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Pressure May Be Rising To Make A Duchene Deal Before Camp Stars

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As the calendar has turned to September, TSN’s Darren Dreger suggested to WGR 550 in Buffalo (audio link) that there may be some heat on Avalanche GM Joe Sakic to get something done regarding Matt Duchene’s situation over the next two weeks.  Doing so would avoid any concerns about Duchene having to report to training camp with the team which could make for an awkward situation given how long this process has dragged out.

Dreger noted that he hasn’t heard any suggestions that Duchene or his agent Pat Brisson have told Sakic that he wouldn’t report to Avalanche training camp if he isn’t dealt by then.  However, that could change over the next couple of weeks if there is no traction made on a trade by then if Duchene feels that could help to expedite the process.

Alex Kerfoot Still Expects To Debut In NHL

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  • Alex Kerfoot was on Altitude 950 radio today and reiterated his goal of playing in the NHL right away. Noting his competitiveness and hockey sense, the young Harvard grad is ready to take the next step and help the Avalanche turn things around. It’s great to have confidence in yourself, but Colorado fans shouldn’t get ahead of themselves while projecting Kerfoot. While the undersized forward definitely comes with some offensive upside, it’s unlikely he sets the world on fire right away. Though he’s already 23, he could take some time to become accustomed to the speed and physicality of the NHL.

Potential Contract Trouble With Nikita Zadorov, Colorado Avalanche

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Last we checked, there was some uncertainty as to why the contract had not been announced for Nikita Zadorov. It seemed like it was all but signed, with a term of two years the likely outcome. Adrian Dater of BSN Denver urged patience on several occasions, but now he reports that the two sides have come apart some in negotiations. Dater writes that there is a $500K difference between the Avalanche and Zadorov, from $2MM to $2.5MM per season.

There have been reports for months that Zadorov has a contract offer in hand from CSKA Moscow of the KHL, since he told a reporter in July that he’d play there if he couldn’t come to a deal with the Avalanche. That option looms larger and larger as the season nears, even as the Avalanche have little cap worry when it comes to the next few years. Paying Zadorov another $500K won’t affect their salary structure, but it could be a sticking point for GM Joe Sakic to not give in to the demands of a young player. Being taken advantage of just because of the team’s situation is never a good precedent to set.

The Avalanche have little chance at a Stanley Cup this season (or even a playoff spot), but losing a year of development and familiarity with the young defenseman is hardly what the team wants. Zadorov was the main component in the now infamous Ryan O’Reilly trade that has apparently influenced Sakic’s trade negotiations this summer with regards to Matt Duchene. The deal is seen as a loss for the Avalanche at this time—though Zadorov and J.T. Compher both still have immense potential—and Sakic doesn’t want to get burned again. Seeing Zadorov walk for the KHL would make it even worse.

Jared Cowen Signs PTO With Colorado Avalanche

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One of the more interesting names to keep an eye on this summer was Jared Cowen, and he’ll now head to camp with the Colorado Avalanche on a professional tryout. If the 26-year old is healthy, he should stand a good chance at making the club as they by no means have depth at the position.

The question of his health does remain though, as Cowen filed a grievance against the Toronto Maple Leafs when the team tried to buy him out last summer. It would ultimately fail, but Cowen would still miss the entire 2016-17 season with hip problems, and hasn’t played in an NHL game in 18 months.

Selected ninth overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2009, Cowen showed all the signs of developing into a premiere shut down defender. His 6’5″ frame allowed him to eliminate attackers and get into passing lanes, but quickly his foot speed started to drag and he found himself chasing the play more often than not. The Senators would eventually include him in the Dion Phaneuf trade, but Cowen would never play a game for the Maple Leafs.

Still young enough to make an impact, if Cowen can show his hip is fully healthy and his skating is to an acceptable level the Avalanche could have a nice third-pairing option for extremely cheap. If not, it could spell the end to a once promising NHL career.

Rene Bourque Signs In Sweden

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  • Rene Bourque has signed in Sweden for the upcoming season, according to TSN. The 35-year old Bourque played last year with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring 18 points in 65 games. In 725 career games he’s registered 316 points, including a pair of 27-goal campaigns with the Calgary Flames in his youth. Bourque is another example of an undrafted college player making an impact in the league, but will now take his game to Europe to look for more success.

Colorado Still After Young Defenseman In Potential Duchene Deal

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  • Dreger also speaks on the potential of a Matt Duchene trade, saying that the Avalanche still want a top young defenseman in return. Dreger has said in the past that it would be awkward for Duchene and Colorado to start the season together, but makes it clear that the forward is a professional and would not make a public show of his frustration. Nashville and Montreal are mentioned as possible destinations, but not as anything more than speculation from the insider.
  • CapFriendly sorted out the details on Alex Kerfoot’s entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, reporting that it will be for the maximum $925K each season (salary+signing bonuses) while it also carries $212.5K in performance bonuses. With Kerfoot likely to jump right to the NHL, many of the bonuses will be in his reach, which could cause his cap hit to creep over $1MM.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Colorado Provided NHL Opportunity For Alex Kerfoot

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Colorado’s Tumultuous Twelve Months

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The Colorado Avalanche have had a tough 12 months. On August 11th, 2016 legendary goaltender and then head coach Patrick Roy left the organization in a public resignation less than a month before training camp was due to start. His departure was reported to have stemmed at least partially from Tyson Barrie’s new four-year contract, signed less than two weeks prior. Roy left the Avalanche scrambling for a new coach, and though Jared Bednar would eventually brought in things were never stable.

