Question from Joe Cerwinske<\/p>\n
Sam Malinski has become one of my favorite Avs, showing constant growth to the point he could be a 20+ minute a game d-man as early as this season. At this point, what do you think the team\u2019s plan is for him? I would say he\u2019s earned a long-term extension but I wonder if the front office can afford him as his value increases. As such \u2013 and because of our imbalance of right-shot defensemen \u2013 he would also seem to be a prime trade asset, with a great deal of value.<\/p>\n
So, do you think the Avs will extend or trade him before the season is up, or do they let him get to UFA? And if the plan is to trade him, what sort of return \u2013 or what specific player targets \u2013 do you think he could yield?<\/p>\n
Aarif\u2019s Response<\/p>\n
What was always difficult about assessing Malinski\u2019s future with the team, at least to me, was how similar he is to Cale Makar. And how the Avs also have Samuel Girard and Devon Toews under contract, and you\u2019d be paying too many guys a boatload of salary with little room for the added size element that Josh Manson brings. It\u2019s very reminisicent of Bowen Byram<\/p>\n
But things feel a little different this year, largely because of Malinski\u2019s growth and the willingness for Manson to play on the left with Brent Burns, and do it well. Burns is here now, but will he be next year? If not, I see no issue with Colorado re-signing Malinski and rolling with Makar, Manson, and Malinski in some kind of order on the right side next season.<\/p>\n
Say Malinski gets three years at $3.75 million. You\u2019d probably have to trade Girard because you already have Manson at $3.95 and Toews at $7.25 with Makar a year away from possibly doubling his salary. I know trading Girard has sort of become a meme at this point, but if you\u2019re signing Malinski, it\u2019s probably to be a puckmover making less than Girard. And then it gives you an opportunity to rework the left side after Toews by possibly adding two more bigger bodies.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d have some value on the trade market, but it\u2019s hard to say precisely how much. It\u2019ll be determined by how the market shakes out over the next handful of months. If a handful of contenders are in dire need of a depth defenseman, then his value will rise. But I also don\u2019t know if the Avs trade him for something that doesn\u2019t help them right now. Basically, unless he\u2019s part of a package for a bigger name player, I think they\u2019ll be fine letting him walk as a UFA after using him as an own rental.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the scenario I can see playing out if they don\u2019t re-sign him.<\/p>\n
Question from San Zimmerer<\/p>\n
Question from Sasha Landprecht<\/p>\n
Aarif\u2019s Response<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been stuck trying to guess if or when they\u2019d trade Girard in the past, and I\u2019ve always been wrong. Let\u2019s give it another shot.<\/p>\n
If Girard gets healthy and their main six defensemen start to click, I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll get traded, at least not before the offseason.<\/p>\n
But if Girard comes back and struggles with Malinski, which then requires splitting up Burns and Manson, and then your entire bottom four starts to struggle? Then yes, I can see a change happening with either him or Malinski.<\/p>\n
Question from Jonesy<\/p>\n
Question from ourpetsheadsarefallingoff<\/p>\n
That is, of course, unless you\u2019re doing a money-in for money-out deal and you end up trading a depth winger to acquire a center.<\/p>\n
Question from Joe Murphy<\/p>\n
Question from Jean Boijoly<\/p>\n
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