Speculation: 2025 Off-season Thread

[Foppa2118]

Window?

They've gotten out of the first round once in the past three years. And that's mainly due to Helleybuick outduelling Georgiev in a battle of letting in soft goals.

They've bled whatever leftover assets they had after 2022 and have another year of Coyle to show for it.

There's no window.

Respectfully, I think this may just emotions talking NEB? Which is understandable. You don't really think it's impossible for them to win another Cup with this team do you?

With two of the best in the world in Makar and MacKinnon, and surrounded by Landeskog, Nichuskin, Lehkonen, Necas, Toews, Girard, Manson, some kind of 2C, and two solid goalies in Blackwood and Wedgewood?

I've said many times recently, that team was three blown third period's away from beating the possible Stanley Cup winner 6 out of 7 games, and they dominated them at times. The problem is mental. If they cut out the preventable mistakes, they can beat anyone.

The 99-00 Avs team lost to Dallas in Game 7, with Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Drury, Tanguay, Deadmarsh, Andreychuk, Podein, Yelle, Bourque, Foote, Ozolinsh, Miller, Klemm, deVries, and Patrick Roy in net.

Then they won the next year with a more focused group that was determined not to lose. Much like the 22 team won after a disappointing loss to the Knights when Nate was pissed off and said he hadn't won shit.

They need that mentality again. They need to have a "never again" mindset to throwing playoff games and series away. They need that champioship mindset again. They didn't have that this year for whatever reason.

 

[avsfan2189]

there's a lot of emotions right now because of the laying the accountability on the players, but it's not entirely wrong.

if Makar does ANYTHING this series offensively and wires some of his usual shots (instead of aiming for Otter's blocker all the time) this series was over in 5 or 6 max.

the players had to play the game, and yeah unfortunately they didnt.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Respectfully, I think this may just emotions talking NEB? Which is understandable. You don't really think it's impossible for them to win another Cup with this team do you?

With two of the best in the world in Makar and MacKinnon, and surrounded by Landeskog, Nichuskin, Lehkonen, Necas, Toews, Girard, and Manson, with two solid goalies in Blackwood and Wedgewood?

I've said many times recently, that team was three blown third period's away from beating the possible Stanley Cup winner 6 out of 7 games, and they dominated them at times. The problem is mental. If they cut out the preventable mistakes, they can beat anyone.

The 99-00 Avs team lost to Dallas in game 7, with Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Drury, Tanguay, Deadmarsh, Andreychuk, Podein, Yelle, Bourque, Foote, Ozolinsh, Miller, Klemm, deVries, and Patrick Roy in net.

Then they won the next year with a more focused group that was determined not to lose. Much like the 22 team won after a disappointing loss to the Knights when Nate was pissed off and said he hadn't won shit.

They need that mentality again. They need to have a "never again" mindset to throwing playoff games and series away. They need that champioship mindset again. They didn't have that this year for whatever reason.

Surrounded by Girard and Manson are negatives in my books.

G helps the engine in the regular season but a liability in the post season.

Manson is a dawg in the playoffs but when he misses half the regular season games it screws the pairings and makes Makar Toews average 30 minutes a night starting mid November.

The team was over the cap because Landy was coming back. They have very little cap room or assets to improve and they need a 2C and top 4D in the worst way.

And yes they outplayed a Dallas for large parts of 7 games. That's expected when Dallas has Ceci and Loobybushkin playing 20+ minutes a night.

If they continue down this path no I don't see them winning another cup. I see winning in the first round and a competitive loss in the second round as their peak.

Am I emotional? You bet. I am a small angry man. Now if you'll excuse me RIAL is coming over to entertain my wife so I have more important things to do.

Good day sir.

 

[Foppa2118]

Yeah, my disappointment is that I did not believe Joe Sakic would sit on the stage and blame Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar for not executing or performing. You see... to me, that's an unforgivable sin. He threw his boys under the bus.

It is a major, major issue that they believe it is the players fault. They are basically blaming 5 players they play 30 minutes a night for not getting more done. . The only thing new in this situation to me is the fact that Chris MacFarland and Joe Sakic are both 100% on board with the way Bednar is utlizing his players and mis-managing their minutes.

Now, all that being said.... Thank you for the link!!! Watching the Q&A put things into better context. I'm still not happy at all with the conclusion that it was the players and not the coaches/tactics/iceload that were the major issue. I got the impression they flat out said the players didn't get the job done (based on comments here, not on the actual interview). Real big difference between that and saying we failed at special teams.... which is what I took away from the actual Q&A.

