All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — July 20.

Colorado Hockey Now

I’m probably going to bump this piece to the front of the website on Monday morning again. But yesterday, I went through every single NHL goalie contract signed (minus ELC’s) since Blackwood locked up his extension in December.

The purpose of the exercise was to see if the Avs made the right move — if they got a good deal or if they rushed and overpaid their starter given his previous track record.

Basically, it’s 2,000 words on goalie contracts, and it’s a nice slow-part-of-the-offseason read. This one is behind the CHN+ paywall just because of the crazy amount of time it took to research and write.

But hey, promo code Deen10 gets you 25% off an annual subscription to CHN+ content. Also, a subscription also eliminates ALL of those dreadful advertisements you see on the website right now. It makes the experience that much better. Not bad for a few dollars a month if you ask me.

Read More: How Does Mackenzie Blackwood’s Contract Stack Up Against the Goalie Deals That Followed? (+)

I had mixed reactions to my story earlier in the week about the Avs, and how they should target Chinakhov if, in fact, the Blue Jackets move him before training camp.

Aaron Portzline of the Athletic wrote a follow-up early Sunday morning about the relationship between team and player. If you have a subscription to their website, you can read it here.

Ultimately, Portzline noted that Chinakhov got treatment for his back in Russia during the 4 Nations break and his injury issues are behind him. He also noted that Chinakhov’s agent said his client wants to play a top-six role. Columbus could make that work this season if they really wanted to.

The Avs? Not so much. At least not now. And that’s fine.

After Brent Burns signed with Colorado, I remember Elliotte Friedman had a segment on his podcast where he mentioned that the Canes wanted to bring Burns back, but they told him he’d play a more limited role than the first pair spot he’d had with them the past three years.

Friedman said Burns preferred to play a limited role elsewhere rather than on the team where he’d been a key piece. And that this is often the case with athletes who are told they no longer will get the ice time or role they once had.

Chinakhov, if acquired by the Avs, wouldn’t have a top-six spot until an injury arises, which, likely, will happen at some point. But it’s also worth noting that Martin Necas hasn’t signed an extension, Artturi Lehkonen has two years remaining on his deal, and between Valeri Nichushkin and Gabe Landeskog, you might be able to squeeze in quite a bit of time in the top six.

If Chinakhov came to Colorado, I could see something like that working out for him. He’d eventually be a key piece and that next era of talent to play in the top six. It just wouldn’t happen right away. If the Avs are interested, he’d be silly not to play the long game to be part of a team like this. Again, this is all assuming the Avs try to acquire him.

Anyway, here’s what I wrote earlier in the week about him.

Around The NHL

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Kyle Dubas was on the PDOcast on Friday, and had a lot of great insights about his plan moving forward.

Philly Hockey Now: Predicting Matvei Michkov’s next contract with the Flyers.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Three destinations that make sense for Nico Daws, if or when he’s traded (before the Devils have to put him on waivers and likely lose him for free).

Vegas Hockey Now: Here’s a spoiler on one of those three locations. The Vegas Golden Knights. Why they might be interested in someone like Daws.

Detroit Hockey Now: One of Detroit’s Russian Five legends was fired from his duties as head coach in the KHL. He was hired in June, and didn’t even get to coach a game yet. And they say NHL coaches have a short shelf life.

The post Deen’s Daily: What Chinakhov Wants from Columbus; Did Avs Make Right Move with Blackwood Extension in December? appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — July 17.

Colorado Hockey Now

We found out early Thursday morning from Aaron Portzline of The Athletic that Yegor Chinakhov wants out of Columbus. Well, Portzline elaborated on the trade request and got a quote from Jackets GM Don Waddell after Chinakhov’s agent went public on social media.

This is a buy low candidate that I think the Avs should explore. Click below to read my thoughts on the matter.

Also, the Avs released their schedule on Wednesday. Today, I looked at some key dates and patterns in their upcoming season. Click below for more.

Read More: Breaking Down the Avalanche’s 2025-26 Schedule

Around The NHL

Dakota Joshua Dealt: The Toronto Maple Leafs made a deal for Dakota Joshua on Thursday, acquiring him from the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round draft pick. Joshua is a big body and places a physical game. He was drafted by the Leafs in 2014 but never dressed for them.

After dealing with some personal issues and a tough year in Vancouver, he gets a change of scenery and a chance to play a big role with a talented Leafs roster. I like this move, and gamble, by Brad Treliving. Even if it comes with a $3.25 million price tag.

Montreal Hockey Now: The Habs are probably going to trade Carey Price after his bonus is paid out on Sept. 1. Here are the teams that could make sense in the cap-clearing move.

New Jersey Hockey Now: After the extension signed by Jake Allen, and Jacob Markstrom still the starter, the Devils have a decision to make with Nico Daws. What should they do? 

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Pens have two valuable wingers in Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell that could be moved in the coming months. What are their values on the market?

Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers again lost out on the ESPY Award for the best team of the year. It’s the second time in a row they were nominated but came up short.

Speaking of which, Gabe Landeskog was also up for Best Comeback Story but did not win. Which was the wrong decision in my books.

The post Deen’s Daily: Targeting Chinakhov; Joshua Finds New Home; Habs Might Trade a Franchise Great appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Or at least try.

Yegor Chinakhov wants out of Columbus, according to a report from Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, and the Avalanche should take a chance on the buy low, high reward forward.

According to the report, the 24-year-old Chinakhov’s agent went public on X/Twitter, stating that a misunderstanding between his client and Jackets head coach Dean Evason led to the request. Columbus’ GM Don Waddell told Portzline that he wasn’t surprised about the request, and that Chinakhov didn’t take well to being healthy scratched after not playing well following a back injury.

The Jackets are taking calls to try to trade him, if the return is up to par with his value.

Enter the Avalanche. And a long relationship between Chris MacFarland and his former employer.

MacFarland has time and time again taken a chance on players or coaches from the Jackets organization since joining Colorado in May 2015. Usually it’s on guys he knew when he was there, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes GMs have teams or other GMs they prefer to trade with, and Columbus is that for the Avs.

In fact, the most notable move Colorado has made this summer was a deal that sent Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to the Blue Jackets. This is a great opportunity for the two organizations to strike another deal.

Chinakhov is listed at 6’1, 201 lbs, and was drafted No. 21 overall in 2020. He had seven goals and 15 points in 30 games this past season, but that came after a 16-goal, 29-point 2023-24 season in just 53 games.

If the Avs can get him without overpaying, the left shot right-winger, who has experience on the power play and a great shot, is a perfect reclamation project oozing with potential to be a useful top-six winger.

Read More: Avalanche Mailbag 2.0: Necas’ Next Contract, Trade Value, and Bottom-Six Depth Uncertainty

The Avalanche haven’t had much success in recent years with reclamations or hitting on a player’s untapped potential, like with Oliver Kylington, Erik Brannstrom, and even Casey Mittelstadt. This same front office, led by Joe Sakic and MacFarland, also missed in the Patrick Roy era with pick-ups like Joe Colborne and Patrick Wiercioch.

But this is the same group that hit big with Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews, Artturi Lehkonen, and Andre Burakovsky, to name a few. Those guys were all on the Stanley Cup-winning roster in 2022.

Chinakhov might not be a success. But he also could be, and would majorly help a franchise that needs young talent up front for this upcoming season and beyond.

Low risk, high reward. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t always present itself.

Let’s see if MacFarland can make it happen.

The post Chinakhov Wants Out of Columbus — Why the Avalanche Should Make a Move appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.