oh wow a winger who plays with 2 of the best Centers in this generation on a strong possession team has a better Hero chart of a center who plays on one of the worst possession teams.

Ground breaking stuff,
- DDM-Coga

I get that thinking, but Hornqvist has been this good, even before getting to play with Crosby and Malkin. It would be futile to trade Hornqvist for such a slight upgrade. Sprong, on the other hand, makes much more sense for a team trying to win.

If I wanted Duchene to be happy, I would want him to be in Nashville.
- DDM-Coga

With Tatar.

I get that thinking, but Hornqvist has been this good, even before getting to play with Crosby and Malkin. It would be futile to trade Hornqvist for such a slight upgrade. Sprong, on the other hand, makes much more sense for a team trying to win.



- AlbSong19

Why are you comparing a 30 year old winger with 1 year on his contract to a 26 year old center with 2 years on his contract?

There seems to be this prevailing thought that Joe Sakic and company are a bunch of idiots. The dysfunction that led to the Avs current situation stemmed from the influence of Patrick Roy on personnel. Two years ago that influence began to wane. What we have seen from the Avalanche management is a seismic shift towards young, dynamic skating talent. The Roy short term moves like Eric Gelinas or Brad Stuart acquired for futures are over. The Avalanche have a clear idea of what they want the team to look like.
The Ryan O'Reilly trade netted the Avalanche Zadorov, J.T. Compher and A.J. Greer all long term assets for the team. That is the model that Sakic will continue to pursue. The time to panic and dump Duchene for pennies on the dollar will be the trade deadline of 2019. Until then Sakic will keep his asking price and if it isn't met he will continue to hold on to Duchene.
The Avalanche picked up a couple of promising defensemen in the draft over the weekend in Makar and Timmons. They signed Mironov in the spring and called up Anton Lindholm in March. The Avalanche are trending in the right direction, a panic move now does the team no good and Sakic appears to know this.
The only question now is will Sakic alter his demands (Not Lower) and ask for picks and prospects rather than NHL ready talent. The other wild card that Sakic has the ability to take on a bad contract for two years. He can leverage Duchene and the financial flexibility to ensure a proper return. We saw St Louis pay Philadelphia a first round pick to take the contract of Lehtera during the draft last weekend.

Any interest in signing Yak to a show me and playing him with Gino?
- Nuck4U

Nah, he hasn't shown much of anything to warrant a top 6 look. I think they want certainties to be competing for a third cup. Its too bad his career was destroyed by the Oilers.

The rumours he wants to sign in Van may be an alright decision, playing with the Sedins may be good for him for a year and its low risk for them.

Nah, he hasn't shown much of anything to warrant a top 6 look. I think they want certainties to be competing for a third cup. Its too bad his career was destroyed by the Oilers.

The rumours he wants to sign in Van may be an alright decision, playing with the Sedins may be good for him for a year and its low risk for them.
- nelson911

I would take him on a low risk contract, otherwise I wouldn't go near him.

Or sign Hanzal without giving up anything. He's a better replacement for what Bonino provided, IMO.

Damnit, how do you post an image of a HERO chart on this site??

" target=_blank>" style="max-width:425px;" border=0>

Olli Maatta would not net Duchene. Pitt would have to add a significant piece

If we trade Maatta for a center and don't figure out a different trade to bring in a top 4 defenseman, we're in trouble. Tread lightly here, Rutherford.

If we trade Maatta for a center and don't figure out a different trade to bring in a top 4 defenseman, we're in trouble. Tread lightly here, Rutherford.
- Victoro311

JR just got out of GM school before he came to our team don't cha know

It would be a mistake to get rid of Sprong. Kid has a lot of potential and has a great attitude. Duchene has maybe packed it in and will never get to his previous level. It personally would stay away from a guy who I believe scored 6 goals in the second half of the season

JR just got out of GM school before he came to our team don't cha know
- nelson911

Seeing his track record in Carolina vs his track record in Pittsburgh, is believe it

At some point don't you think Jarry becomes a tradeable asset? He had a great season in the AHL and is a strong goaltending prospect. He could be valuable, to a team like Colorado who needs a goalie of the future. I would be much more interested in acquiring Barrie than Duchene and using Jarry as a big chip in the offer.

