Comments on: Deen’s Daily: Potential Kadri Destinations; Ekblad Talks Contract Extension; Mueller’s Retirement

By: AxJxMacReady

AxJxMacReady — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:25:58 +0000

In reply to Joe Cerwinske. I'd pass. Adding another Russian with a history of drug problems is not worth the risk imo

By: Joe Cerwinske

Joe Cerwinske — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:06:59 +0000

The Avs were listed by a couple publications today as a possible landing spot for Evgeny Kuznetsov (along with Boston and Vancouver). Are you hearing anything about this possibility, Aarif? I can definitely see the fit as a really high-end 3C who can put up big points and has a proven playoff track record. He also likely wouldn’t be too expensive, and the Avs would be a great spot for him to land on a 1-year profile rehab location.

Obviously, he’s not the defensive stalwart that Coyle was, he’d immediately be our worst face-off center, and doesn’t kill penalties, which are likely all traits the club is looking for from their 3C. However, he’d be an incredible option on the power play, and would give us three outstanding scoring lines – assuming his linemates would be Colton and maybe Kelly, Ivan, or a free agent pickup like Leason. We could also use Nelson on the PK, which he’s done in the past, adding him to a penalty killing corps of Lehkonen, Nichushkin, Landeskog, Kelly, Drury, Bardakov (most likely), and O’Connor (when he returns).

Anyone else see the fit there with Kuznetsov?

By: 505Hockey

505Hockey — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:51:05 +0000

The contract comparable valuation thing is always a bit sketchy. Everyone knows star players frequently take discounts to stay on winning teams and in situations that are favorable to them personally (although the Ekblad contract is a deep discount but not unheard of; see RNH); UFA's often get paid more than they should when they change teams, particularly when the market is thin or they're coming off a career year or a Cup win (or a combination of the three); and teams sometimes overpay when they're desperate. Teams tend to pay players what they think they're worth to them given their set of circumstances, the market, where they are in their rebuild or competitive window, etc. While teams do get "outbid" for player's services, it also has a lot to do with location, lifestyle, endorsement opportunities, etc, just as much as it has to do with dollars and cents, taxes, and the on-ice situation. In other words, it's complicated so the PA not being all that upset that Ekblad took the deal he did can easily be dismissed as an anomaly.