Islanders: Devon Toews Signs Huge Contract With Avalanche

Former Islanders defenseman Devon Toews got paid handsomely by the Colorado Avalanche. We’re starting to see why Lamoriello pulled the trigger.

Remember two weeks ago when Devon Toews was traded and insanity ensued? Well, today we found out the reason why Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders traded Toews to the Colorado Avalanche.

Toews signed a four-year $16.4 million ($4.1 million AAV) deal. There is no way in hell the Islanders could’ve paid him that much money. $3 million against the cap? Sure, that would make sense but $4.1 would’ve been impossible for Lou.

In year three and four for Toews’ deal, the money really begins to come in. He’s due $4.6 million and $5.9 million in the last two years making that contract nearly impossible to trade, not that Colorado would be looking to do that necessarily but still, it’s big money for someone with just 116 games under his belt.

My feelings remain the same as it did two weeks ago, I like Devon Toews he’s a fine second pairing d-man but you can’t give him that much money, not in this tight of a cap situation over the next couple of years.

Last year, Toews averaged 20:31 per game with 28 points (6 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games played. In a full season, that’s 34 points over a full 82 game season.

He’ll fit in nicely with Colorado, there’s no doubt about that but as it goes for Lamoriello, I think he made the right decision to get two seconds out of Colorado. We needed more context before judging the deal, and today we got our answer.

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As it stands now, the Isles have $8.9 million in cap space to sign Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock. Lamoriello still has more work to do, but I think it’s time that we put to bed the take that Lou was fleeced in this deal.