In 2022, the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche had a huge free agency question to answer: re-sign center Nazem Kadri or re-sign winger Valeri Nichushkin. Both star players were highly effective in the playoff run to the Cup. Both players were top targets on the free agency market. And both players were a key piece for the top six in complementing star players Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and captain Gabriel Landeskog.
So, the Avalanche decided to sign Nichushkin, while Kadri signed in Calgary. I wanted them to sign Nichushkin, as I felt (and still do) that he is the piece that makes the top-six really click.