I’m not sure I agree with this. The Avs had seen Giorgiev play both shitty and superbly at times over his first two years here. And Annunen did OK in his first chunk of NHL games, albeit against crud teams. Where was the disconnect? The vet was up and down, the rook was protected.The way goaltending was handled during the offseason should show you that there was/is a clear disconnect between CMac and Bednar.
Surprised how quiet it's been this week.
Not those in the West but they are so shitty that they don't have anything good for sale.Not enough sellers.
All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.
The disconnect was with how the backup position was handled. Clearly, CMac saw Annunen taking that spot, and expected Bednar to give him more starts to start the season. That didn't happen, Bednar continued to play Annunen only when he absolutely had to, even when Georgiev stunk the joint out. Annunen didn't impress that much either. CMac then went out and got Kähkönen, as a "let's throw some shit on the wall and see if it sticks". Bednar basically threw him to the wolves by giving him one start after he practiced with the team for the first time on the same day, and after that start didn't go too well Bednar was done with him. Georgiev was still thrown out there most nights, even while Annunen had been slightly better. Bednar never showed any trust on Annunen.I’m not sure I agree with this. The Avs had seen Giorgiev play both shitty and superbly at times over his first two years here. And Annunen did OK in his first chunk of NHL games, albeit against crud teams. Where was the disconnect? The vet was up and down, the rook was protected.
But I don’t believe anyone envisioned the complete collapse that happened at the goaltending position early in the season. That was amazing. In a bad way, obviously.
I give our GM credit for addressing it early and meaningfully.
(And hopefully correctly.)
Unfortunately, at this point, the Avs are among those "shitty teams" that think they can make the playoffs.Not enough sellers.
All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.
Unfortunately, at this point, the Avs are among those "shitty teams" that think they can make the playoffs.
Really wish they would get rid of the loser point. It props up too many bad teams and bunches up the standings.Not enough sellers.
All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.
Dallas Stars specialty.Really wish they would get rid of the loser point. It props up too many bad teams and bunches up the standings.
Not enough sellers.
All these shitty teams think they can make the playoffs.
This.Unfortunately, at this point, the Avs are among those "shitty teams" that think they can make the playoffs.
Our record would've been much better during the first 5 weeks if we had a goalie who could catch a f***ing beach ball. The team was actually playing pretty decent hockey despite all the injuries and missing Val with suspension.This.
Over the first 5 weeks of the season, the Avs were 9-9.
Over the next 6 weeks of the season, the Avs were 15-6.
Over the past 5 weeks of the season, the Avs were 7-7-2.
This is a playoff bubble team.
Outside of a 6 week stretch, they have not played at a level that would gain them playoff access.Nah.
Maybe so.Our record would've been much better during the first 5 weeks if we had a goalie who could catch a f***ing beach ball.
Managed to edit my post before you replied. Yes, it's a pretty drastic drop off. But it really has started in 2025. We played the first half of the season pretty well considering the injuries and lacklustre goaltending. So I think this is more about how we have entered a slump, instead of us being inconsistent all season.But what about the last 16 games?
I think that's fair. But goaltenders are also part of the hockey team.Managed to edit my post before you replied. Yes, it's a pretty drastic drop off. But it really has started in 2025. We played the first half of the season pretty well considering the injuries and lacklustre goaltending. So I think this is more about how we have entered a slump, instead of us being inconsistent all season.
There is absolutely a disconnect between CMac and Bednar on personnel but despite me liking how active CMac has been since last January, if we're talking player evaluations I'm begrudgingly siding with the coach.
I don't like f***ing idiot hockey players. Colton, Wood, Trenin, Duhaime are examples of players that will get pucks deep and crash/bang with regularity but ask them to take two seconds to think and they can't.
Bednar wants players that:
- Have tremendous speed
- Hound pucks
- Overwhelm offensively
- Can think
Colton is pretty much average to below average in all those things. Wood skates fast north/south but that is it and might be one of the dumbest players in hockey.
