You realize Blackwood is only 28 lol. Kovalenko is 25/26. And sure he’s a top 6 winger on the Sharks current AHL roster. But long term…no he’s not going to be a regular top 6 winger on a legitimate team with a cup caliber roster.

This is such a ridiculous statement. The jury is still very, very much out as to whether he can ever be a top 6 forward. Chances are much greater he won’t be. You realize he’s almost 26 right? And spent the last couple of years in the KHL just to get to where he’s at now as a player. More likely than not this is pretty much the finished product.

He’s not a transformational type player. So the idea that the Avs mortgaged their future by trading him, is insane. If they had traded say Ritchie I would get the outcry somewhat. But they didn’t, they traded a guy who was a 6th Rd pick & was ready for the NHL until his mid 20’s.

The only place i disagree with you is the claim we have a “set” top 6. The injury report and review of game-time rosters disagrees with you. When we can go 10 games without needing 8 or 9 “top 6” guys, I’ll fully agree. But that hasn’t happened, and i don’t want to see any more games with two centers on our two-full-minute power-play line.

Prishchepov is only 20 and still has time to grow. He looks promising. Ivan ivan.
Kelly ivan prishchepov as 4th line for now. Then drouin and I hope they trade for bjugstad and then LOC

What about picking up bjugstad from utah for 3rd line center.

Nabakov is 21 and will play this entire season in the KHL. No guarantee he comes next season, but if he does 1 year in the AHL wouldn’t be a bad move. I hope he’s as advertised, but a 5’6 goalie just doesn’t excite me. Blackwood is 6’4…can’t wait to finally have size back in our net.

Maybe you’re right and Kovy develops into a very good player but he’s already 25 and could already be close to what he will become… I think this could be a case of overvaluing your team’s guys. Given the players the Avs have locked up in their top 6 there’s no room for him for a while. No disrespect to him but so far, he’s struggled with the North American game, and it shows defensively. An undersized bottom 6 player with some skill is easier to replace (and reasonably affordable) than say a youngish, affordable starting defenseman. If the Sharks really wanted to squeeze the Avs they should have asked for Malinski.

The Cup year 3rd line of Newhook-Compher-Aube-Kubel had close to 90 points between them. The following year because of injuries, the Avs really a 4th line playing 3rd line and a 3rd line playing as the 2nd. Last year, the 3rd line had a lot of potential, but lost its luster when O’Connor went out with hip surgery. This year the 3rd line is, again, really a 4th line, as Colton is now expected to move up to winger. Ivan and O’Connor have 15 points between them. Moving Drouin to the 3rd line will help, but that line really needs a better 3C, so that line can be expected to provide a point/game.