The Colorado Avalanche are always looking for depth pieces that might be able to help, and NHL reporter Pierre LeBrun has provided another idea of a player the team could sign in free agency, which opens tomorrow.
LeBrun thinks that the Avalanche could be a good destination for Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner.
Jenner is 33 years old and has been with the same team since becoming a second-round pick back in 2011, 37th overall.
Jenner has 212 goals and 209 assists in his career, which has spanned over 808 career regular season games. He has 44 power play goals in his career as well as 29 assists on the power play. That might be something the Avalanche could get out of him—or at leat try. While his career-high in power play goals is only nine, it’s still worth a shot if they chose to sign him.
Jenner also has a face-off percentage 50% or higher in each of his last 11 seasons. The only seasons in which he hasn’t hit that mark was in each of his first two years.
On his latest contract, Jenner’s AAV (average annual value) was $3.75 million over the past four seasons. The Avalanche could technically match that, but as he wouldn’t be a top-six forward, I would hope that he could sign for a little bit less. If not, then I may not be that interested.
The Avalanche have some options to think about for their depth. Jack Drury was traded after it became clear to the Avalanche that he would price himself out. Valeri Nichushkin was traded after a long time of being speculated to be a trade piece.
Right now, the Avalanche’s center depth consists of Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Nicolas Roy, and Fyodor Svechkov (or whoever they choose to be there, officially). Svechkov is listed as the fourth-line center on PuckPedia and Daily Faceoff.
Adding Jenner would be a low, risk high reward move if they can get him on a relatively inexpensive deal. The Avalanche should at least take a look at signing him.
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