There's a reason Bednar LOVES his current 4th line and has quickly fallen in love with Drury. They check all the above boxes minus the "overwhelm offensively" because the 4th line struggles to score.
CMac seems to want crash and bang big boy hockey, and Bednar seems to want a roster similar to how we won in 2022.
Time will tell who wins out.
I think having 18 cerebral skaters on the team is a pipe dream.There is absolutely a disconnect between CMac and Bednar on personnel but despite me liking how active CMac has been since last January, if we're talking player evaluations I'm begrudgingly siding with the coach.
I don't like f***ing idiot hockey players. Colton, Wood, Trenin, Duhaime are examples of players that will get pucks deep and crash/bang with regularity but ask them to take two seconds to think and they can't.
Bednar wants players that:
- Have tremendous speed
- Hound pucks
- Overwhelm offensively
- Can think
Colton is pretty much average to below average in all those things. Wood skates fast north/south but that is it and might be one of the dumbest players in hockey.
There's a reason Bednar LOVES his current 4th line and has quickly fallen in love with Drury. They check all the above boxes minus the "overwhelm offensively" because the 4th line struggles to score.
CMac seems to want crash and bang big boy hockey, and Bednar seems to want a roster similar to how we won in 2022.
Time will tell who wins out.
I think the Avs of 2019-2022 definitely targeted those sorts of players - especially up front - when we consider the trades/signings of Kadri, Nichushkin, Burakovsky, Saad, Donskoi, Cogliano, Helm, Lehkonen, and Aube-Kubel.I think the big problem is Bednar’s ideal players are expensive, and their availability is limited
I don't think it is. It's a matter of player identification.I think having 18 cerebral skaters on the team is a pipe dream.
Surprised how quiet it's been this week.
Technically no, there is no roster freeze. Practically, I think everyone wants to avoid making trades and causing trouble for the players who are either taking a vacation, or representing their country.Isn't there some sort of roster freeze cause of the Four Nations Cup? Thought I heard some vids briefly mentioning it.
Outside of a 6 week stretch, they have not played at a level that would gain them playoff access.
- They're 6th in the WC.
- Kings are 2 points behind them with 4 games in hand, will certainly pass them.
- Calgary and Vancouver are both 5 points behind them with 2 games in hand. Crawling right up their ass.
They're playoff bubble right now, my friend.
Maybe so.
But what about the last 16 games?
Since the Avs got Blackwood, they've played almost exactly a third of a NHL hockey season, and they've gone 15-9-2. 32 points. That's about a 100 point pace, which is certainly solid, but not great (and trending the wrong way over the past 5 weeks).
Last year, 100 points got you tied for 5th place in the conference, but only two points above 8th place. Two years ago, 100 points got you tied for 7th in the conference. In other words, getting close to the playoff bubble.
I think you're correct in your assessment but at the same time, it's the coach's responsibility to work with what he has and HIS BOSS' VISION of how he wants the team to play and play players to their strengths - not try to change who they are to fit what he's trying to do.There is absolutely a disconnect between CMac and Bednar on personnel but despite me liking how active CMac has been since last January, if we're talking player evaluations I'm begrudgingly siding with the coach.
I don't like f***ing idiot hockey players. Colton, Wood, Trenin, Duhaime are examples of players that will get pucks deep and crash/bang with regularity but ask them to take two seconds to think and they can't.
Bednar wants players that:
- Have tremendous speed
- Hound pucks
- Overwhelm offensively
- Can think
Colton is pretty much average to below average in all those things. Wood skates fast north/south but that is it and might be one of the dumbest players in hockey.
There's a reason Bednar LOVES his current 4th line and has quickly fallen in love with Drury. They check all the above boxes minus the "overwhelm offensively" because the 4th line struggles to score.
CMac seems to want crash and bang big boy hockey, and Bednar seems to want a roster similar to how we won in 2022.
Time will tell who wins out.