They say that defense wins championships. Without an adequate defense, it’s hard to even make the playoffs. Just ask the Colorado Avalanche.
Last season, poor defensive zone play proved to be the Achilles heel of the Avalanche. General manager Joe Sakic made it very clear that addressing the blueline is a top priority for the team this offseason.
That being said, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Avalanche will address the position through free agency. The Avalanche have five defensemen on one-way contracts (though Brad Stuart’s career is likely over). Another two (Chris Bigras and Nikita Zadorov) are on two-ways, but Sakic stated he expects both to be on the team next season). Finally, Tyson Barrie is a restricted free agent, who will almost certainly be retained if he is not traded (a trade that would likely see a defenseman come back to Colorado). So, barring a trade, the Avalanche have a minimum of six and up to eight spots on their blueline spoken for.
That doesn’t mean that they will not be active, as the team has been known to stash one-way contracts in the minors. The Avalanche also like to carry eight defensemen on their roster, meaning that adding at least one is likely; just don’t expect them to completely reshape their blueline in free agency.
In theory, the Avalanche could use help on both the left and right side. On the left, François Beauchemin is the only proven performer capable of playing in their top-four; though they do have several young players with potential. Any major addition on the right side is likely tied to the status of Tyson Barrie. If he is retained, then they may only be in the market for a depth player.
This year’s crop of free agent defensemen is actually relatively deep. As such, these are far from the only names the Avalanche should, and will, consider. Here are five players that would make sense for the burgundy and blue.
5. Luke Schenn
Team: Los Angeles Kings Age: 26 Status: UFA
2015-2016 stats: GP: 72 G: 4 A: 12 P: 16 +/-: -2 PIM: 82
Luke Schenn is likely the type of player the Avalanche could potentially add on the right side, should they keep Tyson Barrie. He’s not flashy, but he wouldn’t need to be on the third pairing. He would simply need to be dependable.
Schenn is big, physical and loves to block shots. Most importantly for the Avalanche, he is also sound positionally and is not turnover-prone. He may have never realized the potential he had as a highly-touted prospect, but he is a solid d-man and is young enough that it is possible that he still could.
Considering he has reached UFA status at the tender age of 26, and that the defensman market is stronger on the left side, there might be some interest in Schenn. Still, even if the price gets inflated some, he is not someone you would have to break the bank to sign.
Estimated cost: $3.25-4.25 million per season.
4. John-Michael Liles
Team: Boston Bruins Age: 35 Status: UFA
2015-2016 stats: GP: 81 G: 6 A: 15 P: 21 +/-: -10 PIM: 18
Avalanche GM Joe Sakic has said he doesn’t want to add older players on long-term contracts, but Liles could make sense on a short-term deal. The Avs could use a puck-mover on the left side, and he could be a good mentor to younger players like Bigras and Zadorov.
Though not the player he once was, Liles is still a solid transitional defenseman. He can still skate decently well and has a good first pass. He would likely be comfortable in a third-pairing role with some powerplay time.
A popular player during his first stint in Colorado, the addition of Liles would likely be well accepted by a fanbase that expects more than they have been getting in the past couple of years. It also would allow the Avalanche to allocate financial resources elsewhere.
Estimated cost: $2.25-3.25 million per season.
3. Ben Lovejoy
2015-2016 stats: GP: 66 G: 4 A: 10 P: 14 +/-: 6 PIM: 24
On Sunday, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. Lovejoy has been great all postseason, but must be especially commended for his play after Trevor Daley was lost to injury. As such, he will likely be a sought after name this summer. That being said, he is a player that teams must be careful not to overvalue.
Lovejoy is playing in Pittsburgh’s top-four and looking very good while doing it. Over the course of his entire career, however, he has been more of a reliable third-pairing guy. He isn’t overly physical but has good positioning and is very capable in transition. He is a very smart, well-respected player, but if you ever watched before this postseason, he didn’t have any attributes that really stood out.
For the right price, Lovejoy would be a great addition for the Avalanche. Unfortunately, that price will likely be inflated. If he continues to play at his current level, he might be worth it, but Lovejoy has all the makings of a player who cashed in on a great playoff performance, only to fail to live up to the expectations that came with a large contract.
Estimated cost: $3.75-4.75 million per season.
2. Jason Demers
Team: Dallas Stars Age: 28 Status: UFA
2015-2016 stats: GP: 62 G: 7 A: 16 P: 23 +/-: 16 PIM: 72
Demers has a lot of qualities to like in a defenseman. He’s got decent size, he’s physical, he’s mobile, he’s got good instincts at both ends and he has a mean streak.
For the Avalanche, Demers’ skills in transition (including a good first pass) would make him an asset offensively; his positioning and physicality would do the same defensively. He also makes a great first pass and has a good point shot. Head coach Patrick Roy has an affinity for players that came from the QMJHL, which also works in Demers’ favor.
A right-handed shot, there is not currently room for Demers in the Avalanche’s top-four. Still, he would merit a lot of consideration should a spot open up. Consider him a really good Tyson Barrie contingency plan.
Estimated cost: $4-5 million per season.
1. Tyson Barrie
Team: Colorado Avalanche Age: 24 Status: RFA
2015-2016 stats: GP: 78 G: 13 A: 36 P: 49 +/-: -16 PIM: 31
What to do with Tyson Barrie? That is the (several) million-dollar question in Colorado. Their preference is likely to keep him, but only at the right price.
Unfortunately, that price is somewhat hard to determine. On one hand, he is an elite puck-moving defenseman, who can fly and might have the best wrist shot on the Avalanche since Joe Sakic. On the other hand, he plays with reckless abandon, and is a liability in his own end.
Personally, I feel teams need a defenseman like Barrie to jumpstart the offensive attack from the back end. There is also a chance, he will grow into a more responsible defender, as he is only 24.
The Avalanche have also invested heavily in Barrie. Though the financial commitment hasn’t been too significant thus far (he had a cap hit of $2.6 million last season), they did trade Kevin Shattenkirk and Stefan Elliott due, in large part, to his presence in the system.
Complicating the situation is the fact that Barrie is eligible for arbitration. The Avalanche hate the arbitration process, and are likely to either overpay slightly to sign him or simply trade him to avoid it. They should be leery, however, of overpaying too much.
Estimated cost: $4.5-5.5 million per season.