Here’s part two of the November Mailbag. Enjoy, and thanks as always to everyone who submitted a question.
READ MORE: Avalanche Mailbag 1.0: Fixing The Avalanche’s Center Depth
Question from Joe Cerwinske
Sam Malinski has become one of my favorite Avs, showing constant growth to the point he could be a 20+ minute a game d-man as early as this season. At this point, what do you think the team’s plan is for him? I would say he’s earned a long-term extension but I wonder if the front office can afford him as his value increases. As such – and because of our imbalance of right-shot defensemen – he would also seem to be a prime trade asset, with a great deal of value.
So, do you think the Avs will extend or trade him before the season is up, or do they let him get to UFA? And if the plan is to trade him, what sort of return – or what specific player targets – do you think he could yield?
Aarif’s Response
What was always difficult about assessing Malinski’s future with the team, at least to me, was how similar he is to Cale Makar. And how the Avs also have Samuel Girard and Devon Toews under contract, and you’d be paying too many guys a boatload of salary with little room for the added size element that Josh Manson brings. It’s very reminisicent of Bowen Byram
But things feel a little different this year, largely because of Malinski’s growth and the willingness for Manson to play on the left with Brent Burns, and do it well. Burns is here now, but will he be next year? If not, I see no issue with Colorado re-signing Malinski and rolling with Makar, Manson, and Malinski in some kind of order on the right side next season.
Say Malinski gets three years at $3.75 million. You’d probably have to trade Girard because you already have Manson at $3.95 and Toews at $7.25 with Makar a year away from possibly doubling his salary. I know trading Girard has sort of become a meme at this point, but if you’re signing Malinski, it’s probably to be a puckmover making less than Girard. And then it gives you an opportunity to rework the left side after Toews by possibly adding two more bigger bodies.
He’d have some value on the trade market, but it’s hard to say precisely how much. It’ll be determined by how the market shakes out over the next handful of months. If a handful of contenders are in dire need of a depth defenseman, then his value will rise. But I also don’t know if the Avs trade him for something that doesn’t help them right now. Basically, unless he’s part of a package for a bigger name player, I think they’ll be fine letting him walk as a UFA after using him as an own rental.
That’s the scenario I can see playing out if they don’t re-sign him.
Question from San Zimmerer
Question from Sasha Landprecht
Aarif’s Response
I’ve been stuck trying to guess if or when they’d trade Girard in the past, and I’ve always been wrong. Let’s give it another shot.
If Girard gets healthy and their main six defensemen start to click, I don’t think he’ll get traded, at least not before the offseason.
But if Girard comes back and struggles with Malinski, which then requires splitting up Burns and Manson, and then your entire bottom four starts to struggle? Then yes, I can see a change happening with either him or Malinski.
Question from Jonesy
Question from ourpetsheadsarefallingoff
That is, of course, unless you’re doing a money-in for money-out deal and you end up trading a depth winger to acquire a center.
Question from Joe Murphy
Question from Jean Boijoly
