NHL writer drops shocking list of 3 free agents Avalanche are chasing this offseason
Photo credit: AP Photo / Karl DeBlaker
Like nearly every other NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche head into the offseason carrying the sting of a disappointing finish.
While Jack Drury, Parker Kelly, and a healthy Logan O'Connor are expected to retain their spots, Charlie Coyle, Ross Colton, and Miles Wood emerge as top trade candidates due to their contracts. If any of them are moved without immediate replacements coming back in return, the Avs will have key roster gaps to address.
Avalanche targeting 3 players in free agency.
Marko Zlomislic from The Hockey Writers reports that the Avs top target is a familiar face aiming to revive a once-promising career. Veteran Anthony Mantha, who turns 31 in October, has three 20-goal seasons under his belt but has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout much of his time in the NHL.
"The Avalanche should be wary, but a heavily bonus-laden contract that can be fully buried in the minors is a fair compromise for the two parties. Landeskog can be moved anywhere in the lineup, so letting Mantha sit in the top-six and essentially replace Drouin could be a low-risk gamble with a potentially decent payoff." -Zlomislic
Before his injury, Mantha was producing at a pace of 25 goals and 44 points, solid numbers that suggest he still has offensive upside. With this potentially being his final shot to secure a long-term future in the NHL, he could be highly motivated to prove he still belongs.
"The next free agent forward target is 28-year-old winger Anthony Beauvillier, who has played for six teams over the past three seasons and has been unable to stick since spending parts of almost seven full seasons with the New York Islanders." -Zlomislic
Beauvillier began last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 16 goals in 63 games before being dealt to the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline. While he initially had trouble adjusting to his new team during the regular season, he turned heads in the playoffs, emerging as one of Washington's more impactful players with six points in 10 postseason games. There could be a match here for the Avalanche.
"The third and final target is 32-year-old forward Tomas Nosek, who is coming off of a successful run to the Stanley Cup with the Panthers and appeared in 16 playoff games this spring (three points) and was a useful utility player." -Zlomislic
At this stage of his career, the veteran winger is clearly best suited for a fourth-line role. While the Avalanche may prefer someone with more offensive upside at five-on-five, Nosek could step in and handle O'Connor's penalty-killing responsibilities while he recovers, allowing the team's other forwards to focus more on even-strength play.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 23 | 23 ANSWERS NHL writer drops shocking list of 3 free agents Avalanche are chasing this offseason Which free agent interests you the most and could be a solid fit with the Avalanche? | ||
| Anthony Mantha | 4 | 17.4 % |
| Anthony Beauvillier | 10 | 43.5 % |
| Tomas Nosek | 9 | 39.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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