Just because MacFarland made poor decisions on certain trades doesn’t mean every trade will automatically be bad going forward. MacFarland shared his vision regarding Drury. You’re allowed to disagree with him. However, in a few years, you might realize that the Rantanen trade was highly beneficial for the team. At the moment, it’s too soon to draw conclusions about that trade. Moreover, while MacFarland is the one making decisions, he’s advised by many others before any trade takes place.

Every NHL player entered the league with potential. Once that potential is realized, the player has to work hard to keep his spot. Acquiring experienced players for every position requires sacrificing assets, and most of those players come with high salaries. But there are constraints, one of which is the salary cap. At some point, a team has no choice but to give chances and trust inexperienced players. You could look around the NHL and see many teams successfully fill lineup holes internally. That’s what a successful team must do. Otherwise, they’ll continually draw on their assets and limit their options. It’s better to play your cards at the right time. No matter who the 3C is, Drury or a more experienced player, he must be surrounded by quality teammates. Whether Drury plays at 3C or not, the team must focus on putting together the best possible third line, just like every other line. As I’ve mentioned before, if MacKinnon or Nelson gets injured, Necas becomes an option. At that point, it’s up to the coach to find the best trio combinations.

On the contrary, I believe Drury and/or Bardakov should be given a chance as early as next season, since there’s an immediate need to fill the 3C role. Why sacrifice assets to meet this need when the team might already have the solution within its roster? It’s best to see what Drury and Bardakov can offer right away, especially considering they’re not just 18–20-year-old prospects.

Most of the league is still in need of a 2c. Drury going to 3rd line could work like you said but we need a 4c in that case. I like parker kelly hes a great 4th liner type not afraid to bang it up but not a center long term. You make great points.

Support drury at 3c and it should be ok. Who do you think we can get for a 3rd line winger rn to pair with him and colton? Or do we try to move colton? I like kivi coming back kelly kivi and idk who at 4c for the 4th line. Loc coming back would slot into 3rd line but hes out for a bit. Not sure how we would approach that.

Im still thinking we need to trade girard since we are clearly keeping manson. Not sure what we get in return for sammy. If we do that we need another D man and 3rd line winger plus a 4c? Trading sammy frees up 5mil? So 11mil free after hes gone? Sounds like moves could be made. I think theres still a couple ufa’s available. Bardakov, Ivan, Prischepov need some serious looks this year too I would think.

You lost me at “Macfarland said” lol. That’s the problem. What has he done or what moves has he made to where I or anyone should trust his instincts? Or his ability to properly evaluate talent?

Yes…i know..I know he “fixed” the goaltending. When literally ANYTHING would’ve been an improvement. Other than that, what? The Nelson trade could work out in the end. But that was a no brainer in terms of you knew what you were getting. And he still gave up a 1st & easily his top prospect for what at the time was a rental.

Every other move has been a reach. Or a net negative.

Bang on. I saw on X yesterday the Avs now are “technically” the 2nd oldest roster in the league. The time to be experimenting or cutting corners with roster decisions is over.

You can’t potentially wait on a guy like Drury to maybe one day be something he isn’t now. Mackinnon is 30 essentially. The core of this team aside from Cale aren’t spring chickens. People within the fanbase are legitimately overestimating how long this team realistically has to win Stanley cups.

That’s why I’ve been harping so much on this Charlie Coyle trade. Do I think he’s the second coming, no. But it’s you’re either all in or not. They signaled at the deadline & gave up all their futures to do just that. Now this off – season they’ve gotten worse & have shown no sense of urgency.

Glendon is right going into another season with a hodge podge bottom 6. That contributes nothing offensively on the reg. Which will force Bednar to do what he already is prone to do. Over play his top line/top 6. Isn’t a recipe for success.

Everything about Drury is “potential.” That is fine. Everything about Ritchie was potential. Same with Kovalenko. Potential does not always work out. I have no problem with giving Drury a chance at 3C, but then the team needs to build around that. If Drury moves to 3C, then build a 3rd line that will help him and the team succeed. If Colton is still on the 3rd line, have another winger that can score, but also is defensively sound and can kill penalties. Look at Florida. When everyone is healthy, their 3rd line is going to contribute 90-100 points for the season. The Avs in the cup year had a 3rd line that contributed over 80 points and then had Burakovsky on it for the playoffs. The team does not need what they have had the past several years and that is a 3rd line that is really a 4th line.

If Drury does move up, then the team needs a 4C. Kelly is not a center. He did a good job in a pinch, but the line needs a real center. Bardakov is a center, but again, everything about him is potential.

The biggest concern with having Drury be the 3C is that he would be the next in line to play 2C if MacKinnon or Nelson gets hurt. That is why I would rather get someone like Compher, an established 3C, or even someone like McCann who would probably be a better 2C if needed.

I think could become a Stephane Yelle like player and grow into a 3C but would prefer they give him another year at 4C first.

Datsyuk was a sixth-round pick, Zetterberg a seventh, Robitaille a ninth. Drury was picked in the second round. You need serious talent to be selected that high and even more just to play in the NHL. Does Drury have the potential to play as a 3C? Absolutely. You seem to forget that Colton held that role for a full year. One thing’s certain: Drury can’t possibly do worse than Colton did at center. Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews weren’t overly offensive players either but their defensive excellence helped them become productive offensively. Most NHL teams don’t have highly offensive third-line centers. A 3C doesn’t need to be. Just look at Compher when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup… he played a much more defensive role than offensive. MacFarland has also said that Drury has the potential to play as a 3C. Whether that potential materializes, that remains to be seen. At this point, your take is just a prediction. And if the NHL had relied only on predictions, a lot of players wouldn’t have made it.

The veterans on this team that are a liability defensively, are only so because they are not held accountable. Old argument, and a waste of time. Some feel the issue is with the roster (CMac). Others, like myself, think the coach (who was once perfect for this team) is not getting to most from his players anymore. Everyone points to the roster from 22, and very few notice the team does not play the same dominant defensive style that won that cup. All 18 skaters bought into a smothering style of play the got a lousy tendy like Kuemper paid. That went out the window and was replaced with a personal points and trophy gathering style. Btw, cup is staying in Florida for the foreseeable future. That entire core has bought into a play style and pay structure that allows them to keep moving forward. None of the superstars in this league are willing to take such unselfish contracts in order to win.