Just a random plea... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!! This Q&A was posted by the Colorado Avalanche. Why the f*** can't you hear a single question? Do they not realize how hard it is to sit there for 30-45 second of silence while someone is asking a question we can't hear and then all of sudden Chris starts talking and we have no idea what it's about for several seconds. When people say Altitude and the Avs aren't professional... how hard is it to put a microphone in front of the report asking a question? Especially since we've seen the Avs media scrums and we all know there is only 3 or 4 people sitting there.

He didn't blame them specifically though.

The "top players in the world" comment was addressing the power play. I don't think he named anyone by name iirc.

 

[LOFIN]

He didn't blame them specifically though.

The "top players in the world" comment was addressing the power play. I don't think he named anyone by name iirc.

They put the blame on Bennet, and rightfully so

 

[expatriatedtexan]

He didn't blame them specifically though.

The "top players in the world" comment was addressing the power play. I don't think he named anyone by name iirc.

Like I said, the Q&A presented things a bit differently (and contained much more context) than some of the quotes I was reading.

I really did not get a chance to see the thing for myself until you gave me the link.

I'm much happier after watching this, because they did not curb stomp the players as some folks kinda led me to believe. However, I am still very upset and worried that nobody mentioned ice-time or usage. There were more and larger nuts in the front row of a New Kids on the Block concert than there is in the Avalanche press pool.

 

[Foppa2118]

Surrounded by Girard and Manson are negatives in my books.

G helps the engine in the regular season but a liability in the post season.

Manson is a dawg in the playoffs but when he misses half the regular season games it screws the pairings and makes Makar Toews average 30 minutes a night starting mid November.

The team was over the cap because Landy was coming back. They have very little cap room or assets to improve and they need a 2C and top 4D in the worst way.

And yes they outplayed a Dallas for large parts of 7 games. That's expected when Dallas has Ceci and Loobybushkin playing 20+ minutes a night.

If they continue down this path no I don't see them winning another cup. I see winning in the first round and a competitive loss in the second round as their peak.

Am I emotional? You bet. I am a small angry man. Now if you'll excuse me RIAL is coming over to entertain my wife so I have more important things to do.

Good day sir.

Fair enough. Enjoy yourself.

If you're in the market for a chair, have you seen Burn After Reading?

 

[JimmyH]

They are deflecting blame upon the very players they trot out for 30 minutes a f***ing night.

Because the players are multi-millionaires and ultimately it's on them to score the goals no matter who is coaching.

 

[sethro109]

How the f*** did they at least not fire Pratt as well? His PK sucks shit. The passive box doesn't work. We need high pressure. I don't know if Nuke and LoC actively ignore Pratt, but they're the only ones that seem to pressure the puck carriers. Relying on Toews and Makar to intercept passes across the slot has cost us too many times. That shit needs to change too.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Because the players are multi-millionaires and ultimately it's on them to score the goals no matter who is coaching.

Do you think the Dallas Stars players are a bunch of peasants subsiding on roadkill and food-stamps?

Coaching makes a difference.

 

[JimmyH]

Do you think the Dallas Stars players are a bunch of peasants subsiding on roadkill and food-stamps?

You're a f***ing idiot if you don't think coaching makes a difference.

Bad coaching does not make a difference if you have a great roster. Great coaching does not make a difference if you have a bad roster. True in every single sport.

 

[Balthazar]

How the f*** did they at least not fire Pratt as well? His PK sucks shit. The passive box doesn't work.

Yep, if anything our PK sucked more than our PP in the last series but nothing was done.

That said, Bednar is the head coach and ultimately the PP and PK are on him. He's the one calling the shots.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Bad coaching does not make a difference if you have a great roster. Great coaching does not make a difference if you have a bad roster. True in every single sport.

First, I want to apologize for calling you an idiot. Should've stuck to the comment and not directed anything to you.

I just don't understand how you can say bad coaching doesn't make a difference. Is the coach not responsible for the line up? Does he not control who is on the ice and at what times? Does he not have the ability to call a time out? Does he not have a responsibility to get favorible matchups for his lines? Is the coach not responsible for getting the team ready to play in the first period, rather than waiting until 10 minutes left in the 3rd?

Coaching matters with both good and bad rosters.

 

[Foppa2118]

They put the blame on Bennet, and rightfully so

He put some blame for the PP on Bennett, and said maybe they needed a new voice, but he also said they've had one of the best power plays in the league, and ultimately it's up to the players to execute.

He seemed to imply "confidence" was a big part of it. Which makes sense to me, because I've said I don't think Nate looked confident at all, and his demeanor impacts the rest of the team. Also that the PP has always been hot and cold during seasons.

