Colorado's defence will be carried by the growth of Johnson, Barrie, Elliot, Siemens, Benoit(to a lesser extent) and eventually i think Bigras/Butcher. Maybe trade stastny/RoR for a top 4 D as well, but we already have vets in wilson kinda, hejda, sarich and hunwick(yuck). As useful as Liles was in his day, we have moved on from those days. If you can ship lets say, Hunwick for Liles+an added asset like a small pick or mid prospect, do it. If you dont get anything for helping Toronto, let them deal with their cap.
- artem791

I liked the guy a lot, but it really wouldn't matter to me if he becomes an Av again or not. The defense needs to be bolstered either way and management clearly wants to go a different direction. I just don't know why fans have such a big thing for him. And I can't believe my Liles comment was taken seriously.

We would have hype thru the entire year about how well he would fit in Denver and how he would fix the defence finally and then...draft the best center available so we can shift duchene to wing
- artem791

After that, they'll probably shift O'Reilly to defense because he's such a good PKer.

Just making the playoffs will be considered a success.

The defence needs to be upgraded before we can make a serious run. Liles is not the answer, We have too many bottom pairing defenceman as it is. We need a legit top pairing guy to play with EJ. We could wait 3-5 years to see how our prospects develop, but the best option would be packaging ROR or stastny with a 1st round pick for a top pairing dman.

This article jumps around like nobody's business. Pick a point you are trying to make and stick to it. Loved Liles but I don't need him back with the Avs unless he is traded for a used toothpick then he would be a slight upgrade from Barrie and Hunwick as a quick D-man. Without a #1 D-man the Avs are hardly a playoff contender let alone a Stanley Cup contender but they are 1 big move away from looking a lot better.

You stopped reading right after that? I was responding to speculation some guys posted about Liles in previous blogs of mine. There was talk of a buyout of Liles, but that still hasn't happened yet. He has a good shot of making it to Colorado if he's being considered at all by management.
- nayefj

I stopped reading because you started off your blog with inaccuracies and conjured up statements. Fans like Liles, have respect for him and think he is a good player. That said, he is not playing great in Toronto nor is he adored by the fans as you claim and would have others believe.

Get some defense and this team is pretty much set.

Get some defense and this team is pretty much set.
- NickA

Yeah, that's definitely what they have to focus on now... They have about 4 good defensive prospects though... I find the Avs interesting, as they're kinda in the same boat as the Oilers.

A good blog. One little nitpick, by the time the draft rolled around MacKinnon had surpassed Jones on most scouts lists including ISS so MacKinnon was largely considered to be the best player available if not the best fit position wise.

A good point you made about the team chemistry. I was pleased to see the start of chemistry forming last year between Duchene and Parenteau. I would have liked to see the O'Reilly-Landeskog-Downie line back together but I think Roy recognized the need to have good fore checkers play with MacKinnon (and maybe someone who can watch his back), thus the choice to have Downie and McGinn as his wingers.

A good blog. One little nitpick, by the time the draft rolled around MacKinnon had surpassed Jones on most scouts lists including ISS so MacKinnon was largely considered to be the best player available if not the best fit position wise.

A good point you made about the team chemistry. I was pleased to see the start of chemistry forming last year between Duchene and Parenteau. I would have liked to see the O'Reilly-Landeskog-Downie line back together but I think Roy recognized the need to have good fore checkers play with MacKinnon (and maybe someone who can watch his back), thus the choice to have Downie and McGinn as his wingers.
- robmahon19

Thanks. And I'm addressing the Jones/MacKinnon thing in my next blog.

Thanks. And I'm addressing the Jones/MacKinnon thing in my next blog.
- nayefj

A little early to predict, but I think the Avs definitely made the right move in taking MacKinnon.

I was the one who was hammering on about Liles for Hunwick in the myhockeybuzz blogs.

Its not a fair hockey trade in regards to skill but it is helping out eachothers teams by moving 1 way contracts, making cap space, and help improve eachothers glaring situations right now. Cap space for the Leafs to sign their best Dman last year, and the Avs getting a puck moving dman who can run a PP and be a mentor for the young kids on the D Core

Avs Guest Writer: What will it take for the Avs to make a serious Cup run? Nayef Abduljabbar
- Eklund

Liles is well liked by Toronto and their fans? Where do you get this stuff? He's a salary they want to dump asap. They'd give you a pick to take him

Avs Guest Writer: What will it take for the Avs to make a serious Cup run? Nayef Abduljabbar
- Eklund

I'm guessing if you traded your entire team for Chicago's team you may have a shot?

"Take the LA Kings, for example. Sure, the 2012 Stanley Cup run was quite the anomaly, but their defense lacks any stars "

Huh?