What’s missing is a gritty forward like Kyle Clifford (who signed with St. The Avs still need to get tougher, and meaner, this offseason - particularly because Zadorov provided those things, at times. Saad could also get plenty of minutes on the third line with J.T. Saad will slot in at left wing with first-line center Nathan MacKinnon and right winger Mikko Rantanen, or at either wing on Nazem Kadri’s line, with Andre Burakovsky or Valeri Nichushkin. They both are 6-foot-1 left-shot wingers who stand around 205 pounds. Saad, who turns 28 this month, has reached 20 goals five times.
The Avs probably exited the Hall sweepstakes Sunday because they already got a player of very similar ilk. Think of Saad as Taylor Hall, the formerly prized free-agent forward who signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Saad, who carries a $5 million cap hit (Chicago retained $1 million), can become an unrestricted free agent after next season, but the Avs are OK with that because they probably only want to pay him for one year - before proposed new contracts for Gabe Landeskog and Cale Makar kick in. Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menu