Seeing his track record in Carolina vs his track record in Pittsburgh, is believe it
- Victoro311

I think it may be boring between now and july 1st, prolly see Schultz and Dumo signed, but from July 1-3 it will heat up as far as trades go. Thats when they'll be able to put guys to paper if need be as well. I could see a trade for Demers on a retained salary if Maata is traded.

Daley will get more money it seems than Pens will ever be able to offer so they definitely need the guy who is ok in a 3rd pair but can easily step into the 2nd without tripping over himself.

At some point don't you think Jarry becomes a tradeable asset? He had a great season in the AHL and is a strong goaltending prospect. He could be valuable, to a team like Colorado who needs a goalie of the future. I would be much more interested in acquiring Barrie than Duchene and using Jarry as a big chip in the offer.
- kfinl170

Minor league goalies with zero or little NHL experience aren't worth much.

Seeing his track record in Carolina vs his track record in Pittsburgh, is believe it
- Victoro311

I think if Rutherford is even contemplating dealing Maatta, he has a plan to go get a defenseman. Otherwise, that reminds me of the Rutherford that left us with 5 defenseman for a couple of games and that a no no

At some point don't you think Jarry becomes a tradeable asset? He had a great season in the AHL and is a strong goaltending prospect. He could be valuable, to a team like Colorado who needs a goalie of the future. I would be much more interested in acquiring Barrie than Duchene and using Jarry as a big chip in the offer.
- kfinl170

What T-Train said. The development of goalies are super touch and go. No ones gonna attach much value to a goalie who hasn't proven much in the NHL. Hell, even goalies who have proven stuff in the NHL don't get much in return these days.

Haha - I screwed everything up.

Seriously, though, Hanzal and Bonino are similar players - good defenders, good PKers, and good shot blockers. Hanzal adds more offense and is better at faceoffs.

Duchene is a lot of offense, not much defense, and doesn't play the PK. Oh, and he costs more to acquire and costs more against the cap and will probably be gone in two years.

Yes, Hanzal has injury issues, but that should keep his cost low(er).

Between needing to re-sign Schultz, Dumo, and Sheary as well as needing a 3C and a top 4 defenseman, I don't think the Pens have a lot of money to be throwing around. Even if Colorado wanted/took Maatta in a trade, now you need to sign 2 top 4 defensemen.

At this point, the Avs seem to have screwed up their potential with Duchene enough that they should wait it out. Let other teams acquire and hope there there are enough desperate teams who didn't get any big fish.

But Gunner's right. You *HAVE* to try trading with these fools (Avs front office). They could mess up a feee lunch.

What T-Train said. The development of goalies are super touch and go. No ones gonna attach much value to a goalie who hasn't proven much in the NHL. Hell, even goalies who have proven stuff in the NHL don't get much in return these days.
- Victoro311

Fair enough to you both and I agree in general. I wasn't necessarily saying he is THE chip in the trade but part of a larger package. And who knows, teams that have no long term solution at the position, such as COL, could see him as a building block who would be on the cheap for a few years.

No. No . and No.

All together - Hell no!

Everyone saw clearly how awful Marta played in the playoffs this year. Just awful. He was a liability at times throughout. He could have cost you the cup with his glaring mistakes at times. If you came at the Avs with Matta his rookie year Pens may have had something to build on. The only reason he may be worth something decent, Definitely not Duchene, is because everybody is looking for a top 4, which no one is selling.

I don't understand why people keep throwing trash at the wall hoping it will stick, when Sakic had maintained his price is a top young defenseman and nothing less than that top young D is acceptable to Colorado. That specific piece is the only reason Duchene is out there at all. Regardless of Duchene's relative value around the league, that is the price. Paraphrasing Joe's own comments to BSN Denver, Take it or leave it cause he ain't going for anything less.

