Line Combos: 2019-2020 Colorado Avalanche

[Pokecheque]

Graves is better than Connauton and Barberio. But I'm guessing the coaches won't agree with that.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

I have a hard time seeing Byram sticking all year. It’s tough to play as an 18 year old, and I dont think he’d get the PP time he needs to keep developing. Maybe the 9 game tryout but send him back for another year.

 

[Pokecheque]

I have a hard time seeing Byram sticking all year. It’s tough to play as an 18 year old, and I dont think he’d get the PP time he needs to keep developing. Maybe the 9 game tryout but send him back for another year.

He'll get the 9 games for sure, but I wouldn't rule out them keeping him past that and then taking another look before he hits 40 games. The ELC kicks in, but there are possible advantages for not letting it slide and still sending him down.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Graves is better than Connauton and Barberio. But I'm guessing the coaches won't agree with that.

On what basis? His 25 career games he played this year for us? He had a couple of good shots and that’s pretty much it. Not very physical for his size at 6’5” and doesn’t skate or move the puck all that well.

Connauton is a legit NHL defenseman. He has over 300 games of NHL experience and is a year removed from an 11 goal season himself.

I would be shocked to see any of the Barberio/Rosen/Graves/MacDonald camp play ahead of him.

I have a hard time seeing Byram sticking all year. It’s tough to play as an 18 year old, and I dont think he’d get the PP time he needs to keep developing. Maybe the 9 game tryout but send him back for another year.

Agreed. He will get his 9 and then it’s time for WJC and Mem Cup runs for the season.

 

[Pokecheque]

On what basis? His 25 career games he played this year for us? He had a couple of good shots and that’s pretty much it. Not very physical for his size at 6’5” and doesn’t skate or move the puck all that well.

Connauton is a legit NHL defenseman. He has over 300 games of NHL experience and is a year removed from an 11 goal season himself.

I would be shocked to see any of the Barberio/Rosen/Graves/MacDonald camp play ahead of him.

I get it, it's a small sample size and there are big holes in his game. He's a third-pairing guy for sure. But I think he moves the puck just fine, and there were no mobility issues I could see. He was effective on the PK and he sports a great shot from the point. I just think for a 6/7 guy he's fantastic value. Yes, I know he took huge chances and luckily didn't really get burned last season. But I think there's something there the Avs should hold onto for now, move on from some of these older and more expensive guys.

I'd say all things being equal that among these journeymen, Barberio is by far the best. Moves the puck very well, and apparently chipping the puck over the opposition and out of danger is a much harder thing to do than I thought because he's a master at it, whereas Zadorov tried it in the postseason and promptly turned it over for a goal. BUT...he's also capable of the odd WTF game and he simply gets injured too often. Connauton is...whatever, I'm just not a fan.

But I'm under no illusion that Bednar is going to play Graves above those guys.

 

[MarkT]

But I'm under no illusion that Bednar is going to play Graves above those guys.

I'm mildly hopeful. They did go 7 specifically so they could keep Graves on the roster. Granted the alternatives were guys like Dries, Bork and Ghetto, but it at least means Bednar doesn't absolutely hate Graves, right...?

 

[ABasin]

It will likely start like:

Landy-MacK-Rants
Jost-Kadri-Burakovsky
Wilson-Compher-Donskoi
Calvert-Bellemare-Nieto
Kamenev

Girard-Makar
Connauton-EJ
Byram-Z
Barbario
Rosen

Grubs
Frank

Exactly matches the lines I think will transpire, though I don't know that Girard-Makar would be a pairing. Maybe swap Makar-EJ/Connauton-Zadorov.

 

[Pokecheque]

I'm mildly hopeful. They did go 7 specifically so they could keep Graves on the roster. Granted the alternatives were guys like Dries, Bork and Ghetto, but it at least means Bednar doesn't absolutely hate Graves, right...?

No, I don't think he does. Honestly, the only player he really just doesn't seem to like in the organization is A.J. Greer. He can be hard on Zadorov but I think that's because Zads is one of those players you just have to keep an eye on if you're a coach.

I've lauded Bednar in the past for going against the coaching grain, maybe he'll do it again, but I doubt it.

 

[CobraAcesS]

I don't think Sakic is out to lunch on anything Avs. He might do stuff that I don't like. But not for a moment do I think he doesn't have a clue about the team

That wasn't really a serious comment. Well.. It kind of was though lol. I never trust where Sakic says a player will play unless it is extremely obvious. Bednar always gives it plenty of lip service if asked in the media, but at the end of the day the dude mixes his roster like crazy, and does what he wants. Hopefully the roster juggling is a little less this year with Kadri here.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Mark Barberio - 1 year left at $1,450,000
Vladislav Kamenev - RFA
AJ Greer - RFA
Anton Lindholm - RFA
Sergei Boikov - RFA

I don't think these players have futures with our organization.

 

[AnimalMother73]

Mark Barberio - 1 year left at $1,450,000
Vladislav Kamenev - RFA
AJ Greer - RFA
Anton Lindholm - RFA
Sergei Boikov - RFA

I don't think these players have futures with our organization.

I was wondering the same possible to package a few for a better prospect somewhere else?

 

[klozge]

Mark Barberio - 1 year left at $1,450,000
Vladislav Kamenev - RFA
AJ Greer - RFA
Anton Lindholm - RFA
Sergei Boikov - RFA

I don't think these players have futures with our organization.

I hope you're wrong regarding Kamenev and Greer but you might be right.

 

[dahrougem2]

Mark Barberio is going to get injured discussing potential contract extensions somehow. Upper body injury (jaw) - out indefinitely.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Mark Barberio is going to get injured discussing potential contract extensions somehow. Upper body injury (jaw) - out indefinitely.

