Steve Palumbo: Free Agent Frenzy! Avalanche lose Grubauer; Trade for Darcy Kuemper + More

Is this Team moving forward or sideways?

Wow. A 2.17 save percentage is terrible for Kemps. I’m glad we got rid of him then for sure, being such a mediocre AZ team. Do some checking before you post this garbage.

Is this Team moving forward or sideways?
- Tee56

Sideways. But they were one of the best teams last year so hard to make measurable improvements. Definitely should be contenders again this season.

Can't say I've payed much attention to Kuemper. Only time I watch AZ play is against the Avs and the difference in skill shows up on the score board. Have heard good things about how Kuemper would typically keep AZ in games

Losing Timmons sucks

Now they sign Helm

Super pissed they let Saad slip away to the Blues

Now they sign Helm
- Tee56

Dylan Sikura and Stefan Matteau too. Plan the parade.

Super pissed they let Saad slip away to the Blues
- Avsrchamps01

I read somewhere, though I can't remember if it was a TSN insider or not, that basically Joe just couldn't make any traction with his side. Of course that doesn't say anything about what he was offered, but Sakic is being fairly frugal with the cap right now. Personally, I would have given him the deal St. Louis did. I feel like we need another top 6/middle six winger and I'm not sold on Ranta being it right now/yet.

I read somewhere, though I can't remember if it was a TSN insider or not, that basically Joe just couldn't make any traction with his side. Of course that doesn't say anything about what he was offered, but Sakic is being fairly frugal with the cap right now. Personally, I would have given him the deal St. Louis did. I feel like we need another top 6/middle six winger and I'm not sold on Ranta being it right now/yet.
- ddMoose

Agree I would have offered him that deal in a heartbeat. He is a proven playoff performer and scored some huge ones for us last playoffs. I am pissed to see him go to the Blues. Our fwd group got worse and they got better

Agree I would have offered him that deal in a heartbeat. He is a proven playoff performer and scored some huge ones for us last playoffs. I am pissed to see him go to the Blues. Our fwd group got worse and they got better
- Avsrchamps01

While I did love having Saad on the team, that cap hit would be tough to navigate when it comes time to sign MacKinnon. I see the team still having a strong top 9. Top line is obvious, and the 2nd line to me is Kadri + Burakovsky + ??
Could be Nichushkin, could be Kaut. Then 3rd line is Jost and Compher with whoever isn't on the 2nd line. Newhook could breakout. Still a decent top 9 imo

While I did love having Saad on the team, that cap hit would be tough to navigate when it comes time to sign MacKinnon. I see the team still having a strong top 9. Top line is obvious, and the 2nd line to me is Kadri + Burakovsky + ??
Could be Nichushkin, could be Kaut. Then 3rd line is Jost and Compher with whoever isn't on the 2nd line. Newhook could breakout. Still a decent top 9 imo
- Avs101

Yup we need a top 6 forward. This season we wont be constantly whaling on teams 6-1 or 7-1. The salary cap has made us into an above average team that will need to grind it out a bit more than years before. Last years team was just stacked with forwards and we couldn't get it done. If EJ remains healthy, it will be huge for our D. I love the Helm signing. We still need to add a top 6 and bottom 6 forward. Kaut needs to come in and secure himself a spot on this team this season. We could also use a 5 or 6 Dman. Out of all the departures, I am gonna miss Saad the most for the playoff pedigree he brought. Love Graves, Donskoi and Grubi but the damn expansion draft and salary cap not making it easy on us.