So, the Avs might have a budding offense with some considerable firepower. Thing is, our defense is hardly even respectable. Right now we are working with:

Erik Johnon
Jan Hejda
Tyson Barrie
Matt Hunwick
Ryan Wilson
Stefan Ellott
Andre Benoit
and maybe Duncan Siemens.

That's well, that's not good. So what do we, trade? Trade who? We can't sign any more free agents without buying out another player (i.e. Greg Zanon). Gotta do something, unless we think we're good enough at this point to outscore and and all opponents. So Avs fans. Whatcha think?

Play this season out with the guys we have. It will go one of two ways:

1. Avs are in nothing but high scoring games and they pull off a playoff spot. Guys like Elliott and Barrie(maybe Siemens) emerge as solid NHL d-men and Wilson has a strong year coming back from surgery.

2. Avs defense gets walked all over this year and we pick up another good draft pick. I know, I know. I'm sick and tired of talking about draft picks and am ready for the avs to be a consistent playoff team.

But in the reality of things the avs need to lock up their young core of forwards this year. I don't see Stazz here next year so that frees up 7 mill which will be helpful. After the avs sign these guys they need to be aggressive in picking up a 1/2 dman. The rest of the NHL teams will likely be licking their chops at the chance to sign one of the top end UFA forwards.(there will be plenty next year)

As far as goaltending goes I am a rather big fan of Varlamov. I also think he will greatly improve with Roy as his heady. We need to put a respectable defense in front of him before he can really be evaluated.

Play this season out with the guys we have. It will go one of two ways:

1. Avs are in nothing but high scoring games and they pull off a playoff spot. Guys like Elliott and Barrie(maybe Siemens) emerge as solid NHL d-men and Wilson has a strong year coming back from surgery.

2. Avs defense gets walked all over this year and we pick up another good draft pick. I know, I know. I'm sick and tired of talking about draft picks and am ready for the avs to be a consistent playoff team.

But in the reality of things the avs need to lock up their young core of forwards this year. I don't see Stazz here next year so that frees up 7 mill which will be helpful. After the avs sign these guys they need to be aggressive in picking up a 1/2 dman. The rest of the NHL teams will likely be licking their chops at the chance to sign one of the top end UFA forwards.(there will be plenty next year)

As far as goaltending goes I am a rather big fan of Varlamov. I also think he will greatly improve with Roy as his heady. We need to put a respectable defense in front of him before he can really be evaluated.
- goavsgo10

Definitely some good thoughts. I also agree standing pat is not only ideal, it seems to be what we're going to do based on what moves we've made thus far. If Andre Benoit was our "big splash" well, that tells you what you need to know about what management thinks. I also agree it could two ways, either some of our young D break out or we end up drafting higher with even more cap room. Not always gonna be fun to watch, but progress is often the result of sacrifice. Anyone do any research on the D-men we drafted this year?

I also still think we ought not to give up on Varlamov. I've seen this guy in person and he has the ability to steal a game. I also totally agree that it's hard to tell what a goalie can do when you have a pathetic d corps in front of him.

Also as far as trading goes. We simply don't have expendable assets in order to make the big splash everyone seems to assume we can make simply because we have cap space. Not only that, be we're going to need to keep some of that cap space freed up to re-sign the likes of Duchene, Landeskog, MacKinnon(down the line) amongst others. (I still have hope for O'Reilly, I just hope he comes to his senses and realizes he's not worth 6.5 million..) Second, who do we have to trade. The name I hear flying around like none other is Stastny. He's not a legitimate trade chip right now. Could he play his was into becoming one? I sure hope so. The only other trade chips we have are draft picks and defensive prospects and as a team that's clearly rebuilding, you don't want to surrender those types of assets unless you are getting a game changer back. Just my take.

Don't forget we also obtained Cory Sarich in the Tanguay trade. He's on the tail end of his career but is billed as a stay-at home defenseman who can hit hard, and will likely fit on either the 2nd or 3rd pairing. Also a former Saskatoon Blade, where both Elliott and Siemens used to be the top pairing, could be a good mentor for those two especially, should they made the team.

Here are the pairings I believe will start the season.

Hejda - Johnson
Wilson - Sarich
Benoit - Elliott/Barrie

Depth:
Hunwick (L)
Siemens (L)
Elliott/Barrie (R)

Could also pair Benoit and Sarich so we don't two offensive-minded defenseman on the bottom pairing and add more balance overall.

I'd also like to add a mention of Nate Guenin, who signed a two-way contract when free agency opened, who is another right-handed, defensive minded which adds a decent depth to our blueline, with 5 defenseman on both handedness.

One of either Elliott or Barrie will likely not make the team out of camp (I would think Elliott considering both players progression last year) and hopefully be sent down to Lake Erie for some playing time instead of sitting idle.

I don't think the Avs defense is as bad as it is being sold but I could see Stastny, whom I hope will have a bounce-back year on his contract year, could be dealt at the deadline for a quality d-men should the Avs be in the playoff race or not. Either way, trading him could help clear a spot for O'Reilly in the middle and bring a solid 2-3 guy who would hopefully either re-sign or already have a few more years on his contract.

Here are the pairings I believe will start the season.

Hejda - Johnson
Wilson - Sarich
Benoit - Elliott/Barrie

Depth:
Hunwick (L)
Siemens (L)
Elliott/Barrie (R)


- NewEraAvs

That really is not the worst D core in the league, but it is not a group that will contend for the cup. All of these guys are #3-#7 guys on most teams in the NHL, with the exception of Siemens possibly developing into a Top Pairing D man. The Avs need that guy that the last cup winners have: the guy who is a true #1 D man. Chara, Keith, Weber, (insert name here). We need that guy who can shut down the opponents top line, interrupt the opposing team's momentum, keep our momentum going, and get the puck out of our zone. Those guys are rare, and finding one is like winning the lottery. Seth Jones may have been "one of those guys" but the Avs didn't seem to think so. With the status quo, we are a bubble playoff team. Our offense can go toe to toe with any team in the NHL, and if Roy/Foote can get more out of the D than Sacco did, we can contend and at least be fun to watch.

We have nothing to offer in a trade for D help, save Staz. He wouldn't command a difference maker on the blue line in return, so hopefully some of our prospects can develop. Seems like we are going to move Staz, hopefully resign Radar, and have a dominant #1 #2 #3 punch at Center for the next 10-15 years. If Radar wont re-up in the Mile High City, he could be packaged with a prospect or draft pick and command a solid return come the '14 trade deadline. From what I have read, Mitchell Heard, our 2nd round pick last year, projects as a strong defensive 3rd line center without the offensive upside of Radar, but keeping Radar should be priority #1.

Totally agree that this isn't the worst D in the league. As you said though it lacks top pair players. I also agree that we don't have expendable trade assets in order to immediately upgrade. I really hope that we can keep O'Reilly as well. I'm not sure it's doable considering the fiasco that the contract negotiations led to with the offer sheet and all. It's hard to justify paying 6.5 million to a third line center but if we can manage it I'd love to have the kid on the roster for years to come. Stastny is obviously at the moment the man on the outside looking in. I've said before, I hope he can play his way into becoming a more valuable trade asset next season which in turn might land us some sort of defensive upgrade. I also like the point you brought up about Foote helping with the D.

It'll be really interesting to see the difference in the way the team responds to Roy as a coach in comparison with Sacco. Obviously I hope it yields better results and I'm actually optimistic that it will. I wasn't in the locker room and we'll never know for sure, but it seemed that Sacco didn't command the type of respect that a guy like Patrick Roy has the potential to. That being said, it's all on paper right now. We'll find out when they drop the puck.