By bringing back Nazem Kadri in trade, are the Avalanche selling out our future for the present?

— Shane, 5,280 and climbing

Kiz: Nazty brings an edge to a team 100% committed to a Cup-or-bust mentality. And the knuckleheads here at Kickin’ It Headquarters are here for it. So why do you have to go and rain a heavy dose of reality on our Kadri party? Well, because it’s merited. There better be urgency to this Avalanche championship quest, because based on my experience with how the Kroenke family does business, ownership will never hesitate to spend every dollar necessary to win a trophy, but will also trim resources from a team that fails to deliver.

It’s amazing how people take it so easy on the Avalanche. Even though the franchise has won three Stanley Cups, it felt like the first championship era left at least two on the table, and outside of one year, this era of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar seems scared of its own shadow, especially if the Avs play Dallas. Hope Colorado wins it all, though.

— Adrian, Denver

Kiz: If the Avs can’t win more than one championship with the generational talents of MacKinnon and Makar, it will be a crime of unfulfilled potential. Fans — and some of my media brethren — had a conniption fit in early 2025 when general manager Chris MacFarland revitalized a stale core by trading away Mikko Rantanen. This year, after MacFarland found a way to reacquire Kadri, the tune has changed, and I hear it’s now on the players to go win it all. But one person in this organization seems to always skate when Colorado falls short of reaching its potential. Am I to assume that coaching doesn’t matter to power-play effectiveness? Coaching plays no part in getting bounced from the opening round in two of the past three seasons? Is coaching irrelevant to holding a lead in Game 7 of a playoff series? Got it.

My wish list for Broncos’ free agency goes: linebacker Devin Lloyd, running back Kenneth Walker, then tight end Cade Otton. And I think the Broncos have the cap room to get it done.

— Lincoln, chopping up the keyboard

Kiz: NFL free agency isn’t about winning the headlines. It’s about winning the Super Bowl. So if you want clickbait choices for players the Broncos should target in free agency, you’ve come to the wrong place. Here are two names that intrigue me. No. 1: Linebacker Leo Chenal. We’ve all seen his work with the Chiefs. At age 25, his ability to read the pro game has improved, and underrate his ability to work sideline to sideline at your own risk. No. 2: Running back Rico Dowdle. Yes, he turns 28 years old in June. But here’s the deal. Despite rushing for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for the Cowboys and Panthers, Dowdle has carried the rock under 600 times as a pro.

And today’s parting shot addresses the Titanic-sized mess facing Captain Prime and the CU football program.

This ship is already sinking, with Jack and Rose hanging on the stern.

— M.M., movie buff