A potential issue arises between the Avalanche and a top-4 defenseman

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Mike Armenti
October 1, 2023 (11:09)

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There's no question that hockey players have a shelf life in the NHL. The list of truly effective players over the age of 30 isn't a very large one. When a player enters his 30's, he is viewed as exiting his prime years. There aren't many players who remain productive into their mid-late 30's, so long-term deals for 30-year-olds tend to be pretty rare.

The Colorado Avalanche have spoils of riches within the organization, especially on the blueline. Devon Toews, who turns 30 in February, was a topic of conversation on the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast, where Elliotte Friedman recounted something potentially problematic for the Avs:

Someone said to me they really believe that the number here that is the problem in this negotiation is 30, and that is what (Devon) Toews will turn in February they think the Avalanche, who are a really smart organization, don't want to go long-term.

Toews is one of the best two-way defensemen in the National Hockey League, make no mistake about it. The Avalanche likely don't win a Stanley Cup in 2022 if not for the presence of Devon Toews. He's an important player for them and, from all accounts, he loves being a member of the Colorado Avalanche.

The question here is how much does the team love him and how much does he love the team? Because if both sides want to maintain their partnership moving forward, the player is going to have to sacrifice something in the way of salary or term and the team will have to do the same. In other words, if Toews wants a long-term deal, he's going to have to come to terms with the fact that the salary will be well below the market value. If the team doesn't want to commit term to a 30-year-old asset, they may have to make it worth his while financially to entice him to stay.