The Colorado Avalanche need to augment their bottom-six with some better forwards. Ryan Dzingel might be an option.
The Colorado Avalanche have some gaps to fill in free agency. However, despite GM Joe Sakic‘s observation that “It’s a pretty good class this year,” it looks a bit thin.
The Avs have some players in mind they want to recruit. I’m sure one of them is the Bread Man, Artemi Panarin, since he’s the biggest name on the market. I imagine another is Erik Karlsson since he’s another big name on the market.
I don’t think they’re landing either of those players. However, one of Karlsson’s former teammates, Ryan Dzingel, might be a player of interest for Colorado. He’s not a splashy player, but he won’t be an expensive one either.
And he might just bring some value.
Let’s look at why the Avalanche might be interested in a player like Dzingel.
Ryan Dzingel
Position: Forward
Age: 27
Size: 6-foot, 190 pounds
Previous Contract: 2-year standard, 1.8 million AAV
2018-19 Statistics: 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 78 games
Forward Ryan Dzingel spend the majority of his career with the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him in the seventh round of the 2011 NHL Draft. He was part of a trade deadline deal that sent him and a 2019 seventh rounder to Columbus for Anthony Duclair and second rounders in 2020 and 2021.
Weirdly, even though Matt Duchene was traded to the Blue Jackets at deadline, it was a different deal. Matt did go fetch him when he got his family in Winnipeg:
Anyway, Dzingel has spent 3 1/2 seasons in the NHL. In that time, he’s played in 268 games, recording 138 points (66 goals, 72 assists).
This season has seen him hit career bests in all markers. He recorded 26 goals and 30 assists for a total of 56 points. Dzingel is not a great faceoff guy — he averages around 40%. However, he’s got a pretty accurate shot, enjoying a 15% average over the course of his career.
Ryan Dzingel and the Colorado Avalanche
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The Colorado Avalanche have a weird fetish for going back to the same teams over and over — maybe all teams do. Anyway, Colorado favors both Columbus and Ottawa.
Besides that, Dzingel would be a good fit for the team. He’s known for being a versatile, speedy winger with energy and an above-average work ethic. He can also play any forward position well. All of that would appeal to Colorado.
Whether or not they target Dzingel depends on whether they think he’d be a good replacement for one of the following:
- Colin Wilson
- Sven Andrighetto
- Derick Brassard
- Gabriel Bourque
All four of those players’ futures is uncertain with the Avalanche. I definitely prefer Dzingel to the bottom three on that list, but I don’t know about Wilson. Ideally, maybe they could complement each other.
I can’t imagine he’d be looking for much of a pay raise from his $1.8 million — maybe up to $2 million, which wouldn’t be hard for Colorado. Nor do I think the Avs would balk at it.
Ryan Dzingel isn’t a big splash in free agency. However, he is the kind of acquisition the Colorado Avalanche tend to make. Free Agency Frenzy starts on July 1 with teams being able to negotiate with players starting June 24.