2022-2023 Around The League
- Thread starter Bill Peckerskull
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LTCPain75
Registered User
- Jul 12, 2022
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NHL.com: Three questions facing Colorado Avalanche.
www.nhl.com
Three questions facing Colorado Avalanche | NHL.com
Second-line center, Georgiev's potential as starter among concerns
www.nhl.com
In my opinion this team looks better now than it did at the start of last season. It is a trap to compare this team to the team after the deadline last season.NHL.com: Three questions facing Colorado Avalanche.
Three questions facing Colorado Avalanche | NHL.com
Second-line center, Georgiev's potential as starter among concerns
We do lack a premier 2C, proven goaltending, some draft picks and prospects but the team has a clutch/experience factor now that would have won games 5 against both St. Louis and Tampa Bay.
Neither Kuemper or Grubauer were differencemakers. Have to go back to Varlamov in 13-14 to find that elusive edge in goal, and we can win without that because this team will consistently outskate, outshoot and outchance the opponent.
Looking at other teams in the western conference we are exactly where we need to be going into next season considering the cap and everything.
- Apr 25, 2006
- 53,662
- 59,775
I don't believe so.
Players from opening night last year that are gone:
Kadri
Bura
Jost
JJ
Murray
Kuemper
New players that should play on opening night:
Lehkonen
Manson
Cogliano
Meyers
Georgiev
Lehks is probably an upgrade over Bura and Manson an upgrade over JJ or Murray....but Kadri is the biggest piece of the bunch and wasn't replaced.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
The Avs dont have a 2C or a starting goalie. They are alot worse.
- Aug 28, 2009
- 8,005
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2C for sure.
Goaltending, I don’t agree. Not because I think it’s better, but because it’s unknown. Goaltending is one of those weird positions.
If you go from Mackinnon to Seguin at C, it’s a clear downgrade.
But Georgiev? We have absolutely no idea what kind of season he puts together. Behind this defence and with a full offseason KNOWING he’s coming in as a starter.
Last offseason we were talking about either getting a #3C or getting an upgrade on Kadri and pushing him down to the #3C position. Bura was coming off a very poor playoffs, Jost was Jost, JJ was a PTO, Murray was seen as a Graves replacement, and Kuemper was seen as a decent upgrade.
Plus if we include the players that improved - Nichushkin's breakout, Compher actually playing like he gave a shit, Byram solidifying a top 4 role, etc. I easily think the team looks better. Having the cup winner shine certainly helps as well.
Kadri is a big hole, but it's not like many were super high on him heading into the season.
- Apr 25, 2006
- 53,662
- 59,775
- Aug 28, 2009
- 8,005
- 5,327
This team also has over 3M in cap space and is going into the season with it’s important draft picks.
Last year we were a cap team with no 1st rounder.
Hennessy
Ye Jacobites, by name
Last year at this time this board was absolutely losing its sh*t because the Avs hadn't replaced the scoring of Saad or Donskoi and were demonstrably worse as a result.
We all know how that turned out.
We all know how that turned out.
- Dec 4, 2002
- 11,035
- 2,147
If we jettison the 4th line/3rd pairing guys (as they're not terribly hard slots to fill), Kadri is the main difference. It comes down to Kadri/Bura/Kuemper vs. Meyers/Lehkonen/Gerogiev and Manson.
This season's defense is better. Manson >> whatever 6th/7th guy we had out there last year.
This season's wings are, at worst, a wash (I've never been a big Bura fan). Lehkonen = Bura. Maybe >=.
This season's centers are way worse. Kadri >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Meyers.
This season's goaltending? Not sure how this will play out, but on paper, it's worse. I didn't think Kuemper was anything special though.
I think if Kadri were here this upcoming season, I'd call the whole thing equal. But Kadri's absence is the difference.
The Kingslayer
Registered User
georgiev sucks. All you need to know. We are going to be begging for Francouz by November.
flyfysher
Registered User
- Mar 21, 2012
- 6,659
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I agree. This board should give Georgiev at least until mid-December to settle in. It’ll never happen though. We’re too impatient.
expatriatedtexan
Illegitimati non carborundum
- Aug 17, 2005
- 20,363
- 18,202
It'll be interesting to follow Kadri's career, we can pretend he signs it here and see how long it takes until a trade Kadri thread pops up. *LOL*
The 2nd line C is a worry...but one that I can live with, and I think the Avs are thinking this as well. We do have 4 internal options for C and we might as well give them a chance and see if one of them takes it runs with it. Rants, JTC, Newhook, and Meyers. Are any of them a 2nd line center? I'd say Rants can be, but I'd prefer him to stay on the wing. I'd say JTC is not, but with Lehks and Rants...he could possibly make it work until something better comes along. Newhook is my choice to start the season as #2C but he's probably a low grade one at this point in time at best, but he's young and I actually saw growth in his game last season until he kinda hit that rookie wall. Meyers, I've got no idea what to expect. He looked fairly solid in few games last season but 2C? That's a really high ask of a guy I think I was kinda penciling in as 3C/4C.
Landy-Mack-Nuke
Lehks-Newhook-Rants
Meyers-JTC-LOC
Cogs-Helm-MacDermid/Kaut/Hudon/Sedlak/Megna (not sure if Ranta or Blidh can play RW).
