The Right Friend
by Cotts on Jul 5, 2011 4:37 PM MDT
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Every group of friends has that one person who is always around, but nobody really knows why. It's not that he's a bad guy, but it's not like he's a great guy. He's kinda just there, and he feels like all he is really doing is taking up space. You get in the car to go to a movie, and you're like whoa, when the hell did you get in the back seat?! You are having a party and he is drinking all of your beer. You see him everywhere. Where's waldo? Which of these is not like the other? Ugly duckling. You are the weakest link. You know who I'm talking about, and if you don't, well....
This may be one of the odder intros to any fanshot ever posted on this site, but it has a point. It has to do with the Avs and how they are building this team. Now i'm no Andy Sutton, but the more I think about it the more I like the trade to bring in Semyon "Voldemort" Varlamov. Why? Because he is the right goalie for this team (and he was scared of the local basketball team in his old city... the true reason he wanted out). He fits in with the age demographic of our core. He isn't an awkward friend. Thomas Vokoun woulda been taking up space. Instead we have a guy who is now just as much a part of the future plans as Duchene, Johnson, and O'Reilly. One of the guys. Part of the family. If you don't think hockey teams are families go watch "Miracle." Who knows what's in store for our current core, but I like that we are building a team that can stay together. Play together. No stopgap goalie and no waiting around for prospects. A draft pick next year makes little to no impact on this team in the near future. Trading 1st round picks isn't a good habit, but in this case it's worth it. We now have OUR team. OUR Avalanche. All these guys will enter their prime in the same window of opportunity. This is a fact that i think everybody is undervaluing, and is not an easy thing to do in professional sports. Having a helluva hockey team, with all of it's core players entering the prime of their careers at the same time. Well shit, I wouldn't trade a first round pick for that opportunity either...
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Absolutely. Now they just have to make it happen.
Another thought: If Varly is posting those numbers and is healthy then there is no way the Avs pry him loose for any price. You have to buy when the price is low and that means that you have to buy when there are issues or questions about a guy. There seems to be no question about his performance or whether he has the right attitude on the ice (off ice, maybe, but that seems more the agent than anything). So, there are questions about his health. It’s certainly a risk, but I don’t think it’s unwarranted.
I just wish they’d get a damn full-time goalie coach so they can help protect the investment. (That just makes no sense to me.)
I think part of the argument is the fact that the Avs had a chance to buy low, but didn’t. They bought high on something they could have bought low on. Or lower, at least. I like Varly. I’m glad he’s on the team. But it’s the cost that has us/me so riled up, mainly at Sherman. And where I agree that if Varly plays 60 games, posts numbers similar to what he has shown in his career, and helps the Avs to the play-offs, then nay-sayers such as myself will have to say that we had no idea what we were talking about when the trade was made. Until then, Sherman’s track record has left me with a feeling of suspicion.
Good post though. This trade… has caused more discussion over one event than over any other that I can remember on MHH. It’s become a polarizing event. The most frustrating thing about it is that we can’t see it play out immediately. We have to wait months. That’s a lot of time to ponder on if a trade is good or bad. That makes me anticipate the season that much more.
I think part of the argument is the fact that the Avs had a chance to buy low, but didn’t.
How do we know that they could have bought him lower (as fans)? An offer-sheet certainly doesn’t bring any guarantees with it. What if the Caps matched the offer? For all we know, the Avs did make the lower offers, but they were rejected.
You’re right, I don’t know for sure. And I know I’m not saying anything that hasn’t been said a thousand times already. I base that quoted statement on the reaction of the Caps’ GM, who was certainly pleased with the outcome. Also, the Avs have decided to pay Varly a starting goaltenders salary. Washington could/would not guarantee him that position, so why would they pay him a starting salary? Doesn’t fly in my mind.
