Casey Mittelstadt is still struggling.
Ross Colton isn’t producing offensively.
Miles Wood can’t seem to find a role on the team.
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Jack Drury might be better suited for 4C instead of 3C.
Josh Manson should probably be your third option at right defense.
Speaking of the third pair, it needs a makeover.
There’s so much that needs to be done to fix this roster. How aggressive should the Avalanche be at the trade deadline? Let’s dive into some thoughts, specifically at forward, with Mittelstadt, Colton, Wood, and Drury.
The Never-Ending Search for Center Depth
You don’t often get a chance to address such a major part of your roster midway through a season. And I say that knowing very well that J.T. Miller was just traded mid-season and Mittelstadt himself was acquired last March.
But traditionally, addressing a hole at 2C is often an offseason move unless you’re interested in a rental. And that’s where I struggle with what Avs general manager Chris MacFarland should do about this.
On one hand, Mittelstadt could very well get things figured out. But on the other hand, the front office has shown all year that patience is running thin. They want to be proactive and correct issues in the lineup before they drag on for too long. This is why I keep talking about a Mittelstadt trade. Not because I think they should give up on him less than a year after acquiring him, but because I almost feel like it would be outrageous to rule it out completely given the moves the front office has pulled off since October.
Read More: Avalanche Mailbag: Replacing Mittelstadt, Rantanen’s Next Contract, Wood’s Penalties, & More
I just hope they steer clear of a desperation bandaid fix like the Lars Eller trade two years ago. If you find another long-term option like Miller on the market, then go for it. If not, acquire a rental piece that’s worth giving up assets for and readdress the 2C role in the summer. That would give Mittelstadt more time to get back on track. And if he doesn’t, it’ll open up a bigger trade market for him in the offseason.
This ties in with Jack Drury and where he should play. Let’s say, for example, the Avs make a move for Brock Nelson. He’d be an ideal rental that can slot in at 2C. If he does, Mittelstadt can play 3C, Drury falls to 4C, and Kelly can battle it out for a spot on the wing — giving the Avs ample depth.
If they don’t trade for a rental to play 2C, then perhaps another bottom-six center like Drury is the move to make. But again, steer clear of the Eller-type of overpayment.
As for addressing the 2C in the summer: Last I checked, Sam Bennett is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. What if?
Ross Colton’s Production
This one makes me want to pull my hair out. Colton is an unbelievably good fit for this roster. But if he’s not producing, it’s hard to justify his $4 million salary.
I always wonder how Colton would look on a third line where he’s playing one wing and Gabriel Landeskog is on the other side. But who knows if we ever get to see that.
I don’t think Colton should be traded before March 7. I’d love to see him in another playoff run. I just hope the Avs find a good fit for him so he can get his production back on track. Colton has five goals and two assists — seven points in 30 games since returning from injury on Dec. 7. That’s just not good enough.
Read More: Avalanche Mailbag: Faceoff Issues, 2C Inquires, Goaltending Depth, & More
Miles Wood’s Future
I don’t want to beat this into the ground — although I probably already have.
When Wood signed for six years, MacFarland said he had to give him more term to bring the AAV down.
The #GoAvsGo Miles Wood 6 year 2.5M cap hit deal:
Year 1 3.25M
Year 2 3.25M
Year 3 2.5M
Year 4-6 2M
All salary
Includes 6 team no trade clause
Rep’d by Peter Fish @GlobalHockey1 https://t.co/F5MQLRpKkt
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 2, 2023
Given how the contract was structured, it felt, at the time, that MacFarland only wanted Wood for two years — three max. Once the actual dollars dip to $2 million (or $2.5 next season), it would be time to trade him.
Here’s the problem: Wood has not been great this year. And whenever he gets consistent playing time, he gets hurt. I think we’re at a point where, if you’re the Avs, you probably need to start worrying about whether trading Wood would even be possible without attaching another asset to him. Maybe he gets one more year with the Avs before he gets moved. But what if that’s the case, and what if 2025-26 goes worse than this year? Then what?
If he were healthy at the time, it would’ve been worth exploring if Chicago was interested in taking him, along with an extra asset, in the Mikko Rantanen three-way deal.
I guess we’ll see how this goes. Again, as soon as he signed, I always felt the trade deadline of 2025 through training camp in September of 2025 would be the time to trade him. It’s just a matter of if that’s even possible anymore.
