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Colorado Avalanche: August Free Agents Could Bolster Offense

By Daniel Henderson

Mar 20, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche right winger Jack Skille (8) celebrates their win with Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) at the end of the third period at Rexall Place. Colorado Avalanche won the game 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche right winger Jack Skille (8) celebrates their win with Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) at the end of the third period at Rexall Place. Colorado Avalanche won the game 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 20, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche right winger Jack Skille (8) celebrates their win with Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) at the end of the third period at Rexall Place. Colorado Avalanche won the game 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche right winger Jack Skille (8) celebrates their win with Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) at the end of the third period at Rexall Place. Colorado Avalanche won the game 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Avalanche need to inject more offense into their forward corps.

The month of August is not exactly considered a prime time for landing big name free agents, nevertheless its when many of the best value deals are struck. Most impact players have long since signed expensive (and potentially franchise crippling) deals, while unsigned players are desperately trying to stay in the league.

Last summer we saw some quality players reluctantly accept Professional Try Outs (PTOs) as the salary cap has forced frugality across the league. The Avalanche gave out three PTOs last year, but ended up only signing Jack Skille.

colorado avalanche
Nov 17, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Jack Skille (8) skates on the ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

This season the Avs have an obvious hole in their forward group and are tight against the cap ceiling with only ~$1.5 million in space. Ideally, I would like to see the roster look like this by mid-season (Rantanen is almost guaranteed to start on the 3rd line).

Landeskog – MacKinnon – Rantanen

Grigorenko – Duchene – ???????

Comeau – Soderberg – Colborne

McLeod – Mitchell – Iginla

Playing Iginla in the top 6 should not be an option this year. He creates a significant drag on his teammates and is atrocious defensively. Slotting him in the 4th line may be overly optimistic, but you never know with a new head coach. The point is there is an obvious lack of firepower in the top 6, especially if the Avs want to play Soderberg on the 3rd line.

It’s for these reasons that Joe Sakic should be courting players with either a PTO or a cheap, short term deal.

Next: Steve Downie

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