2024/2025 Around the League

[LOFIN]

Yeah, Luke Richardson's the problem in Chicago.

The roster is what it is, but if the supposedly best player in this generation is struggling, you try to fix that first. Bedard hasn't been awful, but far from good. They played him at the wing at one point no?

 

[McMetal]

Yeah, Luke Richardson's the problem in Chicago.

The problem, of course, is that he has hair. Replacing him with a head coach without hair is the only rational move to improve the team.

 

[Jasenr]

Just watched the Preds - Canadies highlights.

"What a save by Annunen" was basically the most used line. He let in 2 point blank shot, other being 5on3 with Laine sniping it.

So sure he was the problem all along. Im starting to feel more and more that the 100% run and gun defence with the Avs is our downfall to not winning the cup again. When Avs team defence works its like clockwork but so often it just falls apart and goalies are left with no support and broken.

Its the same song and dance in Edmonton. Its just not a winning recipe. 2022 the team was just so good that we could overcome the core issues. Last year McDavid and Drai almost did it but a better overall team won in the end.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Just watched the Preds - Canadies highlights.

"What a save by Annunen" was basically the most used line. He let in 2 point blank shot, other being 5on3 with Laine sniping it.

So sure he was the problem all along. Im starting to feel more and more that the 100% run and gun defence with the Avs is our downfall to not winning the cup again. When Avs team defence works its like clockwork but so often it just falls apart and goalies are left with no support and broken.

Its the same song and dance in Edmonton. Its just not a winning recipe. 2022 the team was just so good that we could overcome the core issues. Last year McDavid and Drai almost did it but a better overall team won in the end.

We dominated every opponent even with Kuemper in the net. It was a dream run. Once in a lifetime journey.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

We dominated every opponent even with Kuemper in the net. It was a dream run. Once in a lifetime journey.

I think that 2022 team played the best and most dominant hockey we have ever seen in an Avs season, including the 2001 juggernaut team. The 2001 team had Roy in goal, so from a pure skater perspective the 2022 team was better.

We played at a lightning pace just flying past teams wave after wave. Defense never had breakdowns. Opposing coaches literally had no answer for the speed we played at.

We were also healthy. Big factor.

 

[LOFIN]

I think that 2022 team played the best and most dominant hockey we have ever seen in an Avs season

Not just the Avs, it's the most dominant run in a cap era. I mean it really isn't close.

 

[shadow1]

Just watched the Preds - Canadies highlights.

"What a save by Annunen" was basically the most used line. He let in 2 point blank shot, other being 5on3 with Laine sniping it.

So sure he was the problem all along. Im starting to feel more and more that the 100% run and gun defence with the Avs is our downfall to not winning the cup again. When Avs team defence works its like clockwork but so often it just falls apart and goalies are left with no support and broken.

Its the same song and dance in Edmonton. Its just not a winning recipe. 2022 the team was just so good that we could overcome the core issues. Last year McDavid and Drai almost did it but a better overall team won in the end.

Colorado's overall game/defense isn't what it was in 2021-2022...

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH][/TH]

[TH][/TH]

[TH]Rank[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Shots For[/TD]
[TD]29.74/gp[/TD]
[TD]12th[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Shots Against[/TD]
[TD]26.33/gp[/TD]
[TD]4th[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scoring Chances For[/TD]
[TD]25.1/gp[/TD]
[TD]3rd[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scoring Chances Against[/TD]
[TD]20.7/gp[/TD]
[TD]15th[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

...but they're still controlling the play and fostering a favorable situation for netminders. As you alluded to, the Avalanche's run-and-gun style is why their scoring chances against are so much higher than their shots allowed. But it's still league average.

At 5v5, Colorado has an xGA of 52.2, but have allowed 64 goals. That's the biggest expected/actual variance in the NHL. They're barely over 70% on the PK. They're overall dead last in SV%.

Can't win like this. Last night's ass-whooping aside, the Avalanche's goaltending has been an anchor. We know Annunen can be good (sometimes), and one strong game against the lowly Canadiens shouldn't change the narrative about Colorado.

 

[Pokecheque]

Just watched the Preds - Canadies highlights.

"What a save by Annunen" was basically the most used line. He let in 2 point blank shot, other being 5on3 with Laine sniping it.

So sure he was the problem all along. Im starting to feel more and more that the 100% run and gun defence with the Avs is our downfall to not winning the cup again. When Avs team defence works its like clockwork but so often it just falls apart and goalies are left with no support and broken.

Its the same song and dance in Edmonton. Its just not a winning recipe. 2022 the team was just so good that we could overcome the core issues. Last year McDavid and Drai almost did it but a better overall team won in the end.

I don’t think it’s that cut and dried. Yes, the Avs are simply not as good a team as they were in 2022. Not as deep and not as talented. But the goaltending has been the worst in the league this year and it’s not even close. Even with them having more breakdowns than they should, the goalies are continually letting in soft goals. Not every goal against can be the fault of the defense, nor can any team play perfect in front of their goalie. That’s why they’re called SAVES.

