2. Michael Grabner
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs Age: 28 Status: UFA
2015-2016 stats: GP: 80 G: 9 A: 9 P: 19 +/-: -4 PIM: 12
Grabner does not have the numbers to justify being this high on the list. His one 30-goal season was an aberration. In fact, since that season in 2010-2011, he has never scored more than 20. The reason that he is this high is that, in theory, he is a perfect fit for the Avalanche systematically.
Grabner has blazing speed, rivaling even that of Duchene and MacKinnon. He also has good finish in transition. Where he struggles is when his team is set up in the offensive zone.
Most importantly, Grabner is sound defensively and excels on the penalty kill. Don’t let the minus-4 rating from last season fool you, it could have been much worse on a terrible Toronto Maple Leafs team. He has great stick skills and a penchant for creating turnovers. This also makes him a weapon offensively when his team is shorthanded, as he has shown the keen ability to put the puck in the net on the penalty kill.
This is another more affordable option for the Avalanche, which could be a large selling point considering the restricted free agents they have to sign this summer. If any team could maximize Grabner’s talent, in theory, it should be the Avs.
Estimated cost: $2.5-3.5 million per season.
