Final Grade: Kyle Cumiskey

Too high. A C- is barely below average, and Cumiskey was well below average all year. Even before his injuries. This is one problem I had with Sacco as well, every time Cumiskey came back he was given numerous chances, even though he wasn’t deserving of them.

How many games is the threshold for above an INC?

That’s some grade inflation, IMO. I was with you on Dutchy, but this seems high. The only thing in his favor is that he had >1 SOG/game and ~.5 PPG, but those were the days that the Avs were winning (and scoring boatloads of goals) and he was still -3. He was part of the problem.

Cumiskey is in no position to barter for no money. I say they should re-sign him at a low price and then use him as trade bait.

I’m guessing Cumiskey won’t be re-signed by the Avs. I just don’t see where he has a place on the Avs, given our current roster of NHL D-men and Elliot/Barrie coming out of Junior. His speed is amazing but that’s about all he has. And we just never saw the offensive touch from Cumiskey that many anticipated from him. I remember seeing posts that he was going to replace Liles, but that didn’t happen. Cumiskey is young and may develop further but I doubt he is durable enough to stay long term in the NHL. And with our D-prospects filling the LEM roster Cumiskey is not needed there either.

I had, for the majority of the year, expected Cumiskey to be let go during this offseason. He just seemed like too much of a risk, health-wise, and fairly obsolete speed-wise. I just figured that it would be time for us and him to part ways. He could get healthy, and signed on his own time, and we would relieve some of the logjam.

Now, however, I think they will tender him an offer. Mostly because, well, it doesn’t hurt the Avs in any way. If we really do have another year [or two] in this rebuild, we aren’t going to be hurrying as much as if we were making a playoff push this year. We can sign him [which, incidentally, helps us reach the cap floor], let him recover on his own time, and trade him off at the deadline. He may not be ‘stealing’ anyone’s ice time at all. If Elliott and possibly Holos start in the AHL, there would be room for him while the other guys are still gaining experience, albeit at a different level. He won’t be under any pressure to recover faster, he will be able to regain his confidence, and build that speed back up, which is his only real asset.

When he was the fastest skater on the team and one of the fastest in the NHL, we drooled over his potential and his value. Some of that is still there, and signing him to a cheap contract from his RFA might be worth it just for the possibility that we can get a second or, more likely, third rounder out of an eastern team that hungers for speed. And if he doesn’t recover quickly? Well, the Avs didn’t lose anything besides a little money, and the contract will help them inch toward the cap floor. He might even help bolster the Monster’s roster, giving them a good edge this year.

Spezza scores 1-0 for Canada.

Too damn high. D at best.