Your goalie HAS to bail you out every now and then. Even Kuemper had a few games (notably one late in the season against Edmonton) where he stopped an absolute onslaught of shots and scoring chances to steal the game.

 

[Muffin]

I don’t think it’s that cut and dried. Yes, the Avs are simply not as good a team as they were in 2022. Not as deep and not as talented. But the goaltending has been the worst in the league this year and it’s not even close. Even with them having more breakdowns than they should, the goalies are continually letting in soft goals. Not every goal against can be the fault of the defense, nor can any team play perfect in front of their goalie. That’s why they’re called SAVES.

Your goalie HAS to bail you out every now and then. Even Kuemper had a few games (notably one late in the season against Edmonton) where he stopped an absolute onslaught of shots and scoring chances to steal the game.

Not sure why you're talking like Kuemper was bad. He was good until he got his eye taken out.

 

[MacKaRtin]

JTC!

The problem is that the chart is missing a Z-axis for xIntangibles

 

[Pokecheque]

Not sure why you're talking like Kuemper was bad. He was good until he got his eye taken out.

Didn't mean to imply he was bad. He was obviously much better than the slop they have now, but he was prone to inconsistency and some REALLY bad games. In fact I thought he played poorly in the garbage stretch right before the playoffs, that one Edmonton game aside, and I didn't think he played particularly well in the playoffs even before fan-favorite Ryan Johansen took his eye out. BUT...he played quite well IMO the majority of his games. He just wasn't elite, and that's fine. He was merely good and prone to bad games. And I'll say to my dying day that Frankie's rebound control was better than his, well...more like the Avs defense just knew how to deal with Frankie's rebounds better than Darcy's.

FTR I don't buy this notion among some here that the Avs could've won in 2022 with any goalie. No, in fact Kuemper should receive a ton of praise for backstopping as well as he did with one functioning eye. That guy is golden as far as I'm concerned. I'm fine with them not re-upping him for big money, they just completely screwed up with his replacement.

 

[Ceremony]

Kuemper was terrible until about January. He was good from then until March when he got injured, and went back to being hopeless when he returned. He was as good as he had to be in the playoffs.

His worst was still better than Fourgiev, and he wasn't an arsehole into the bargain.

 

[RECKLESS]

I got a soft spot for Kuemper not gonna lie. I bet he was gonna take us there when he came to the Avs. And he did.

 

[Hennessy]

It's crazy that Anaheim took Trouba from the Rangers with no retention and gave at least a semblance of a return for the honor.
There has to be a handshake deal involved somewhere.

 

[Balthazar]

It's crazy that Anaheim took Trouba from the Rangers with no retention and gave at least a semblance of a return for the honor.
There has to be a handshake deal involved somewhere.

Cap hit is 8M but actual money is only 6M this year and next year.

So prorated it's like a 10M commitment over 2 years. Not that bad.

 

[Pokecheque]

It's crazy that Anaheim took Trouba from the Rangers with no retention and gave at least a semblance of a return for the honor.
There has to be a handshake deal involved somewhere.

No, Anaheim is just that stupid. They have a long and storied history of prizing grit and intangibles over actual hockey ability. And they have a coach who's effectively trying to grit them into oblivion, even though they have skill all throughout their lineup.

 

[Balthazar]

No, Anaheim is just that stupid. They have a long and storied history of prizing grit and intangibles over actual hockey ability. And they have a coach who's effectively trying to grit them into oblivion, even though they have skill all throughout their lineup.

 

[Pokecheque]

Not a single word of that was genuine.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

This type of bullshit platitudes really needs to stop. This is the equivalent of the Avs putting together a Kaapo Kahkonen highlight reel in case he ever plays against us, we can honor him for his 58:16 of service. Why even bother putting out a statement to praise the dude when you just f***ed his world over without lube?

It would have been classier to not release anything other than the terms of the trade.

 

[Foppberg]

I think that 2022 team played the best and most dominant hockey we have ever seen in an Avs season, including the 2001 juggernaut team. The 2001 team had Roy in goal, so from a pure skater perspective the 2022 team was better.

We played at a lightning pace just flying past teams wave after wave. Defense never had breakdowns. Opposing coaches literally had no answer for the speed we played at.

We were also healthy. Big factor.

Yeah makes me sad that we've been so hampered with injuries and misfortune since then.

 

[Pokecheque]

Still think it's funny that they finally threatened Trouba with waivers if he continued to block any deals, then sent him as far away from his wife as humanly possible.

 

[Ceremony]

We're very grateful for everything you did for us.

Beat it.

 

[Pokecheque]

Yeah makes me sad that we've been so hampered with injuries and misfortune since then.

Just makes me grateful they went for it then and there and quit hedging their bets.

 

[SirLoinOfCloth]

Hearing rumblings of Shesterkin signing for 11.5/12 (not sure which) for 8 years.

 

[Foppberg]

Just makes me grateful they went for it then and there and quit hedging their bets.

Yup. At least we got one, a lot of fans never get to see their team do it.