Following the Colorado Avalanche’s disappointing first-round exit this year, the team will be looking to address its needs in hopes of getting back to the Stanley Cup Final next season.
That situation, unfortunately, could involve some roster turnover, depending on how things play out with impending free agents. In that regard, three Colorado Avalanche players stand out as potential candidates to leave the team this summer.
3 Colorado Avalanche players who may be gone this summer
Jonathan Drouin
Jonathan Drouin had a productive, if injury-filled season this year for the Colorado Avalanche. | Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages
Jonathan Drouin is someone the Colorado Avalanche would like to have back next season. The 30-year-old had a productive season despite being on the shelf for nearly half the year. 37 points in 43 games look good on paper and could certainly help the Avalanche moving forward.
However, Drouin, a UFA, had a $2.5 million cap hit last season. That cap hit may be too high for an injury-prone player at this point in his career.
If I had to bet, I’d say the Avs bring Drouin back. But Drouin may be keen on getting a multi-year deal. If that’s Drouin’s wish, I can see other teams taking a chance on him this summer. That situation could prompt Drouin and the Avalanche to part ways.
Ross Colton
Colorado Avalanche may be forced to move a player like Ross Colton if salary cap issues tie the team's hands. | Jason Mowry/GettyImages
Ross Colton is under contract for two more seasons at $4 million per year. That’s not bad considering the unbelievable flexibility that Colton provides. He can play wing in virtually any spot in the lineup, while also playing center in the middle six.
Colton’s 29 points in 61 games don’t look nearly as impressive as they are, considering that injuries derailed some of the early-season momentum he generated. Nevertheless, Colton could be a cap casualty this summer.
Since captain Gabriel Landeskog will likely return to the lineup next season, the Colorado Avalanche won’t have his $7 million cap hit on LTIR to offset other contracts. As such, the Avalanche may need to unload a couple of contracts just to make the math work.
Trading Colton could yield the Avalanche a mid-tier pick or a mid-level prospect. So, it might be something worth looking into if push comes to shove for the Avalanche this summer.
Brock Nelson
Brock Nelson and the Colorado Avalanche could part ways if they can't agree on a long-term deal this summer. | Tyler McFarland/Clarkson Creative/GettyImages
Brock Nelson is the biggest question mark for the Colorado Avalanche this summer. Nelson was a costly acquisition at this year’s trade deadline. That situation implies that the Avalanche would rather not lose Nelson via free agency.
While Nelson is a sunken cost at this point, the Avalanche can avoid a major long-term problem by re-signing Nelson.
In my estimation, the Avalanche will work something out with the 33-year-old impending free agent. I would be shocked if another team swooped in to sign Nelson. That being said, the sticking point could be Nelson’s desire to land one last multi-year deal.
Before the trade deadline, Nelson reportedly rejected a three-year from the New York Islanders. The dollar value wasn’t so much the issue as the term. Apparently, Nelson wanted at least a four-year deal. The Islanders wouldn’t give it to him and opted to trade him instead.
My spider senses tell me that the Avalanche will gamble on Nelson and give him a four or even five-year deal at a lower AAV. The risk is there that Nelson’s contract could become an albatross toward the end.
But that’s just the cost of business that contenders face. The Avalanche don’t have anyone who could replace Nelson internally and the options on the free-agent market don’t look to enticing.
So, for better or for worse, Nelson and the Avalanche are better off working out something this summer.
