2022-2023 Around The League
- Thread starter Bill Peckerskull
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dahrougem2
Registered User
The Ducks are a disgrace to this league. The Coyotes at least play hard.
Oh yeah they’ve given up. Along with both goalies getting hurt that’s about the last ingredient the Avs needed to truly hit the mega-tank.
And yet, somehow the Hawks are in even worse shape.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
Ducks have more ES goals than Avs. #AvsPaperTigers
Chiarelli
Registered User
- Jan 27, 2019
- 5,094
- 7,139
I wouldn’t look past Vegas my dude
This is such a disturbing reality. Avs are 31st in the league in 5v5 goals for (only ahead of the Blackhawks). The ability to score 5v5 is going to be critical at some point down the stretch. On the plus side, Avs are 2nd best in 5v5 goals against. A whole bunch of nothing seems to happen outside of special teams.
There is a pretty interesting breakdown of this. Rants has 18 goals at ES, but only 11 are 5v5, 2 are 3v3 and 5 are 4v4. Lehky has only 3 ES goals, with one being 3v3. Newhook has the 2nd more ES goals on the team with 6, but drops to 4 5v5 (both his others were 4v4).
Chicago is the only other team in the league that has only 1 player with 5+ ES goals (their top guy has 5 exactly).
Now this can be a touch misleading as MacK was creating a ton of chances and setting up plays, partially where Rants has so many... but outside those two, there has been pretty much zero 5v5 offense. Even Makar only has 7 5v5 points.
Yep and it's a problem that has existed even when the team was relatively healthy. The only reason the Avs have stayed afloat is due to a historically good and wildly unsustainable PP% to start off the year. It should be a major concern.
I'd add in a nod to goaltending too... Frank and George have been very good overall and performing at a level higher than should be expected.
This team very clearly needs more out of the 2nd and 3rd lines 5v5. Makar has to provide a spark too. We've seen talk of how bad Barrie is now (and he's clearly not the player Makar is), but that is who Makar is tied with in ES points. Gudbranson is another. Pickles too. Simply put, Makar needs to be much, much higher than tied for 71st in defensemen scoring 5v5.
Echoes of the last Avs team to win the Cup. The team lost some key components, their Swedish star couldn’t start the season, and their MVP came back to Earth and with him, so did the offense. But they ended up making it all the way to the Conference Final thanks to defense and goaltending.
I think it kind of shows how important Landeskog is to the success of this team. Obviously Mack and Mikko are elite and everybody knows it... But I think we sleep on the value Landy brings from time to time. Particularly at 5 on 5 he is a huge play driver on this team.
I have no doubt, if we can get Landy and Mack back in January without losing any of our other top 6 guys, the 5 on 5 scoring will drive upwards again. Still need a 2C, but being able to run Landy and Nuke together on a 2nd line will do so much for the scoring.
I have no doubt, if we can get Landy and Mack back in January without losing any of our other top 6 guys, the 5 on 5 scoring will drive upwards again. Still need a 2C, but being able to run Landy and Nuke together on a 2nd line will do so much for the scoring.
GoNordiquesGo
Registered User
Its hard to get 5v5 production from your second line... when you don't have a 2nd line ...
It's been such a weird season, the injuries have made me say "god I almost wish they'd tank and let everyone heal for a full season and get another strong year out of this core" but they are staying afloat through the injury roulette and honestly if the core comes back with a month or 2 left in the season rested and healthy we might very well repeat.
Georgiev is a legitimate starter, he is way better than Darcy, this guy steals games and has been the absolute factor in this team staying competitive. Hope they pick up some decent scoring depth with a little grit at the deadline and a repeat is absolutely possible.
Georgiev is a legitimate starter, he is way better than Darcy, this guy steals games and has been the absolute factor in this team staying competitive. Hope they pick up some decent scoring depth with a little grit at the deadline and a repeat is absolutely possible.
