The Colorado Avalanche are looking to accrue cap space for the trade deadline
Corey Masisak of the Denver Post: The Colorado Avalanche made a decision this offseason to move off 31-year-old Valeri Nichushkin this offseason. He’s been a valuable member of their organization, but he hasn’t always been able to stay in the lineup – injuries and off-ice issues.
They aren’t going to be able to easily replace his offense and defense with one player. They signed 34-year-old Jaden Schwartz at $3.25 million per for three years, but his offense likely isn’t going to match Nichushkin’s.
Aside from losing Nichushkin on their penalty kill, they also lost Jack Drury and Joel Kiviranta.
GM Joe Sakic will be looking to accrue salary cap space leading up to the trade deadline. They currently have $6.05 million in projected deadline space. They number is with a 23-man roster, and at times, they could roster less players than that to accrue more space.
The Columbus Blue Jackets Can’t Make Other Decisions Just Yet
The St. Louis Blues could make some depth forwards available
Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News: Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts: The Podcast said that the St. Louis Blues have some depth forwards could be avaible.
“One thing I kind of heard is that in St. Louis, for example, they have a bunch of NHL guys who are kind of in the bottom six, and not all of them are going to make their team. And I think the Blues have let it be known that if you want some NHL depth, deeper in your roster, guys who’ve played, we have extras.”
Blues have some young players who are fighting for a roster spot. They have a veteran group of Jonatan Berggren, Pius Suter, Ross Johnston, Alexey Toropchenko, Dillon Dube, Nathan Walker, Oskar Sundqvist and Jack Finley. Johnston signed a three-year deal this offseason, so he’s likely not getting traded. Berggren and Suter should have a roster spot on the third/fourth line.
Montreal Canadiens Will Remain Calculated in Adding to the Roster
Toropchenko, Walker, Sundqvist, Finley, and Dube are likely fighting to two spots. The three who don’t make it could be put on waivers or traded.
Suter could draw some trade interest as he enters the final year of his deal at $4.125 million.
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