Joe Sakic has some tough decisions to make for the Avs this offseason

Now what? The Colorado Avalanche reached their goal and brought the Stanley Cup back to Denver, but there are many question marks for the future.

Unfortunately, winning comes with a price. Raising the Cup means players played up to and exceeded expectations, reaching career highs, and now will ask to be paid.

The draft and free agency will come up fast. Several tasks need to be addressed more quickly than the buzz from a few beverages out of Lord Stanley.

The title of the best player on the team for almost a decade has shifted hands. Cale Makar has taken the reigns from Nathan MacKinnon. The young defensemen won his first Norris Trophy for the best defensemen in the league, Conn Smythe for playoff MVP, and has catapulted himself into the top five of best players in the NHL.

Many could argue that Makar, Val Nichushkin, Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog were all more clutch during the playoff run than MacKinnon. If true, did MacKinnon establish himself enough to get a league-leading $100-million extension as the league’s highest-paid player?

MacKinnon struggled to accumulate points in the playoffs, even more so in the Final, but is still regarded as one of the elites in the world. The word struggle is a bit harsh to attach to MacKinnon, as he put up 24 points in 20 postseason games. However, the player in question did have moments of disappearing in key games.

Any team would welcome his talents, but now the Avs will have to answer the question about what price he is worth. The 26-year-old is approaching free agency after the 2022-23 season, one year left on a deal that averages a bargain price of $6.3 million per year. With such discounted price, it is hard to believe he would take a hometown discount. If I were his agent, I would seek an eight-year extension reaching nearly $13 million per year.

The decision and extension could technically be put off for another season. However, it’s hard to see the Avs trading their star center next spring if things go awry or letting him go for nothing after the season.

Many fans would say it is a no-brainer, and the front office may say the same or say they have no choice. The backlash for trading their elite center would not be light, but it could be the smartest thing to do. In some eyes, including mine, if the center is not the best player on the team, how could he get paid as the best in the league?

Having Makar, Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen all under contract to high end multi-year deals and to mention the Cup-winning goalie who needs a contract. Yikes. Joe Sakic’s hands will have to be shaking if he signs Darcy Kuemper to a six- to eight-year extension at $6 or $7 million per season.

Kadri’s name has been mentioned in NHL general managers’ war rooms probably thousands of times since he got drafted in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009.

Is he reliable, can he score regularly, have the right attitude, can he be trusted, and is a top-six forward on a Cup-winning team? With all the questions that have been asked and now addressed within two months, the narrative has changed. The question is, Could the Avalanche win without him?

He was originally taken seventh overall in a very good top 10. John Tavares, Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene, Evander Kane and Oliver Ekman-Larsson were the only ones ahead of Kadri. Several picks later, Colorado selected Ryan O’Reilly.

Kadri has been an asset to this Avs team since his arrival; it brings elements to the team it was missing in some grit and second-line scoring. In fact, it seems Kadri played well this season, scoring 28 goals and 59 assists, positioning himself to get a big payday as he becomes a free agent after the season. Without a playoff run, Kadri was headed out of Denver for a big payday. One, if not the most, top-tier talented team players are linked to long-term deals; the writing on the wall was that the end was near for Kadri in Colorado.

Kadri may have painted over that narrative with his performance and leadership. For the second year in a row, he proved his value and worth to his team and league.

In 2021, without Kadri, the Avs lost four straight playoff games to Vegas, going home prematurely in the second round. In 2022, Colorado Avalanche are champions. Could they have hoisted it without Kadri?

Makar was the Avs’ best player in round one. Kadri carried the team in round two. That’s probably an understatement. Kadri gave a memorable performance that many Colorado sports fans will be talking about for a long time. Kadri handled death threats and racist remarks representing the Colorado “A” with class and dignity, and by the way, scored three goals in a pivotal Game 4 against the Blues.

Can you walk away from Kadri now? I don’t think so. He is a significant part of the team and a fan favorite. Super Joe has some work to do.

If Colorado decides to keep Kadri, it will be great for the team and morale; however, it will cramp the budget. At 31 years of age, I would guess the Kadri camp would want one more big contract, increasing the difficulty on the salary cap, but I believe there is a way.

Five years at $8 million per year. The length of the contract would help Colorado, so he would be off the books by the time Cale Makar becomes the highest-paid player in NHL history in 2028. This looks like the best option for the Avs.

Here is how I see the offseason works out for the champions.

• Kadri takes the deal to stay. Five years at $8 million per year.

• Valeri Nichushkin has proven his value and must be signed, probably eight years at $6.5 million per year. A high price for a player who is not naturally a goal scorer, but a player that has become a 200-foot player. Zach Hayman is the salary cap comp.

• Sign Artturi Lehkonen. He was a great pick up for the Avs at the deadline from Montreal. He is versatile and can move up and down the lineup. Looking at four to five years at $4 million per. Robbi Fabbri is a good comp.

• Sign MacKinnon to an extension. The center has one more year, but locking him up to prevent the potential him from becoming a free agent. No hometown discount here. Eight years at $13 million per year. Comp is Connor McDavid at eight years, $12.5 million per.

• Sign a goalie. Hard to walk away from Kuemper now, and six years at $6.5 million would be the asking price. Not many options out there that don’t cost money.

• Trade Samuel Girard. Bowan Byram has arrived, and he is special, real special. Trading Girard isn’t a reflection of the player he is, but the fact of his cap hit and the value they can get in return. Byram and Devon Toews have proven to be top-minute men. Signing both Byram next summer and Toews in two years. If Erik Johnson decides to retire, which I doubt, Avs could keep onto Girard.

• Sign a depth defensemen. I don’t see a salary cap fit for Josh Manson even with the trade of Girard. Look for the Avs to sign a cheaper veteran option like Jack Johnson. I like Matthew Benning, Jan Rutta, Troy Stecher, Brett Kulak, and Mark Pysyk to fill the holes.

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