Jonathan Drouin as a bargaining chip to acquire Gabriel Landeskog?
The relationship is reportedly strained between Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and Denver organization captain Gabriel Landeskog, as talks between the two sides for a contract extension have reportedly stalled in recent days.
With talented young players that will need to come to terms with the team like Cale Makar, the space under the salary cap is becoming increasingly tight to sign the captain. The loss of Landeskog on the free agent market could hurt the Colorado Avalanche greatly.
Would this be a golden opportunity for Marc Bergevin to lure Joe Sakic with Jonathan Drouin and future considerations?
One condition remains. Marc Bergevin must be guaranteed to sign Gabriel Landeskog to a contract extension. A discussion will have to take place between Bergevin and Landeskog's agent to know the captain's intentions. If he expresses interest in playing for a club that has reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, Marc Bergevin could make a deal that would fill a huge hole on the left side.
The CH has a big weakness at that position. With the arrival of Gabriel Landeskog, Dominique Ducharme would have an ideal candidate as a left winger to play with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. A strong and powerful forward who can win his battles in the offensive zone and occupy space in front of the net and disrupt the opponent. His leadership would be comparable to that of Corey Perry.
Jonathan Drouin does not have the best value, but his potential remains interesting for Joe Sakic with a more moderate salary. The latter also plays on the left flank. He could replace Landeskog alongside Nathan Mackinnon and Mikko Rantanen. His passing skills and his offensive flair are compatible with two players with different profiles. We remember his time with the Halifax Mooseheads with a certain Nathan Mackinnon. Both players won the Mastercard Memorial Cup against the Portland Winterhawks, Seth Jones' junior club.
For Marc Bergevin, this would be the addition of a veteran with incredible leadership. He would be the team's first left winger in the lineup. He would be the ideal partner for Suzuki and Caufield. It's a safe bet that a first-round draft pick would probably have to be added, but Landeskog's contractual situation can't explain sacrificing a first-round pick with no guarantees for the CH.
For Jonathan Drouin, a change of scenery outside the metropolis could also be beneficial. It's still unclear what happened to make him leave the team's entourage. It's nobody's business but his and the organization's, but one thing is certain, we must think of the individual before the player. If he is able to return to the game in a CH uniform in October, we hope the fans will support him.
| POLL | ||
Should the Habs trade Drouin for Landeskog? | ||
| Yes | 203 | 64.4 % |
| No | 112 | 35.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
