Question from Sol
With the trade deadline fast approaching, if depth is required, would Cody Glass and Brendan Dillon of the Devils make sense?
Aarif’s Response
The Avalanche definitely need depth. There’s no question about it. I just don’t think Cody Glass is the answer. He makes $2.5 million per season and has another year left on his deal. You can’t acquire a player like that after working hard to offload Miles Wood at the same cap hit. In fact, of the two, Wood offers more of what the Avs need than Glass does, so it would be a strange move to bring him in.
Dillon is more intriguing. He’s on the older side (35) and has a year left on his deal after this season, making $4 million. If you acquire Dillon, he’s obviously not a depth No. 7 defenseman. He’s coming in, as a lefty, to likely play on your third pair. So it probably means trading Samuel Girard, whether in the same deal or elsewhere (I know, I know, how dare I suggest trading Girard).
Listed at 6’4, 225 lbs, Dillon is a bigger body and offers more of what the Avs need. I don’t think he’s the best option but I wouldn’t hate it if he was the notable addition to the back end.
Question from Glendon
You have already talked about getting a 3C, but centers will be expensive. Do the Avs keep Drury as the 3C, but upgrade the 3rd line wingers and anchor the 4th line by getting a 4C? Who would be good trade candidates to fill those roles? If the Avs do not trade Girard, who would be a good 7th defenseman?
Aarif’s Response
Ideally, acquiring a 3C is the better option because we saw J.T. Compher step into the top six in 2022 when Nazem Kadri was injured in Game 1 against Edmonton. If Drury is already playing a touch higher than where you’d like him, how would you feel he was suddenly jammed into the top six? I’m not sure that would be ideal.
However, the market is what it is for centerman. So I could certainly see your scenario being a possibility, depending on how it shakes out. I’ve been on the record suggesting that the Avs should acquire Blake Coleman. He’s the 3C-level winger you’re talking about, who would shore up the flanks with Drury remaining in that 3C spot.
If the Avs chose to acquire a 4C instead, it would probably be someone at the level of David Kampf or Michael McCarron. As for a depth defenseman, it’ll likely be no more than what they had in Jack Johnson in 2022. Someone who you can trust to use, but doesn’t necessarily have to play every night.
Question from Sasha Landprecht
Will the Avs trade for rentals or try to trade for players with term?
Aarif’s Response
Depending on the player, I think they prefer trading for term, but I’d imagine they wouldn’t want that player to have more than a year remaining on his deal unless it’s a very small cap hit. Next season is the final year of Cale Makar’s current contract, so you’re going to need to keep the cupboards as clear as you can from a depth standpoint until you know how much he’s going to make in 2027-28. He can’t sign an extension until July 1.
Using my previous Dillon example, I don’t imagine the Avs would consider him if he were making $4 million in 2027-28. The Avs already have Josh Manson, Sam Malinski, and Devon Toews locked up, and are saving space for Makar’s new number.
