By Jordan Long
The Colorado Avalanche are trying to work out a deal for Captain Gabriel Landeskog before free agency starts on July 28th. Both sides are talking, but they are far apart on a contract. It is still early in the process and a new agreement can get done. If not Landeskog will be a free agent.
The Avalanche know how valuable Landeskog is to the team. He has played for Colorado past 10 years. Landeskog, at least in the regular season, has shown he is one of the top players on the team. He has scored 218 goals and added 294 assists for 512 points. It helps that he centers the line of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen and they have become one of the best lines in hockey. Landeskog can skate the puck in and either find them open or he takes the shot creating rebounds or chances for the line to score. They can all put the puck in the back of the net.
The Avalanche know they would like to keep Landeskog but have other players to sign first. They must reach a deal with defenseman Cale Makar who is a restricted free agent. Once that is done, Colorado can focus on Philipp Grubauer and Landeskog. They want to make Landeskog and Maker priorities.
According to msn.com, Landeskog said, “I can’t help but be honest with you that I’m a little bit disappointed that it’s gotten this far and it’s had to come to this point. If it was up to me, I would have liked it to be done eight months ago, 10 months ago.”
If Landeskog really wanted a new deal done, then he is not communicating with his agent. He should voice how he feels. Landeskog has to understand the agent works for him and should be trying to reach the best deal for him. Landeskog should take negations into his own hands and talk to Sakic which would at least help the process. Landeskog is probably only getting the agents’ side and not the Colorado side.
The best case is Colorado agrees to a new contract. Landeskog already said he will not take a hometown discount to stay with a team who might have the best chance to win the Cup next year. It might cost Colorado possibly $7 million which Colorado could take on depending on what other moves they do. If not, Landeskog will be a free agent.
The Avalanche could replace him with free agents including David Krejci and Paul Stastny among others. Krejci is the name Colorado should target if they can’t agree to a contract with Landeskog. He can handle being a first or second line center. His speed allows him to create scoring opportunities in the offensive zone. He may not score that many goals with 8 last year but he can still find his teammates to lite the lamp with 36 assists.
Stastny would be a perfect fit for Colorado as a 3rd line Center. Even if Landeskog stays, Colorado may want to add depth to the center position. Stastny makes sense. He played for Colorado from 2006 to 2014. He also played his college hockey with the University of Denver from 2004 to 2006. It would be a homecoming for him.
Colorado will still try to work out a new contract with Landeskog. It could take time. They have almost two weeks. The worst case is Colorado dives into the free agent market to replace him. This also means another player will be the captain next year. Hopefully, this all gets worked out and Landeskog stays in Colorado for years to come.
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