obe24

Minneapolis, MN • United States • 31 Years Old • Male

Avs Drop A Pair

With two more losses the Avs have cemented the fact that they are not making the playoffs this spring. They are all but mathematically elminated. They have the lowest points percentage in the West. They sit 24th in the league in points with several teams just below them having one or more games in hand.

At what point is it ok for Avs fans to begin openly pulling for this team to lose to improve its draft position? I say go ahead, even if it feels dirty. Tavares or Hedman would be a huge boon to this team.

As for the current roster, there are three players on whom the Avs need to make a decision by the trading deadline: Arnason, Leopold, and Laperriere. All are UFAs at the end of the season and thus should either be traded or signed. Let's start with the easiest call first: the Avs should get whatever they can for Arnason. And don't let the screen door hit you on the way out.

Leopold and Lappy are different stories. Both would be valuable to the right team, and both could be useful to the Avs for the next couple of years. If traded, would the sign with the Avs again? Probably not. Of the two, I would rather have Lappy, but they shouldn't let him walk for nothing. Will FG even move to sign these guys? Or will he just assume that they'll want to come back to Denver? I don't think he should put his faith in that. The Avs star has dimmed; it is no longer the first class destination it once was. They should be approached now for extensions, and if the Avs don't think they can work it out, they should be dealt. This team needs picks and prospects.

Next installment I'll examine the goaltending prospects for next season. I'll give you some foreshadowing: I'm not holding my breath for Backstrom.

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