By the way, Sakic is not balking because he can't have all the candy for Duchene. He hasn't made the trade because no one has the cajones to part with a top young D. Look around. The entire league is looking for the same thing. Every team has stated the past two weeks that they are trying to upgrade their top 4D. No one wants to take the chance of moving one.

I dare say if Duchene isn't getting it done, no one is getting the D they all crave.

You Pitty fans better not fall off that ego or you might die.

Fair enough to you both and I agree in general. I wasn't necessarily saying he is THE chip in the trade but part of a larger package. And who knows, teams that have no long term solution at the position, such as COL, could see him as a building block who would be on the cheap for a few years.
- kfinl170

I would say if he becomes Murray's primary backup this season and can perform on the level of Martin Jones, Talbot, Raanta, Grubauer, etc., then he becomes a valuable asset, maybe as soon as the TDL this season. Until then, though, not much. It's too much risk for Colorado to put much stock in an unproven goalie. A lot of goalies look good in the minors only to flop once they get to the NHL. Even then, a lot of good looking backups flop once they become the full-time starter. But you're right - goalie is a position where they would greatly benefit from having a long-term stud to anchor their rebuild.

This is all smoke.doubt any trade involving pit materializes. Pens would do best to avoid trading futures for this guy.

At this point, the Avs seem to have screwed up their potential with Duchene enough that they should wait it out. Let other teams acquire and hope there there are enough desperate teams who didn't get any big fish.

But Gunner's right. You *HAVE* to try trading with these fools (Avs front office). They could mess up a feee lunch.
- coohill

Wilsons a dork who thinks he is smarter than any other fan base and front office bc he pulls up a subjective chart as its some sort of ultimate trump card in whatever point he is trying to make.

Sakic isnt some idiot kid who doesnt know what he is doing....but don't let that change Wilsons narrative. He will just pick out the ROR trade and harp on Grigorenko but won't look at there other 4 pieces in the trade. (Zadorov, AJ Greer, JT Compher, and Cam Morrison)

Or won't look at how they turned bums like Martinsen and Berra into nice young pieces in Andrighetto and Grimaldi. You know undoing Patrick Roy mess of a roster that was design for his chip and chase style

Wilson will just keep on doing what he is doing, thinking hes an enlist hockey savant who just looks up charts and war on ice to inform his opinion like its gospel

There seems to be this prevailing thought that Joe Sakic and company are a bunch of idiots. The dysfunction that led to the Avs current situation stemmed from the influence of Patrick Roy on personnel. Two years ago that influence began to wane. What we have seen from the Avalanche management is a seismic shift towards young, dynamic skating talent. The Roy short term moves like Eric Gelinas or Brad Stuart acquired for futures are over. The Avalanche have a clear idea of what they want the team to look like.
The Ryan O'Reilly trade netted the Avalanche Zadorov, J.T. Compher and A.J. Greer all long term assets for the team. That is the model that Sakic will continue to pursue. The time to panic and dump Duchene for pennies on the dollar will be the trade deadline of 2019. Until then Sakic will keep his asking price and if it isn't met he will continue to hold on to Duchene.
The Avalanche picked up a couple of promising defensemen in the draft over the weekend in Makar and Timmons. They signed Mironov in the spring and called up Anton Lindholm in March. The Avalanche are trending in the right direction, a panic move now does the team no good and Sakic appears to know this.
The only question now is will Sakic alter his demands (Not Lower) and ask for picks and prospects rather than NHL ready talent. The other wild card that Sakic has the ability to take on a bad contract for two years. He can leverage Duchene and the financial flexibility to ensure a proper return. We saw St Louis pay Philadelphia a first round pick to take the contract of Lehtera during the draft last weekend.
- dstal89756

Here, Here!