Speculation: 2025 Off-season Thread

[NateTheGreat]

Tough loss, to say the least.

Some thoughts regarding the off-season:

- Don’t overreact. This team will easily make the playoffs next year and they’ll have another go at it.

- The PP cannot be Makar and MacKinnon passing back to each other until one of them tries a seam pass or a shot on goal anymore. It’s too easy to shut down. Needs an overhaul.

- Having a healthy Landeskog is huge. He will be the heartbeat of the locker room from day one next year for whatever group we have.

- The bottom 4D needs a rework, likely via trade.

- Two forward spots to fill in 2C and 3W.

- It’s hard to beat a hot goalie.

It wasn’t our year, but I enjoyed it. I liked the way we played in the series. If we get our special teams humming with new coaching and a similar roster, that’s a scary team. The world isn’t ending. Next year, we go again.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I could get on board with this, but why keep Colton?

He’s fine as a 3rd line winger and I’d like to see him under a different coach with a different game plan. He’s not a fit for Bednar and never has been.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I think the big thing is that you need someone that can actually enforce a gameplan and coach these guys. It feels the past couple of years it’s just been letting the players do what they want, with an overarching theme of out skate and out skill.

 

[AvsWraith]

This would make me mentally and emotionally check out for the entire next season. Without a doubt.

I couldn’t care less if we finish 1st overall in the regular season. All I would be expecting is another loss to Daddy DeBoer and the Stars.

Yeah, I can't handle another playoffs like this. I'm crashing out hard right now, as you can see by all my venting rage posts, but bringing Bedz and his staff back will be a dagger.

 

[dahrougem2]

This would make me mentally and emotionally check out for the entire next season. Without a doubt.

I couldn’t care less if we finish 1st overall in the regular season. All I would be expecting is another loss to Daddy DeBoer and the Stars.

Yeah. And you know I have gone on record as saying I do not believe DeBoer is why the Stars won this series, but Bednar and staff have got to go. A new voice is needed, and a new plan where MacKinnon plays no more than 20 per night and Makar no more than 23 is needed.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

This would make me mentally and emotionally check out for the entire next season. Without a doubt.

I couldn’t care less if we finish 1st overall in the regular season. All I would be expecting is another loss to Daddy DeBoer and the Stars.

Oh, if they go with the status quo and bring back the same staff and most of the same roster (just weaker) I might have to strongly think about stepping down as mod, cancelling my Sportsnet and just staying off anything Avs-related for the year

 

[AvsWraith]

I think the big thing is that you need someone that can actually enforce a gameplan and coach these guys. It feels the past couple of years it’s just been letting the players do what they want, with an overarching theme of out skate and out skill.

Especially the special teams and play in our own zone.

The PP was a nightmare, and with two top five players in the league, it shouldn't be.

And the PK was absolutely demoralizing. A big kill or two on some of those late Dallas powerplays could've really turned the tide in our favor.

 

[LOFIN]

I can just about be bought into retaining Bednar. I cannot be bought into retaining the entire coaching staff. Some faces have to change.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Question I've been meaning to ask Avs fans.

Is Landeskog's resumption of career seen as a huge positive or is there a risk, dread factor in having to manage the cap of a player who has been inactive for so long for so many more years? And if there's been any discussion that he should have gone out the door instead of a prime Rantanen?

Based off his play in the playoffs, he’s going to be a massive addition. I really think the Avs need an emotional leader that isn’t as chaotic as MacKinnon. MacK has a lot of strengths, but he has shown a tendency to go into big mental funks and you can see the team fold when he does

 

[CobraAcesS]

He’s fine as a 3rd line winger and I’d like to see him under a different coach with a different game plan. He’s not a fit for Bednar and never has been.

We've seen that under Cooper, so I guess that is a positive.

 

[GeoRox89]

We're all gonna be so mad when they announce that he, and his staff, are staying.

On the one hand Kroenke saw what was happening with the Nuggets and pulled the plug. Adelman showed well in the first round and has probably earned another year regardless of what happens with OKC

On the other, Arteta has managed one FA Cup, bottled the league title twice and weren’t competitive enough to make it an actual race this year. Doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere despite not being able to take the next step (I’ll eat my words if they get past PSG then win the UCL final though)

Guess it depends what their priorities are with the teams. Seems like making money and being somewhat competitive isn’t enough from the Nuggets but is from Arsenal. Time will tell which one it is for the Avs

Not bothering to make the trip anywhere to see them next season if Bednar is still around. If they’re not going to take themselves seriously, why would I?

 

[Romen]

I don't understand how people are making Dallas the underdogs this year especially how deep they are. They were favoured to go to finals this year. Yes they were missing Robertson and Hesikanen but it shows how many good players they have. If we didn't trade Rantanen also lose in the first round, and he signs somewhere else and we didn't require any assets then people will complain saying we are dumb to not to trade him. I just think we needed a new coach especially how are special teams was declining every year especially the penalty killing.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Yeah. And you know I have gone on record as saying I do not believe DeBoer is why the Stars won this series, but Bednar and staff have got to go. A new voice is needed, and a new plan where MacKinnon plays no more than 20 per night and Makar no more than 23 is needed.

I do think fatigue played a role in how Mack and Makar played just like last year.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Good plan.

f*** it, I’ll take the job there, you and @SoundwaveIsCharisma can be the assistants. I’ll be the good cop, soundwave will be the bad cop, and you’ll have everyone’s AE/60 the highest in NHL history.

