Bill Peckerskull
Fargin' Icehole
I'm almost willing to bet that 5-6-7 D are Malinski (<$1.5M), EJ (league minimum), and Middleton (already signed for league minimum)
Speculation: 2025 Off-season Thread
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dahrougem2
Registered User
Agreed though I would rather EJ be punted to the moon since he definitely can't play anymore.
I think it'll be Middleton and Aamodt.
- Oct 24, 2008
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EJ is completely cooked. I don't expect him back.
Yep.
Middleton and Aamodt are both signed for league minimum $775k AAV each. Those are cheap options for 6/7 D until we improve it at the trade deadline.
shadow1
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- Nov 29, 2008
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Call me crazy, but I think Malinski has top-4 upside. I was impressed with him this season, particularly in the 2nd half.
10 points, +9 in his final 24gp, while averaging 17:09. In the playoffs vs Dallas, 2nd best SF% (65.2%), 2nd best xGF% (65.1%), was on the ice for 3GF, 0GA (all strengths). Unlike pretty much everyone else, he did not crumple in the face of pressure.
At minimum, I think he's a plus player as Colorado's #5D. I'm fine with Middleton starting as the #6. Get Behrens some work in at some point, give Aamodt another look to see if anything's there, and upgrade again at the deadline.
dahrougem2
Registered User
Problem with that is we saw how bad Malinski can look during the middle portion of the season. When he was paired with Girard they had unbelievable numbers. However, when paired with Lindgren those numbers went down and when paired with Middleton they went down SIGNIFICANTLY.
I don't think Malinski is the kind of defenseman who can survive being paired with a dummy like Middleton - he's not good enough to carry that pairing, so we're going to be stuck in survival mode whenever they're on the ice.
I like Malinski a lot after souring on him during the middle portion of the season. I realized it was Middleton bringing him down tremendously for the most part. If the Avs are running Makar/Toews/Manson/Girard/Malinski as their 5D I don't have an issue in the playoffs, especially if the 6th D is a strict big body PKer who is a bit better than Middleton.
AnimalMother73
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- Sep 17, 2009
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Just need to make sure 6th D isn't a midget, we probably have the smallest top 5 D of any team in the league which is a challenge in the playoffs.
Foppa2118
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- Oct 3, 2003
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People have been saying EJ is cooked for 10 years. I think people just like saying players are "cooked."
I think he most likely retires, because the Avs want Middleton as the healthy scratch, but if he were brought back as a 7/8, they've done a lot worse in that role over the years. He had some good games after the trade.
I think he most likely retires, because the Avs want Middleton as the healthy scratch, but if he were brought back as a 7/8, they've done a lot worse in that role over the years. He had some good games after the trade.
- Oct 24, 2008
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We know you’re a huge EJ fan, but he was horrendous in the two games he played in the playoffs.
The game has passed him. There’s no shame in that, he’s had a tremendous career.
Foppa2118
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- Oct 3, 2003
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I don't agree he was horrendous. We may disagree, and that's fine, but I think I do a good job of trying to be objective in my analysis of everyone, including EJ.
I know you didn't mean it this way, so It's not a big deal, but I also don't think it's really fair to distill someone's different opinion down to them loving or hating a player. Been seeing that a lot lately.
TBF, you are on the other end of the spectrum of bias. When everyone was saying he played well after the trade, you were the only one I saw say he was awful. Think you also called him a "useless sack of shit" and compared him to Zanon recently too. Which is totally fine.
I just think this "cooked" phrase is very much overused. I've lost track of the amount of times I've seen that said about a player who went on to play fine. Including EJ 10 years ago when that was being said.
dahrougem2
Registered User
I think EJ is very much cooked for a few reasons:
1) Age, obviously
2) Foot speed is even worse now
3) He can't be an every night player
1) Age, obviously
2) Foot speed is even worse now
3) He can't be an every night player
- Apr 25, 2006
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Decision making is slow, too.
To me it's crazy to believe that he has anything left in the tank.
- Apr 25, 2006
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Foppa2118
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- Oct 3, 2003
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This was said before the trade too, then most people seemed to like all but one or two of his games.
He wouldn't be an everyday player as a 7/8.
His foot speed actually looked better at times to me than when he left. Not playing every game helps with that.
I don't think the Avs re-sign him anyway though. They want Middelton as a healthy scratch, and they seem to want him playing D not F. Doubtful they have two D healthy scratches.
- Oct 24, 2008
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lol what’s the point of even saying that?
Yes, the Avs likely want a player playing their actual position rather than a position they’ve never played before…
Foppa2118
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Uhh because they played him at wing a lot before this year, and Bednar specifically said they wanted him to stay on defense moving forward?
- Oct 24, 2008
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Brother, Keaton Middleton had 3 NHL games played before this year. 4 years ago.
He’s a defenseman.
Foppa2118
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- Oct 3, 2003
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Did he play forward for the Avs and Eagles before? I can't remember.
Did Bednar not say they're going to keep Middleton on defense this year for stability? Or am I thinking of MacDermid? I thought he said that this year, but I can't find it, because it's kind of obscure.
I know he's more of a defenseman, I just thought he spent some time at forward, and remember that Bednar comment about who I thought was him.
- Oct 24, 2008
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Foppa2118
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- Oct 3, 2003
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Maybe. I could have sworn that comment from Bednar was at the beginning of this year. Seems fresher in my mind than two years ago.
Yeah, I think you're thinking of McD lol.
They might of done some weird shit like that with Kylington/CDH/The dude we traded for like a game, but I don't remember Middleton playing forward on the Avs.
Middleton has had a pretty steady and solid rise as a shut down D through our organization. He may actually be my favorite of all of these older AHL defenders we've tried at times.
Guys like Holden, Guinea, and Graves have just pissed me off in the end. Middleton stays within his role, and is not infuriating to watch for me. Great 6/7 more 7 hopefully.
Foppa2118
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- Oct 3, 2003
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The Avs seem to like using depth D as forwards. Gives them options as healthy scratches.
MacDermid, MacDonald, Kylingon, CDH, Cumiskey. JJ I think maybe for a game too, but not sure. Eric Messier back in the day. Others perhaps too I'm forgetting.
Middleton fits that mold. I swear that Bednar comment was this year, but I could be wrong. I'm not dying on that hill.
forsbergavs32
Global Moderator
- Jan 21, 2011
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I don't like the term there. He'll be 136 at the end of that contract
We haven't really been hurt by it or benefited on the ice I think. It's been fine in the odd game. Seems to make carrying less players easier transaction wise.
There are no Bo Jacksons in the NHL right now. I think Burns is probably the last, but hasn't played forward in years now.
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