"<strongThe season started remarkably well with three wins in the first four games, but it wouldn’t take long for the Avalanche to drop to the bottom of the standings. By Christmas, they were 12-20-1 and they would win just ten more games the rest of the way. At the trade deadline, other teams were circling like vultures trying to pry Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene away from GM Joe Sakic, but the Avalanche GM wouldn’t budge. His high asking priced held firm, and instead of selling off top assets he sat relatively silent (apologies to Jarome Iginla and Andreas Martinsen).

Though the speculation on Landeskog died down, Duchene was another story. Rumors would follow him through the end of the season and to the entry draft, where Colorado fell out of the top three picks despite a historically bad finish. The draft lottery is a cruel mistress, and Sakic saw New Jersey, Philadelphia and Dallas stride to the podium before him.

But that’s where things have started to change. Rumored to be a possibility for the top-two picks as close as the morning of the draft, Cale Makar made it to the fourth pick where Sakic immediately snapped him up. The dynamic puck-rushing defender has as much risk as anyone taken in the top five, but could also become one of the premiere offensive defensemen in the new NHL. He’s heading to UMass in the fall, but has already said he doesn’t expect to spend all four years there.

"<strongWhile the Duchene shadow still looms over the Avalanche, they’ve done well lately to add young players with little to no risk. Dominic Toninato and Alex Kerfoot were among the best available NCAA free agents, and though Colorado lost Will Butcher, the pair of forwards more than make up for it. They’ll join an impressive young group forming for the Avalanche.

Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Tyson Jost, J.T. Compher, A.J. Greer and the two free agents represent a 23-and-under group that could be quite formidable if given the chance, and the wildcard of Nail Yakupov also exists. If the former first-overall pick could ever live up to his immense goal scoring potential, Colorado could be hard to contain.

Add in that Duchene is still likely to bring a big return at some point, and Jonathan Bernier could be a trade-deadline asset, and the team could be surprisingly successful in short order. While a playoff spot still seems like a distant goal, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The defense still needs work—the team doesn’t even have Nikita Zadorov under contract yet—but with another lottery chance in what’s shaping up to be an incredibly deep draft in 2018, the Avalanche could have a quicker turnaround than many expect.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Alex Kerfoot Signs With Colorado Avalanche

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Thursday: The Avalanche have announced the signing, bringing in Kerfoot on a two-year entry-level contract worth $832K in the NHL.

Wednesday: In a stunning turn, NCAA free agent Alex Kerfoot has decided to sign with the Colorado Avalanche according to Darren Dreger of TSN. Dreger had included Colorado in Kerfoot’s “final five” last night, but not many people seemed to believe that he would end up with the Avalanche. The young center could step right into an NHL role with the club, though as we addressed last night there is likely a move to follow.

The 23-year old Kerfoot was selected in the fifth round by the New Jersey Devils in 2012, but became a free agent on August 16th when he failed to sign with the team. In four years at Harvard, he put up 123 points and captained the team during his senior season. A gifted playmaker, it’s still to be seen whether he can carry his offensive gifts to the professional level. A natural center he’ll have to fight for minutes along with Nathan MacKinnon, Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher, as well as Matt Duchene if a trade isn’t reached before the season begins.

Dreger tweets that GM Joe Sakic “did a great job selling Kerfoot on his fit with the [Avalanche]” and that he could have a big role if a trade does go down. While MacKinnon and Jost were listed in Sakic’s untouchable group earlier this year, Compher is also expected to have a big role on the team going forward. There is always the possibility that Kerfoot or one of the others moves to the wing, but this does give them more depth should a Duchene move occur.

Like any NCAA free agent, excitement over Kerfoot should be limited until he shows that he has another level of play ready for the NHL. While his potential is promising, skating against players several years younger than you and with a much wider talent gap can hide deficiencies that will be exploited at the next level. Kerfoot will sign a two-year entry-level contract, and try to prove that he is one of the exceptions that was just underestimated in his draft year.

Poll: Where Will Alex Kerfoot Sign?

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Last night Darren Dreger of TSN reported that NCAA free agent Alex Kerfoot had reduced his list of potential teams to five. Those he listed were the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche. Arthur Staple and Steve Zipay of Newsday believe it’s even less than that, mentioning the Rangers and Sharks as the two finalists.

Kerfoot is from Vancouver, but could fit in as a depth center on many teams around the league. His senior season at Harvard went extremely well, registering 45 points in 36 games while taking over the captaincy from Jimmy Vesey. The New Jersey Devils were unable to sign him before the deadline, and he now has a chance very few young players are afforded: choose where to make your professional debut.

So where do you think he’ll land? There have been reports he could make his decision as soon as today, but it shouldn’t last much longer than a few days. If you believe a dark horse will swoop in at the last minute, make sure to leave it in the comments below.

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