Avs_19
Registered User
- Jun 28, 2007
- 85,975
- 35,507
No concern at all for me unless they're healthy and struggling in February/March. You've got the sluggish start to the season after a long season/cup hangover. They've also never been fully healthy at any point. Maybe their numbers are a sign and reason for concern but I'm not getting worked up over it until I see them at full strength when everyone should be in midseason form.
Yep agreed. Plus, it's not like they're bleeding goals against or anything. They've allowed the 2nd fewest goals at 5 on 5 as well.
They're basically playing tight defense, low impact hockey right now. Basically exactly what we all said they'd have to do to win games while dealing with the injuries they've had.
What I expect to see come playoff time for most games is Rants MacK Landy and a second line of Nuke Lehk and JTC.
The first line is elite and the second line can best any first line in the West aside from the Oilers.
And perhaps the Canucks with their 3 Hall of fame first line Cs. But the Canucks aren't making the playoffs.
I dont think we see that tbh. Bednar might turn to it when we really need a goal, but we haven't ran the 9296 line together in quite a long time. Whether it's been Mikko on the 2nd line or Landy, one of them has been down for as long as I can remember now.
In the playoffs last year the Avs ran Landy - Mack - Nuke for a very long stretch of time. And then put Mack and Lehky together for a while against Tampa Bay.
Honestly I expect Bednar to try and run a very strong defensive 2nd line if he can when we get healthy. With Landy and Nuke on the wings and probably Toews as the Center.
Vegas, Winnipeg, Dallas, and LA would all strongly disagree with that assessment.
Nuke, Lehk, and JTC is A great 2nd liner/low end 1st liner paired up with 2 middle 6 guys who can compliment more talented players. That's a pretty bad 2nd line actually. With a good 2C replacing JTC, it could work... but as that sits, it is rather ugly.
- Aug 25, 2006
- 9,984
- 8,411
If or when healthy I would run:
Landy - Mack - Nuke
Lehky - JTC/ERod/Trade - Mikko
Landy - Mack - Nuke
Lehky - JTC/ERod/Trade - Mikko
BrickNHL
Registered User
- Feb 25, 2019
- 3,075
- 7,712
The last line, I love you lmao
ANewHope
Nuggets|Avs|Broncos
- May 26, 2011
- 2,409
- 953
My biggest concern is health. I actually think grinding out games like this can end up a positive if we do get healthy. If the team is healthy we know they have the ability to score goals in the playoffs. Especially if we add a 2C at the deadline.
Given the quick turnaround/cup hangover combined with the injuries I don't think there's anything to be concerned about .. outside of the fact that even getting semi healthy might not be something we see this year.
Given the quick turnaround/cup hangover combined with the injuries I don't think there's anything to be concerned about .. outside of the fact that even getting semi healthy might not be something we see this year.
MacK Lehky Rants has done well this year.
That leaves JTC Landy and Nuke which is still a great second line.
ERod Newhook are a solid 2/3 of a third line
And out of the pile of Helm Cogliano Meyers Foudy LOC there's something there for the fourth line too.
JTC is to hockey what Chaz Michael Michaels is to figure skating.
ANewHope
Nuggets|Avs|Broncos
- May 26, 2011
- 2,409
- 953
What do you mean "it could work" if we replace JTC with a 2C? It just did. Nuke/Lehky were top 6 players when we won the cup. Getting a 2C won't mean were guaranteed a cup or anything because there's lots of other factors but Lehky/Nuke inside your top 6 is perfectly fine and even a big advantage depending on the lineup.
Lehky without elite talent = middle 6 player. Lehky with elite talent = a very good top 6 player IMO. He was incredible in the playoffs last year.
It's not a guarantee that it works.
Lehky/Nuke are good top 6 players when they have somebody who drives the play on a line with them already.
If the Avs loaded up a Landy - Mack - Mikko top line, then you don't have anybody to drive the offense on that 2nd line anymore. It could work, but it's far from a guarantee. Getting a 2C like Horvat in that scenario would certainly give the wind line a far better chance at working out.
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