As the NHL offseason heats up, teams are navigating the salary cap landscape. While some teams are in a precarious position, the Colorado Avalanche are particularly feeling the squeeze. With 11 forwards, 5 defensemen, and 2 goalies under contract, their current cap space stands at a mere $300,000.
The situation is further complicated by the uncertain status of captain Gabriel Landeskog and forward Valerie Nichushkin. Landeskog may be placed on long-term injured reserve, freeing up $7 million in cap space, while Nichushkin's situation is unclear due to his participation in the players' assistance program.
If the season were to start tomorrow, the Avalanche would be in trouble, needing to sign additional players to fill out their roster. However, with approximately 90 days before the puck drops, General Mana Chris MacFarland has time to work out a solution. A trade may be necessary to alleviate the cap crunch, but fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the Avalanche will likely look different on opening night than they do today.
With some creative maneuvering and clarification on the status of Landeskog and Nichushkin, the Avalanche can navigate this challenging situation. While the next few weeks will be crucial, the team has time to make the necessary adjustments to ensure they're competitive come opening night.
