NHL Free Agency: Colorado Avalanche Targets After Draft

After months of build-up, the 2015 NHL Entry Draft is officially over. However, that does not mean that there is a summer hole coming up. What is coming up, is the NHL free agency, which will be another really important time for the Colorado Avalanche.

Back in May, I already had a first look at who the Avalanche should target in free agency, but the draft has of course shaken things up a bit. On the bright side, one of my targets from back then has already signed a contract with the Avs — Carl Soderberg.

My plans with him would have been to have him in the lineup centering the third line and allow John Mitchell to move down to the fourth, but the Avalanche has other things planned with him. Judging by his contract (five years, $4.75 million cap hit), the plan seems to be to let Soderberg play on the second line, as Ryan O’Reilly’s immediate successor.

Furthermore, I had Jan Hejda listed as a target in NHL free agency. The plan here was to sign him to a cheap one-year contract and let him play on the second D-pairing for another year. However, the Avalanche acquired Nikita Zadorov from Buffalo in the O’Reilly deal, which fills that hole Hejda could have filled.

Therefore, the targets have changed a bit — and here they are.

Next: NHL free agency target #5

NHL free agency target #5: RW Chris Stewart

Apr 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Chris Stewart (44) against the New York Rangers at Xcel Energy Center. The Rangers defeated the Wild 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

2014-15 cap hit: $4,150,000

Where he is right now: Chris Stewart was drafted 18th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2006, before moving on to the St. Louis Blues, the Buffalo Sabres, and eventually ending up with our biggest rivals — the Minnesota Wild. With his new teams, Stewart has never been able to play at the level he was on when he was still in Denver. However, he is still a very solid third line winger, that can also spend time on the second line. This season, he has scored 36 points in 81 regular season games.

Why the Colorado Avalanche should sign him: Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy has expressed his desire to have a bigger team more than once. Chris Stewart would add size, physicality, and skill. Back on his first stint in Colorado, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound forward was close to playing at a point-per-game pace. It is unlikely that he would get there again. However, Stewart would solidify a bottom six that made the Avalanche look like an AHL team at times.

Stewart brings toughness and skill to the bottom-six, but can only be signed if he is fine with a smaller contract than last season. He was already on my last list of Avalanche targets and that has not changed — especially after losing Jamie McGinn in the O’Reilly trade.

Next: NHL free agency target #4

NHL free agency target #4: C Shawn Matthias

Mar 17, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Shawn Matthias (27) skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

2014-15 cap hit: $1,750,000

Where he is right now: Shawn Matthias was sent to the Vancouver Canucks in the trade that sent Roberto Luongo back to the Florida Panthers. Since then, Matthias has been a key piece in the Canucks’ bottom six. The 6-foot-3 forward has spent time as a center and wing on both bottom lines, as well as on the penalty kill. Furthermore, Matthias has contributed 27 points for Vancouver.

Why the Colorado Avalanche should sign him: In my last list of targets, it was an either Soderberg or Matthias situation. Soderberg is there, but Matthias is still a target, due to Soderberg’s likely role as the second-line center. Successful teams have center depth and that is exactly what Matthias would be great for.

Next: NHL free agency target #3

NHL free agency target #3: C Eric Fehr

Mar 3, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Artem Anisimov (42) is checked off the puck by Washington Capitals right wing Eric Fehr (16) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

2014-15 cap hit: $1,500,000

Where he is right now: A 2003 first round pick, Eric Fehr has been a cheap depth forward for the Washington Capitals for many years. He is 6-foot-4 tall, weighs in at 215 pounds, adds toughness to the bottom-six and has enough skill to contribute offensively. He has the potential to consistently produce 30+ points per season.

Why the Colorado Avalanche should sign him: Just like Stewart and Matthias, Fehr should add depth to the bottom-six. With McGinn and O’Reilly gone, there is more than one hole to fill. Fehr can play as a center or wing on either the third or fourth line and occasionally even slot in as a second line wing if necessary.

Next: NHL free agency target #2

NHL free agency target #2: D Christian Ehrhoff

Jan 13, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff (10) handles the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

2014-15 cap hit: $4,000,000

Where he is right now: After five years with the San José Sharks, who drafted him 106th overall in 2001, Christian Ehrhoff left California and has since played for the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins. He missed about half of the 2014-15 season due to a concussion, but will be back for the 2015-16 campaign.

Why the Colorado Avalanche should sign him: Ehrhoff addresses a different need than the three prior targets, but it is at least as important to fill. He has consistently been one of the top offensive defensemen in the league for many years and even though he declined after leaving the Canucks, he could still be an extremely good addition to the Avalanche’s top-D-pairing. Erik Johnson is in need of a partner and Ehrhoff would be a really solid addition.

Next: NHL free agency target #1