Toews-Norris
Girard-Manson
Bo-EJ
King George
Prince Pavel
It's a playoff team for sure. Is it worthy of contending? I'd like to see better C depth by the deadline but for starters I'd like to bring Paul Walnuts home this summer to play LW on the 3rd line. Meyers can center it and JTC has usually been a better RW than C so he would slot there, bumping LOC down to the 4th line and removing the uncertainty of which tweener we have to play.
As we progress through the season there will be opportunities to make a trade to solidify the 2nd line C slot if Newhook hasn't seized it. I'm still thinking there is a way to get Horvat done if Joe wants it. I have no idea why I'm so zoned in on him though. It's not like me to really advocate like this for a player not already on the team.
The 2nd line C is a worry...but one that I can live with, and I think the Avs are thinking this as well. We do have 4 internal options for C and we might as well give them a chance and see if one of them takes it runs with it. Rants, JTC, Newhook, and Meyers. Are any of them a 2nd line center? I'd say Rants can be, but I'd prefer him to stay on the wing. I'd say JTC is not, but with Lehks and Rants...he could possibly make it work until something better comes along. Newhook is my choice to start the season as #2C but he's probably a low grade one at this point in time at best, but he's young and I actually saw growth in his game last season until he kinda hit that rookie wall. Meyers, I've got no idea what to expect. He looked fairly solid in few games last season but 2C? That's a really high ask of a guy I think I was kinda penciling in as 3C/4C.
Landy-Mack-Nuke
Lehks-Newhook-Rants
Meyers-JTC-LOC
Cogs-Helm-MacDermid/Kaut/Hudon/Sedlak/Megna (not sure if Ranta or Blidh can play RW).
Toews-Norris
Girard-Manson
Bo-EJ
King George
Prince Pavel
It's a playoff team for sure. Is it worthy of contending? I'd like to see better C depth by the deadline but for starters I'd like to bring Paul Walnuts home this summer to play LW on the 3rd line. Meyers can center it and JTC has usually been a better RW than C so he would slot there, bumping LOC down to the 4th line and removing the uncertainty of which tweener we have to play.
As we progress through the season there will be opportunities to make a trade to solidify the 2nd line C slot if Newhook hasn't seized it. I'm still thinking there is a way to get Horvat done if Joe wants it. I have no idea why I'm so zoned in on him though. It's not like me to really advocate like this for a player not already on the team.
John Mandalorian
2022 Avs: The First Dance
- Nov 29, 2018
- 12,357
- 8,123
It's predicated on staying healthy, which isn't a certainty but I'd like to think that Byram having a larger role compensates for some of that loss.
Not having Kadri is a pretty huge loss... center is arguably the most important position in the game and the Avs are decidedly weaker there. There are options, but one will need to come through at some point. I'm sure if there are struggles, it will be addressed... at that point, it becomes about cost.
Goaltending is a large question. Neither George or Frank have shown to be a starter in the NHL... and Frank has a well known injury history. George has some talent questions. That could easily be an area where things fall apart. Avs are good enough elsewhere to patch this up at least during the regular season.
I personally have very little concerns about being a top 2-3-4 team in the West. How it shakes out from there is more of the question... if Newhook and Meyers lock down the middle 6 centers and Georgie is average to above average, Avs will be fine and likely at very least a conference final team (the West is pretty terrible, so this should be the baseline expectations). If they don't work out, the Avs have some expensive holes to fill.
Goaltending is a large question. Neither George or Frank have shown to be a starter in the NHL... and Frank has a well known injury history. George has some talent questions. That could easily be an area where things fall apart. Avs are good enough elsewhere to patch this up at least during the regular season.
I personally have very little concerns about being a top 2-3-4 team in the West. How it shakes out from there is more of the question... if Newhook and Meyers lock down the middle 6 centers and Georgie is average to above average, Avs will be fine and likely at very least a conference final team (the West is pretty terrible, so this should be the baseline expectations). If they don't work out, the Avs have some expensive holes to fill.
flyfysher
Registered User
- Mar 21, 2012
- 6,659
- 5,334
That's a high price, but Sens would vault up quite a bit having Chychryn. If you're talking 2 1sts + Grieg... that is probably too much. 2 1sts + Boucher/Kleven/Jarventie... the Sens should absolutely do it.
expatriatedtexan
Illegitimati non carborundum
- Aug 17, 2005
- 20,363
- 18,202
Well, to be honest I'm sure there are better fits. I used Pauly Walnuts as an example because I like the dude and to be honest, he's probably about the caliber of player we can get with the money we have left. But any solid top 9 winger would work. We really need to get LOC down to the 4th line though. He's got a good motor, but 3rd line minutes are probably too much to keep that motor running full bore.
- Apr 25, 2006
- 53,662
- 59,775
Bill Peckerskull
Fargin' Icehole
I wouldn't say that... if Chychrun is healthy, he's a very, very good #2D. Some will argue #1D. If they can get him for 2 mid 1sts, that's a steal. If it takes 2 1sts and a B/B+ prospect... meh, high.. but worth it. The risk with Chychrun isn't his play, it is his health.
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