 

[BednarIsStupid]

He’s fine as a 3rd line winger and I’d like to see him under a different coach with a different game plan. He’s not a fit for Bednar and never has been.

What are the chances they even get a proper coach?

 

[BednarIsStupid]

I do think fatigue played a role in how Mack and Makar played just like last year.

Major f***ing role. Like Jeezus man. Rantanen still produced playing less and was probably fresher for Game 7. Again, coaching issue.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I do think fatigue played a role in how Mack and Makar played just like last year.

MacKinnon was off for 11 days before the playoffs started. He hadn’t participated in a practice in about 5 weeks.

Makar was off for 9 days before the playoffs started.

I don’t want to hear this.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Major f***ing role. Like Jeezus man. Rantanen still produced playing less and was probably fresher for Game 7. Again, coaching issue.

That’s another reason I want to see a coaching change. We can’t keep having Bednar run Mack and Makar into the ground in the regular season like he’s done. Hell, if we got another coach I wouldn’t mind seeing what Nelson could do with us next year so we can have a 2C and not have to play our top line so much.

 

[BednarIsStupid]

MacKinnon was off for 11 days before the playoffs started. He hadn’t participated in a practice in about 5 weeks.

Makar was off for 9 days before the playoffs started.

I don’t want to hear this.

It does matter over the course of a season though.

 

[The Pwnerer]

In these times of darkness I do have some glimmer of optimism for next year.

The net is set. Blackwood/Wedgewood are one of the best tandems in the league. The postion is solidified. Blackwood got a taste of playoff experience, he will improve. I am curious to see how the Nabokov situation plays out.

Landeskog. Just an unreal return from him. I thought we were getting a TEMU version of Landy back but he looked just as effective as he was before the injury. He's extremely smart and thinks the game so well. Like a winger version of ROR. I think thats whats going to keep him in the league even if his body continues to slows down. I won't be surprised if he moves up to the 1st line next year quickly. Can he sustain it for 82 games? Well see.

A healthy Nichushkin. Revenge tour is on hold but hey at least he has a friend now in Blackwood. Please stay healthy and keep you're head straight Nuke. We need you.

The 4th line. I've been preaching since the beginning of the playoffs that they needed to be the engine that drives our team. They delivered. We have at least one line to set and forget next year.

Makar/Mackinnon....I know how much it must hurt for them. But just remember after 96 how many heartbreaks Sakic/Forsberg/Roy had to endure to get to 2001? 1999 and 2000 in particular were so damn painful. We still have these guys in there primes. Mack likely has another solid 4+ years. Keep going ALL IN every single year.

There was just so much turnover on this team, I had a feeling chemistry would be an issue. Growing pains but now the new guys can get more acclimated with the core guys.

The most important thing to do in order for the offseason to he a success.

1. Bring in a veteran coach with playoff experience. We need a new voice. Every coach has an expiration date no matter how good they are. Just look at what Maurice and Cassidy did when they went to Florida/Vegas. We should look to replicate this path.

Don't get me wrong this loss will give me PTSD and hurts like hell. But I think if management can play their cards right this team will still be in the hunt over the next 2-4 years. Have to make the move up top though, we absolutely need a new voice in the locker.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

It does matter over the course of a season though.

This was the first round of hockey.

Both guys had plenty of rest going into it.

This wasn’t the conference finals after a month of playing hockey. It was the first damn round with two three day breaks in between games.

Please, let’s stop trying to find excuses.

 

[BednarIsStupid]

That’s another reason I want to see a coaching change. We can’t keep having Bednar run Mack and Makar into the ground in the regular season like he’s done. Hell, if we got another coach I wouldn’t mind seeing what Nelson could do with us next year so we can have a 2C and not have to play our top line so much.

Still not interested in Nelson. He literally impresses in no f***ing way. But, running MacKinnon and Makar with heavy minutes takes it's toll. All it does is give you good metrics while losing. Good one Bednar!

 

[BednarIsStupid]

This was the first round of hockey.

Both guys had plenty of rest going into it.

This wasn’t the conference finals after a month of playing hockey. It was the first damn round with two three day breaks in between games.

Please, let’s stop trying to find excuses.

There's no excuses. But, there's no way it's sustainable either. I'd rather these guys play less and become less dependent on them to make a good team run well. Then, you don't have to give MacKinnon and Makar days or weeks off. Went through something similar during the Messi Era in Barcelona and the team got worse as Messi aged. Compare that to now and having a proper manager that knows when to rotate players while improving their conditioning. Barcelona are only a few games away from winning everything having not added new players except for one guy that's always injured. f*** man. Having a competent coach or manager makes all the f***ing difference.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Still not interested in Nelson. He literally impresses in no f***ing way. But, running MacKinnon and Makar with heavy minutes takes it's toll. All it does is give you good metrics while losing. Good one Bednar!

I’m not that fond of him either but there really aren’t any other alternatives with how much we spent on him.

1. Re-sign Nelson
2. Pray Bennett goes to UFA and wants to come here
3. Try Necas at center
4. Spend what little we have left in the cubbard to trade for another center

 

[hockeyfish]

I’m not that fond of him either but there really aren’t any other alternatives with how much we spent on him.

1. Re-sign Nelson
2. Pray Bennett goes to UFA and wants to come here
3. Try Necas at center
4. Spend what little we have left in the cubbard to trade for another center

5. Run Coyle at 2C.