Devon Toews on new Avs contract: Status quo, no concerns

Devon Toews has received votes for the Norris Trophy each of the past three seasons, finishing an average of 11th in the balloting — 11th in 2021, eighth in 2022 and 14th in 2023.

That’s about as clear-cut as an argument gets — Toews is one of the best defensemen in the sport. He’s also one season away from potentially being an unrestricted free agent, and players at his level are rarely seen on the open market.

Toews said at media day before training camp began that his intention is spend the rest of his career in Denver. He also said he’d rather that negotiations not drag into the regular season.

Well, the regular season is one week away. Are there any updates on the situation?

“Nothing, still the same status,” Toews said.

Is he disappointed in a lack of progress?

“No. It’s just the business,” he said. “It will move as it moves.”

Toews didn’t want to divulge any details beyond that. He says he is not worried about it. His coach says he is not worried about it. A sampling of his teammates drew a similar reaction.

“I think it would depend on the player,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said on how he handles this type of looming scenario. “I stay out of the contract stuff. That’s not my job. But knowing (Toews’) character and the way he is and how invested he is in our team, he’s going to play hard and he’s going to be optimistic that something gets done. We’re optimistic that something is going to get done. He knows we want him. He wants to stay.

“I wish it were already done, but it’s not. I think the focus is just one going out and playing and having a good year. I think it’ll sort itself out sooner or later. It often takes more time than you’d like as a coach.”

Toews can be a No. 1 defenseman in this league. Three consecutive finishes in the Norris voting is a testament to that.

He can’t be the No. 1 defenseman in Colorado unless the guy he plays next to is not here. And Cale Makar, with a Norris Trophy and a Conn Smythe Trophy on his resume, isn’t going anywhere.

That could matter to some players. It might matter a little to Toews, but he says not nearly enough to want anything other than playing here in the future.

“Winning is important,” Toews said. “That’s something I’ve always strived for in my career is helping teams win and being on winning teams. With winning comes happiness a lot of times. I’m not saying players aren’t happy on teams that aren’t doing as well, but when you have the ability to play on a winning team, it definitely makes sense. My family and I love it here, so that also factors into it.”

The Avalanche certainly have long-term salary cap concerns. They are going to be over the cap ceiling this year, using a provision that allows them to put Gabriel Landeskog’s $7 million on long-term injured reserve and use that space on other players.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday the preliminary projection is for the cap ceiling to rise from $83.5 this year to the $87 million-88 million range for 2024-25. Toews is at $4.1 million in the final year of his contract and can easily ask for double that or more from the Avs. If the ceiling does begin to rise again on an annual basis like it did for much of the salary cap era before the COVID-19 pandemic, that would be a huge boon for the Avs’ attempts to keep as many key players as possible.

There are 10 defensemen set to count $9 million or more against the cap this season in the NHL, and 17 at $8 million or better. Toews is better than some of the guys in the top 10, let alone the top 17. And most of those guys signed a contract without reaching the open market, where teams would scramble to open cap space and make the best pitch possible for why Toews can be the No. 1 guy on their clubs.

But if the Avalanche and Toews’ representation can find a deal that works for both sides, making him part of a long-term core with Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen would cement Colorado as an annual Stanley Cup contender for years to come.

“I’m not surprised (Toews wants to stay),” Avs defenseman Jack Johnson said. “Number one, it’s a great city to be in, and it’s a great team. We love our coaching staff, management, the people we deal with every day. It’s a tight-knit group. We’ve got a pretty big bond together, especially the guys that have been here for a couple years. There’s also a point where how much is enough versus have a chance to win year in and year out.

“These are all personal decisions, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he wants to stay. He’s not lying, or giving a political statement. I’m sure he does.”

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Devon Toews on new Avs contract: Status quo, no concerns

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