Over the last couple of months, I’ve been arguing for the need to extend Cale Makar as soon as possible. The need for cost certainty is something that cannot be ignored in any type of business.
And yes, the NHL and the Colorado Avalanche are a business.
In this article, I’d like to play devil’s advocate. I want to explore the opposite side of this discussion and discuss why delaying a Makar extension might actually be a good thing for the Avalanche.
As I stated earlier, cost certainty is a major factor in this entire discussion. I truly believe that. That’s why the Avalanche need to be certain about two question marks: Artturi Lehkonen and Nic Roy.
Both forwards will be free agents at the end of the season. Combined, they have a cap hit of $7.5 million.
So, if you add up $7.5 million plus Makar’s current $9 million cap hit, that’s $16.5 million. That’s pretty much the range the Avalanche will need to be in to sign Makar to a deal that makes sense for the world’s best defenseman.
That’s why getting certitude on Roy and Lehkonen would essentially determine just how much the Avalanche can afford to pay Makar. If the plan is to keep both forwards, the calculus could get complex.
Avalanche may wait to see what sort of seasons Lehkonen, Roy have
At his best, Lehkonen is a legit, top-six winger. He’s been clutch over the years, proving he’s no pushover come playoff time.
The only question mark lies in his health. He’s missed considerable time with injury over the years. While he played 70 games last season, he hasn’t played a full season in Colorado. That’s why, if Lehkonen becomes a serious injury concern, would it be worth re-signing him? If the Avs feel he’s worth keeping around, would it be at $4.5 million against the cap?
That’s the major issue with Lehkonen. If he’s willing to take a pay cut to hang around in Colorado, the increase in the cap ceiling could make it possible to keep him around.
Lehkonen is one of the players who might be on the bubble this upcoming season. If one of the younger assets coming up through the system proves their value, Lehkonen may just become redundant.
Roy will be a tough choice for Colorado
As for Roy, he comes with a $3 million cap hit. He’s a solid middle-six center/winger. That versatility makes him a highly valuable commodity. That’s why the Avalanche were willing to pay a first-round pick for him.
That said, keeping him beyond this season might be easier said than done. Roy could easily get double his current cap hit on the open market. With so many teams desperate for center depth, Roy could become a hot commodity, should he hit free agency next summer.
Ultimately, re-signing Makar and keeping Roy and Lehkonen may be possible. And that’s why delaying the decision to re-sign Makar until the club is certain about Roy and Lehkonen may be the best path forward.
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