The Colorado Avalanche are rumored to be fielding calls on center Charlie Coyle this offseason. However, the Avalanche aren’t overly motivated to move their trade deadline acquisition despite the team’s apparent tight cap situation.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Colorado Avalanche aren’t losing any sleep over their apparent cap constraints. The reasoning behind this assessment lies in Logan O’Connor starting the year on LTIR.
O’Connor underwent hip surgery earlier this offseason. The recovery period is estimated to be between five to six months, meaning that O’Connor likely starts the season on LTIR. The 28-year-old comes with a $2.5 million cap hit next season.
Adding O’Connor’s $2.5 million plus the estimated $1.2 million in available cap space at the moment, the Avalanche would have roughly $4 million to play with as the team looks to round out the team.
If that’s the case, the Avalanche are more than likely done making big-ticket additions this summer. Re-signing Brock Nelson was the biggest move on the club’s to-do list. The Avalanche could round out the roster with affordable contracts.
RFA Sam Malinski is also believed to be a priority for the Avalanche this summer. Malinski had a solid season this past year. So, the Avalanche could negotiate a longer-term deal, potentially keeping his AAV down.
There are also 37-year-old Erik Johnson and 32-year-old Jimmy Vesey, who could play a role as depth pieces next season. Questions surround Joel Kiviranta, another depth player in UFA status.
The Avalanche could be motivated to keep Kiviranta, but the club may have to choose between keeping Vesey or Kiviranta amid the relatively tight cap space available.
Colorado Avalanche potentially passing Jonathan Drouin and Ryan Lindgren
The two remaining big-ticket free agents for the Colorado Avalanche this summer are Jonathan Drouin and Ryan Lindgren.
Both players will be looking to sign deals that could exceed the Avalanche’s current salary cap space.
Drouin is coming off a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Unless he takes a league-minimum deal at this point, Drouin would be too pricey to keep in Colorado.
Similarly, Ryan Lindgren could price himself out. He’s coming off a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Even if he takes a heavy pay cut, there’s no way the Avalanche can fit him under the cap. So, Lindgren is likely going to market.
It’s worth pointing out that Gabriel Landeskog has made the oft-injured Drouin expendable. Drouin was playing a top-six role before Landeskog’s return. With Landeskog in the lineup, Drouin becomes a bottom-six forward. As such, his $2.5 million cap hit is simply too much.
As for Lindgren, he’d be a bottom-pairing defenseman unless one of the top four is moved out. We can assure that Devon Toews and Cale Makar are set in concrete. So, someone like Samuel Girard would have to leave in order to make room for Lindgren.
That move seems somewhat implausible, especially with Girard being under contract for two more seasons at $5 million.
