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http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2010/01/13/svatos-on-the-block/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dp-blogs-avalanche+%28Denver+Post%3A+Sports%3A+Avalanche%3A+Blog%29
Talking to some sources around the league of late, and one thing has been brought to my attention: Marek Svatos is definitely available at a decent offer. Maybe just an OK offer. He’s a guy in the last year of his contract, making pretty good money, who isn’t playing right now and wants to play. So this is no huge scoop, but there are some talks going on between the Avs and a few teams with some interest.
His groin injury has healed and he’ll available to play this weekend, by the way. But back to the news at hand: yes, Svatos is available and yes, some teams are, as one good source put it “intrigued.” But probably not intrigued enough to offer much better than a mid-round draft pick. Maybe a third-rounder at best.
You’re just not going to get a whole lot for a guy who can be an unrestricted free agent this summer, who has been hurt lately and was only getting scant minutes before he got hurt. But Svatos does still have two seasons on his resume where he scored 32 and 26 goals, so there’s where your “intrigued” comes into play.
The only way the Avs get more for Svatos is if he comes back this weekend and starts putting the puck in the net at a rapid rate, or he’s packaged with another player or prospect or both, as part of a larger deal.
Right now, it’s not even for sure Svatos will even be in the lineup if he is healthy. Brandon Yip has grabbed a roster spot, it appears, for good and there wouldn’t seem to be any way Joe Sacco puts Svatos anywhere on his top three lines. And putting Svats on the fourth line is probably just a waste of time for him and the team. Hence, a change of scenery probably would be best for both sides right now, where the Avs can get a little something for a guy who isn’t even in their plans right now, and Svats gets a chance to play somewhere else for a possible contender.
Where could Svatos go? I’ve heard Toronto and Ottawa have inquired. Maybe Boston too.
One tough question if you’re Greg Sherman is: do I really want to give up Svatos for a middle draft pick, when he could still be a decent insurance guy in case, say, a Milan Hejduk or other top forward goes down with an injury? Having a guy who scored 32 goals only a few years ago is some pretty decent insurance. It’s a tough call either way. But Svatos started to fall out of favor with Sacco, or so it seemed. His minutes were going down, and he was playing at times on the fourth line, without much success.
Just because trade possibilities are discussed between GMs doesn’t mean they’ll happen, of course. My ultimate take is this: the Avs will hold onto Svatos to close to the March 3 deadline. If injuries happen by then, they can turn to him for some relief. If everybody is healthy and guys like Yip are still ahead of him on the depth chart, they’ll give him away for a song.
I've always liked him a lot, thought he had a ton of skill. A little small, but...consider him Ryan Shannon with a lot more skill.
Talking to some sources around the league of late, and one thing has been brought to my attention: Marek Svatos is definitely available at a decent offer. Maybe just an OK offer. He’s a guy in the last year of his contract, making pretty good money, who isn’t playing right now and wants to play. So this is no huge scoop, but there are some talks going on between the Avs and a few teams with some interest.
His groin injury has healed and he’ll available to play this weekend, by the way. But back to the news at hand: yes, Svatos is available and yes, some teams are, as one good source put it “intrigued.” But probably not intrigued enough to offer much better than a mid-round draft pick. Maybe a third-rounder at best.
You’re just not going to get a whole lot for a guy who can be an unrestricted free agent this summer, who has been hurt lately and was only getting scant minutes before he got hurt. But Svatos does still have two seasons on his resume where he scored 32 and 26 goals, so there’s where your “intrigued” comes into play.
The only way the Avs get more for Svatos is if he comes back this weekend and starts putting the puck in the net at a rapid rate, or he’s packaged with another player or prospect or both, as part of a larger deal.
Right now, it’s not even for sure Svatos will even be in the lineup if he is healthy. Brandon Yip has grabbed a roster spot, it appears, for good and there wouldn’t seem to be any way Joe Sacco puts Svatos anywhere on his top three lines. And putting Svats on the fourth line is probably just a waste of time for him and the team. Hence, a change of scenery probably would be best for both sides right now, where the Avs can get a little something for a guy who isn’t even in their plans right now, and Svats gets a chance to play somewhere else for a possible contender.
Where could Svatos go? I’ve heard Toronto and Ottawa have inquired. Maybe Boston too.
One tough question if you’re Greg Sherman is: do I really want to give up Svatos for a middle draft pick, when he could still be a decent insurance guy in case, say, a Milan Hejduk or other top forward goes down with an injury? Having a guy who scored 32 goals only a few years ago is some pretty decent insurance. It’s a tough call either way. But Svatos started to fall out of favor with Sacco, or so it seemed. His minutes were going down, and he was playing at times on the fourth line, without much success.
Just because trade possibilities are discussed between GMs doesn’t mean they’ll happen, of course. My ultimate take is this: the Avs will hold onto Svatos to close to the March 3 deadline. If injuries happen by then, they can turn to him for some relief. If everybody is healthy and guys like Yip are still ahead of him on the depth chart, they’ll give him away for a song.
I've always liked him a lot, thought he had a ton of skill. A little small, but...consider him Ryan Shannon with a lot more skill.
Yikes.