* pleased with the timing
Americanario makes Journey reference. Tempestuous Binary listens to Don't Stop Believing. Milan Hejduk scores goal. You know what must be done. DSB Record: 1-3-0
"God I'm excited for those two to fail miserably." - SBNation writer Andrew Sharp on Josh McDaniels and Tim Tebow.
The Number Zero, aiming squarely for the groin.
by Tempestuous Binary on Jul 5, 2011 7:43 PM MDT up reply actions
Yeah, its certainly possible that they wouldn’t match, but still a risk. I think the avs felt that he was a great fit long-term, so they probably felt the price was right. And if goalies came that ready to play in the draft, they would go first overall pretty often.
by mcarson01 on Jul 5, 2011 8:08 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Let’s suppose that Varlamov signed a Colorado offer sheet. That constitutes an NHL contract, and takes the threat of KHL defection off the board. Varlamov is now worth more to WSH as a trading piece. Of course they’ll match because his value is now similar to Halak last year. Halak brought a first-round prospect and a roster player. It could be that Sherman took McPhee at his word that he’d match and made a fair offer to keep Varlamov off the open trading block. We know that both Florida and Phoenix were looking for starting goalies, and Edmonton was rumored to be looking.
It’s also possible that Varlamov would not have signed an offer sheet because it takes away his KHL leverage.
"It's all about the $"
Lawn defender since... crap, I can't remember.
It’s also possible that Varlamov would not have signed an offer sheet because it takes away his KHL leverage.
I agree, which is another reason why it was probably better for the Avs to trade instead.
It may have been their only choice to get a good young goalie.
"It's all about the $"
Lawn defender since... crap, I can't remember.
by Busted Twigg on Jul 5, 2011 10:48 PM MDT up reply actions
While I don’t think there are many who doubt the Capitals would have matched an offer sheet at the salary we signed him for, I am somewhat curious what would have happened if the contract had a cap hit of a mil more, where the compensation would have been a first and a third. Would Washington have matched a higher salary? Would it be worth it to keep the second? Its not like we can’t afford to overpay a player, but would doing so bite us in the ass when 85% of our team hits free agency next year?
by some white guy on Jul 6, 2011 8:45 AM MDT up reply actions
Very interesting… So, unless my math is wrong, that would be 3.8 mill/year. With that salary amount, I believe the unmatched compensation to the Caps would be a 1st and a 3rd. That’s interesting, because it’s not too far off of what we gave them. Maybe the Caps were arguing that’s the correct salary. And maybe the caps offered him that and were turned down, I don’t know. That sure does shed more light why we probably offered a 1st and a 2nd though, huh?
I think part of the argument is the fact that the Avs had a chance to buy low, but didn’t. They bought high on something they could have bought low on. Or lower, at least.
But they didn’t, apparently. That was the Caps price. Anything lower was going to be rejected and offer sheets were going to be matched. So, either Varly was going to remain a Cap or be in Russia. The option where he became an Av for less wasn’t there. The Caps knew he was worth $$$ and they were going to hold on to him to showcase him.
And the Caps say that they weren’t surprised by the amount they got for him, just that they were surprised it happened this year. In other words, the Caps were just surprised that someone else had noticed how good Varly is and was willing to pay retail for him.
All that tells me that Varlamov is good. The Caps weren’t willing to dump him for cheap because they thought a 1st and a 2nd was the least that they’d get if they showcased him more. Because of that, they were willing to match offers and put up with the KHL BS.
At this point Im willing to buy in to what you and much more reasonable persons than myself are saying, if for nothing else because I’m tired of being pissed. Sherman confuses me, yes, but Varly does look good as well. I’m on board. I think the Avs are a play-off team. For real.
The 23 Club
In order to be a member of the 23 Club you must:
A) Be 23-years-old
B) Have been / will be at the top of the depth chart for your position with the Avs
C) Have missed at least half a season with a major injury and be considered “injury prone”
So far, the club has four members – T.J. Galiardi, Peter Mueller, Erik Johnson and Semyon Varlamov. I’m curious to see if Sherman brings in any more.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
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