{"id":145622,"date":"2025-09-10T03:32:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T03:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/145622\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T03:32:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T03:32:09","slug":"avalanche-mailbag-1-0-girard-trade-scenarios-early-deadline-thoughts-and-when-will-makar-and-necas-sign-extensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/145622\/","title":{"rendered":"Avalanche Mailbag 1.0: Girard Trade Scenarios, Early Deadline Thoughts, and When Will Makar and Necas Sign Extensions?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The final Avalanche Mailbag of the 2025 offseason is already getting a head start on questions regarding the trade deadline and deals that can\u2019t be signed until next summer.<\/p>\n

In the first half of the responses, I answered questions about the next trade target, a possible Samuel Girard trade scenario, and the next contracts for Martin Necas and Cale Makar.<\/p>\n

Question from Reece<\/p>\n

I know this is very early since the trade deadline is far away, but who would you love to see the Avs trade for to bolster the lineup?<\/p>\n

Aarif\u2019s Response<\/p>\n

The trade deadline will be on March 6 this season. This was confirmed late last week.<\/p>\n

Honestly, I\u2019d like to see the Avs fill a key role in the lineup with someone who can be around for a while. Rentals are great and all, but if, for example, they go out looking for a big defenseman to play on the second pair, I\u2019d like it to not be a pending UFA that walks at the end of the year. I\u2019d like them to find the next Josh Manson. Someone who is either under contract or they have a legitimate shot to re-sign at the end of the year.<\/p>\n

As for who that is? It\u2019s hard to say right now. Players become available when a team\u2019s season tanks. Nobody thought 12 months ago that Brad Marchand would be dealt. I\u2019d even bet Brock Nelson wouldn\u2019t have been available if the Islanders were in a wildcard spot. In 2023, the Blues traded Ryan O\u2019Reilly because their season went terribly. I never thought he\u2019d leave St. Louis.<\/p>\n

Who becomes available is anybody\u2019s guess. We\u2019ll have to see how the early part of the season unfolds to determine who could be interested in selling off some pieces. There could be an intriguing defenseman or two on the market pretty early on.<\/p>\n

Question from Eric<\/p>\n

Could a Samuel Girard trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins fetch a return of Ryan Graves to the Colorado Avalanche?<\/p>\n

Aarif\u2019s Response<\/p>\n

It can. But that\u2019s a terrible trade for the Avs. Girard is a 21+ minute defenseman with respectable numbers both offensively and analytically. Graves has been a net negative defenseman for the Pens in two years and makes $4.5 million for four more seasons. I\u2019d stay far away.<\/p>\n

As for a possible Girard trade, I\u2019d like to see the Avs leverage him to get someone younger if they decide to move him. I\u2019ll throw out an easy trade proposal just for fun. It might need some extra pieces for it to make sense for both sides.<\/p>\n

What if the Red Wings retained on J.T. Compher and added Albert Johansson in a deal for Girard? The Wings get much-needed left-shot help at the top of their lineup, while the Avs get a younger steady blueliner in 24-year-old Johansson, who is basically a left-shot version of Malinski (with a little less offensive upside). And they get Compher for less than the $5.1 million he\u2019s making to play 3C.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d wait a few weeks to make sure Compher\u2019s career hasn\u2019t completely tanked like Graves before making a trade like this. But if Girard were to be traded to open up that 2LD role for a bigger defenseman, this is the type of move I\u2019d like to see. Johansson is a stable third-pair guy making $1.125 million for two years and is a restricted free agent afterward with team control. Compher is a known player and can fill that role on the third line and eventually the fourth line for the three seasons he has left on his deal.<\/p>\n

Questions from Spencer & Jeffrey Anderson<\/p>\n

1. Martin Necas hasn\u2019t re-signed. Give us your gut \u2013 is he here long term or traded? Don\u2019t beat around the bush.<\/p>\n

2. How important is it that Chris MacFarland gets Necas contract extended before the start of the regular season? What\u2019s the probability of that happening?<\/p>\n

Aarif\u2019s Response<\/p>\n

I figured I\u2019d lump these together because they\u2019re pretty similar. I\u2019d say it\u2019s a low probability that Necas signs before the season begins. And I only say this because Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, Adrian Kempe, and Kyle Connor all have not signed deals yet either.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re at a weird place with contracts right now where it feels like everyone is waiting to see what the market is with other deals. Nobody wants to be the first to sign.<\/p>\n

For example, if Kempe were to sign an eight-year, $9 million AAV deal tomorrow, and then Necas signs next week for $10.5 million per season, it\u2019s going to look bad for Kempe. Necas would have reset the market for that caliber of player a week after he locked up a long-term deal for under the new market value.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure when the needle starts to move with some of these players, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll happen before opening night in four weeks.<\/p>\n

McDavid is a special case, obviously. But Kaprizov and Eichel are both similar-ish level players. And Connor might be up there too. It\u2019s going to be a fascinating 10 months from now until July 2026.<\/p>\n

As for my guy feeling? I bet he stays. I really do. And I think his contract is going to be close to what the Dallas Stars are paying Mikko Rantanen.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m starting to believe more and more that the Avalanche\u2019s front office didn\u2019t know what the cap would look like when they traded Rantanen to not be top-heavy. Now they\u2019re going to have to sign Necas for almost the same amount of money as what they might\u2019ve been able to get Rantanen for.<\/p>\n

It is what it is, but I don\u2019t want them to trade Necas for a package of pieces or anything less just because they want to double down on a previous mistake. Necas is a great player and will find his way on this team. I truly believe that.<\/p>\n

Question from Clyde<\/p>\n

When does Cale Makar sign his extension?<\/p>\n

Aarif\u2019s Response<\/p>\n

As you know, he can\u2019t sign it until July 1, 2026. I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll want eight years and a lot of bonus money, so I\u2019d suspect it\u2019s signed before Sept. 16, 2026. Maybe mid-to-late July after free agency is over and done with, at the latest? I can\u2019t imagine the Avs want it to drag too close to that deadline. They\u2019ll want him for eight years too so there is a lot of motivation on both sides to get this deal done before the new CBA kicks in.<\/p>\n

I can honestly see this being a July 1 signing. The Avs locked up Parker Kelly on July 1 this year, a year before his contract expired. That tells me they\u2019re more than willing to get ahead for pending UFA\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Obviously Kelly is nowhere near the player Makar is, but the Avs\u2019 superstar defenseman strikes me as the type of guy who would want to get a deal done as soon as possible. We have history to back that up.<\/p>\n


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