After he asks for $2.5m and Sakic connects with a right?

 

[Richard88]

Bowers, Kaut, Newhook, Henry, Kovalenko, Kamenev, Greer....


Good group of guys probably two years or less away from being NHL ready.

Having that group of guys coming in on ELC's to replace some of the guys below will be huge

Nieto ($2m) --- 2020
Wilson ($2.6m) -- 2020
Calvert ($2.85m) -- 2021
Bellemare ($1.8m) -- 2021
Compher?
Burakowsky?

 

[CobraAcesS]

Having that group of guys coming in on ELC's to replace some of the guys below will be huge

Nieto ($2m) --- 2020
Wilson ($2.6m) -- 2020
Calvert ($2.85m) -- 2021
Bellemare ($1.8m) -- 2021
Compher?
Burakowsky?

Kovalenko - Nieto ($2m) --- 2020
Kaut - Wilson ($2.6m) -- 2020
Kam/Greer - Calvert ($2.85m) -- 2021
Bowers - Bellemare ($1.8m) -- 2021
Compher?
Newhook - Burakovsky?

Sure

 

[Vaslof]

Line combos seem pretty set until pre-season might change things up. I expect Kamenev might get in the initial line-up over Wilson or Nieto. Someone who was watching dev camp said Timmins looked good. I'll get my hopes up and say he might be on the third pairing with Barrie gone. I expect Byram to start in the AHL but getting some games in eventually.

Opening night roster guess:

Landy - MacK - Rants
Jost - Kadri - Bura
Kamenev - Compher - Donskoi
Nieto - Bellemare - Calvert

Girard - Makar
Zadorov - EJ
Connauton - Timmins

Grubauer
Francouz

 

[Richard88]

He'll get the 9 games for sure, but I wouldn't rule out them keeping him past that and then taking another look before he hits 40 games. The ELC kicks in, but there are possible advantages for not letting it slide and still sending him down.

I agree. For one, it would probably be good to have Byram resigning in 2022 rather than 2023 so that the big contracts are staggered a bit.

2020 - Girard, Jost, Francouz
2021 - Landeskog, Grubauer, Makar
2022 - Byram, Kadri
2023 - Mackinnon

Signing him a year earlier may also mean getting him to a good deal before he truly breaks out. For perspective, just imagine if Rantanen's ELC had kicked in a year earlier and he'd have signed long-term for like $8m last summer.

Whatever the case, Sakic seems to be pretty logical with all his moves so I'm sure there's a good plan in place.

 

[Avaholic29]

Kovalenko - Nieto ($2m) --- 2020
Kaut - Wilson ($2.6m) -- 2020
Kam/Greer - Calvert ($2.85m) -- 2021
Bowers - Bellemare ($1.8m) -- 2021
Compher?
Newhook - Burakovsky?

Sure

If I had to bet, compher and burakovsky won't be getting replaced. But my hope is Kadri will resign after the 3 years at good value and he takes reigns of 3C and newhook takes 2C. Hoping Jost flourishes on the wing with more minutes this season but we will see.

 

[Richard88]

Mark Barberio - 1 year left at $1,450,000
Vladislav Kamenev - RFA
AJ Greer - RFA
Anton Lindholm - RFA
Sergei Boikov - RFA

I don't think these players have futures with our organization.

The issue with Kamenev and Greer is that they they need gametime to develop (especially in Kamenev's case), but they're unlikely to play over anyone ahead of them unless there are injuries. Sending them to the AHL would risk losing them for nothing on waivers, so the best option might be to trade them to maximise value while you still can, even if it's selling low.

Right now I'd guess they're fighting for that 13th spot, and the one that loses out in camp will get dealt for a pick or younger (waiver exempt) prospect.

 

[CobraAcesS]

If I had to bet, compher and burakovsky won't be getting replaced. But my hope is Kadri will resign after the 3 years at good value and he takes reigns of 3C and newhook takes 2C. Hoping Jost flourishes on the wing with more minutes this season but we will see.

Yeah we will see when it comes to Bura lol.

 

[Richard88]

Line combos seem pretty set until pre-season might change things up. I expect Kamenev might get in the initial line-up over Wilson or Nieto. Someone who was watching dev camp said Timmins looked good. I'll get my hopes up and say he might be on the third pairing with Barrie gone. I expect Byram to start in the AHL but getting some games in eventually.

Opening night roster guess:

Landy - MacK - Rants
Jost - Kadri - Bura
Kamenev - Compher - Donskoi
Nieto - Bellemare - Calvert

Girard - Makar
Zadorov - EJ
Connauton - Timmins

Grubauer
Francouz

Byram can only play in the NHL or get sent back to juniors.

 

[Thepoolmaster]

I wonder what PP2 will look like. Assuming

Landy - Kadri - Rants
Mack - Makar

Wilson - Jost - Burakovsky
Compher - Girard

?

PK

Bellamere - Nieto
Zadarov - EJ

Compher - Landy
Makar(?) - Cole

Maybe Calvert instead of Landy

 

[Richard88]

If I had to bet, compher and burakovsky won't be getting replaced. But my hope is Kadri will resign after the 3 years at good value and he takes reigns of 3C and newhook takes 2C. Hoping Jost flourishes on the wing with more minutes this season but we will see.

Kadri can also play LW so that's also an option to help insulate Newhook a bit.

 

[Avaholic29]

Yeah we will see when it comes to Bura lol.

I just think at worst he ends up a solid 3rd liner. His point totals will definitely be up this year, but totally understand the hesitation on trusting that