The Ross Colton trade was hardly a shock to Colorado Avalanche fans. Chatter of a trade had been in the works for quite a while now. When it finally came to fruition, no one was really surprised it happened.
That said, the trade paves the way for the organization to re-sign several pieces. In particular, the most crucial piece is Brett Kulak. We’ve talked so much about Kulak fitting in well with the Avs, prompting Joe Sakic to keep him in the fold.
Kulak will likely be looking for a bump from his $2.75 million cap hit this past season. It wouldn’t be out of the question to see the Avs fork over about $3.5 million over a short-term deal, something like a three-year pact.
Then, there’s the case of Jack Drury. Drury has gotten a lot of attention as he remains the lone RFA for the Colorado. The easiest way out would be to ink Drury to a one-year deal, buy some time, and then figure out a long-term deal before he hits UFA status in the summer of 2027.
Perhaps Drury could come in at $2.5 million on a one-year deal. Such a contract would work out just fine for the Avalanche, allowing them to have just enough left over to round out the roster, and potentially re-sign Brent Burns and Nick Blankenburg.
Avalanche’s calculus depends on Cale Makar
The entire calculus surrounding the Avalanche’s cap situation depends on Cale Makar. While Makar’s extension would kick in until 2027-28, everything Colorado plans for won’t really take hold until the club knows how much it will cost to keep Makar.
In fact, the longer it takes to figure out Makar’s next contract, the longer much of the uncertainty will remain. That’s why the organization can’t commit to onerous long-term deals. Doing so could create a cap crunch, rising ceiling notwithstanding, potentially forcing another cap-dump trade.
There have been numerous theses out there regarding Makar’s potential cap hit down the line. Some pundits have posited that Makar could come in around $16 million a season.
While that’s fair, the fact is that the Avalanche and Makar might come to a middle-ground solution. They could punt on the situation, signing a short-term extension, and then re-engaging in the matter down the road when the cap ceiling is much higher.
Until there is clarity with Makar’s situation, the Avalanche will be holding their breath on their current free agents. The plan is to roll everything back next season. So, keeping Burns, Kulak, and Drury will be pivotal to Colorado’s plans.
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