The Colorado Avalanche are in need of some help in free agency this year, and while we like the splashy signings and whatnot, that simply just isn’t an option for the team. After re-signing Brock Nelson to a deal that averages $7.5 million a year, the team has just $1.2 million. I fully expect there to be another trade or two to create cap space. In fact, it’s a certainty given the number of roster spots the team has to fill.
Their list of unrestricted free agents includes Jonathan Drouin, Jimmy Vesey, Joel Kiviranta, Erik Johnson, and Ryan Lindgren.
The team has to go shopping. They need to find some inexpensive gems if they want to compete further than they did this past postseason. That’s obviously the goal. You’re not going to be able to sign someone like Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers, who would be considered dream free agent signings.
It’s almost a certainty that Drouin is going to be gone. If/when that happens, there will have to be some depth chart shuffling. Could we see someone like Martin Necas get moved, getting rid of his $6.5 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons. Perhaps we could get a player and a draft pick due to the move being a salary dump.
That leads me to a player I have in mind for the team to sign in free agency.
This Golden Knights winger could be good depth for Avalanche
There is always a chance of a player not working out. That’s where this situation benefits the Avalanche. They can’t sign anyone to a big contract, so they have to go with the bargains.
Vegas Golden Knights left wing Tanner Pearson is the player I have in mind. This past season, he signed a one-year, $775k deal. He put up 12 goals and 15 assists this season in 78 games. He also had 96 hits, the most hits he’s had in a season since 2019, when he had 96, too. From 2015-18, Pearson had over 100 hits each year.
I’m a big fan of players who have no problem getting in the nasty work on the ice. Parker Kelly was that player for the Avalanche last year, as he led the team in hits with 161. Kelly was an example of a physical player who didn’t necessarily put up the great numbers (eight goals, 11 assists), but not every player’s job is to score. When you do get depth scoring, that’s great. I wouldn’t be surprised if we did get that from Pearson.
Pearson could have a very important role on this Avalanche team. It’ll be up to them to sell him on making Colorado his home despite not getting a high-AAV contract.