Sakic On Bennett and the Power Play:

"You look back at the series, and five on five I thought we played great hockey. Prepared, and the guys were dialed in, and we were playing Avalanche hockey. I think the difference in the series, when you look back and reflect is their power play, they executed, they did everything they needed to do, to be dangerous, and score at key moments of the game, and our power play didn't do that. For whatever reason...it ended up being confidence I think. Try and make adjustments, but we didn't have it at the right time. So that at the end of the day, that was the difference."

"Our effort was there. Preparation was there. I'll say it again, five on five I thought we played incredible hockey. We just didn't get it done in those big moments. And like I mentioned, their power play was the difference for them, and ours wasn't quite as sharp as it normally is."

“Definitely when you look at how we lost, we just feel that maybe a different voice should help. Listen, he's done a great job (Bennett), he's worked extremely hard, he's a great person. You know our power play's been top 10 over the last few years, but we feel the way things ended, maybe a different voice going into next year should help that. But ultimately, execution comes from the players. We have some of the top players in the world on our team. They’re the ones out there that need to execute. It just ran dry and the wrong time. It's tough to make a change, you don't like to do that, but we feel moving forward, we're hoping that a change of voice might help our power play going into next year.”

 

[Grackle Party]

Hard to see this team the way its currently constructed and with only just firing Bennett do much more than compete for a WC spot next year. Stars and Jets are going to be good. The Wild finally have some cap space. Blues will be in the mix. Utah is on its way up, cap space, two big Russians coming over, tons of picks and prospects. Thats just the Central.

 

[the_fan]

Sakic said next year will come, we’ll do it again, try to win.

Translation..

Next year we’ll lose to Dallas in the playoffs again

 

[the_fan]

Ladies and gentleman, the biggest move of your Colorado Avalanche after a disappointing 1st round exit is replacing assistant coach Ray Bennett. I’m jumping for joy right now. We can win the cup now because Bennett is replaced.

Hallelujah!!!!!!

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Ladies and gentleman, the biggest move of your Colorado Avalanche after a disappointing 1st round exit is replacing assistant coach Ray Bennett. I’m jumping for joy right now. We can win the cup now because Bennett is replaced.

Hallelujah!!!!!!

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Ladies and gentleman, the biggest move of your Colorado Avalanche after a disappointing 1st round exit is replacing assistant coach Ray Bennett. I’m jumping for joy right now. We can win the cup now because Bennett is replaced.

Hallelujah!!!!!!

Really wish they let both of the assistants go. I think Bednar needs someone that can either be a little more firey during game day, or someone that is a strong in-game tactician. I feel like we are in for a really disappointing off-season where no questions or answered and more are presented instead.

 

[the_fan]

Really wish they let both of the assistants go. I think Bednar needs someone that can either be a little more firey during game day, or someone that is a strong in-game tactician. I feel like we are in for a really disappointing off-season where no questions or answered and more are presented instead.

I’m just glad Avs at least have one guy who shows real emotions and speaks his mind which is Nate. Landy does too but he’s more of being politically correct and being the captain, but Nate truly tells it as it is whatever on his mind

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Hell, maybe CMac is actually a demon wizard and has been slowly fulfilling a ritual where the Avs get Quinn Hughes for virtually nothing, Landeskog magically gets Miles Woods' knees and Jonathan Toews signs with the Avs absolved of his sins.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I’m just glad Avs at least have one guy who shows real emotions and speaks his mind which is Nate. Landy does too but he’s more of being politically correct, but Nate truly tells it as it is whatever in his mind

The problem there is that Nate also tends to get frustrated and down on himself and that has a really negative effect on the team as a whole.

I know Bennett's not coming here, but I'd love it if Bednar suddenly decided some unhinged violence was okay and we got Bennett for the 2C.

 

[JimmyH]

First, I want to apologize for calling you an idiot. Should've stuck to the comment and not directed anything to you.

I just don't understand how you can say bad coaching doesn't make a difference. Is the coach not responsible for the line up? Does he not control who is on the ice and at what times? Does he not have the ability to call a time out? Does he not have a responsibility to get favorible matchups for his lines? Is the coach not responsible for getting the team ready to play in the first period, rather than waiting until 10 minutes left in the 3rd?

Coaching matters with both good and bad rosters.

No worries bro. I just meant that the rubber truly hits the road outside the bench area. That's all.

 

[the_fan]

The problem there is that Nate also tends to get frustrated and down on himself and that has a really negative effect on the team as a whole.

I know Bennett's not coming here, but I'd love it if Bednar suddenly decided some unhinged violence was okay and we got Bennett for the 2C.

Yeah but Nate also being frustrated and speaking his mind in 2021 when he said I haven’t won shit and showed real emotions led to a cup win in 22

 

[expatriatedtexan]

No worries bro. I just meant that the rubber truly hits the road outside the bench area. That's all.

Thanks for taking the high road hoss.