to push his chips into the middle this season and go for the Stanley Cup with one of the most talented rosters in the NHL.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Most likely a value move for the Wild, who are needing to configure a much lower payrolled team for the next two years, where the Parise/Suter contract dump penalties really start to cut deep.
Wouldnt this hurt more than help? They traded an under 1 mil contract for one around 2 mil. They need this new guy to do worse
@VonDooche – It does hurt, as they just added to their cap (Jost will be an RFA after next season), and the Avs subtracted a little. MIN must think there’s more offensive upside with Jost than Sturm.
Sturm was due for a pretty good sized pay increase after this year, Jost is already a fixed cost with a low number.
@jb10000lakes – The problem with the old “due for a pretty good sized pay increase” is that, thanks to the flattened cap, that’s far less of a sure thing today, than in the good ol’ Pre-COVID days. Sturm might still get a bump, mind you, but his play will determine that, assuming he fits in well.
He shouldn’t be
Colorado gets a little more size now but I don’t know about the skill Jost might just do really good with the wild
Correct. A little less skill for the fourth line. However, the cap space created is vital.
So much for not trading within your division. If the price is right, make the deal!
Good move for both!
Yes, I believe this is a good deal for both teams. Hate to see Josty go, very valuable teammate and good hockey player for the Avalanche. I always thought he would develop more scoring punch but never seemed to. Perhaps he can blossom more offensively for the Wild. Really hate to see him go, he’s a good PK man and brings it most every night; however, I think he does take the brunt of physical play but he doesn’t care. So, the Wild are getting a pretty good hockey player. As for Sturm, we need someone who can win faceoffs and is a little bit more physical. So, it’s a business. good luck to both. GO AVS!!!!!!!!!