GDT: Avalanche @ Maple Leafs Wednesday 03/19/25 5:00PM MNT (Emergency GDT) If we lose, it RIAL's fault.

[RoyIsALegend]

I’m not sure why our scouting report on Woll was to go high glove.

All of the analytics on Woll show his weak spot is mid blocker side, above the pad and below the blocker. He has allowed most of his goals that way.

Steve Valiquette and his Clear Sight Analytics team have documented Woll’s weakness.

He’s actually very strong on the glove side, so I’m baffled why Bednar and Parkkila went with that approach.

 

[Freaky Styley]

I keep seeing that comment, Bednar’s system takes longer to learn and I don’t understand that. Is Bednar’s system a different sport than hockey? It’s still hockey. You skate, you receive passes, you pass the puck, you shoot the puck etc…. It really shouldn’t take long at all. If it’s taking long, it’s not the system, it’s the player, confidence, effort etc…

Chemistry on the other hand with other players is a real thing. It can take some time to develop chemistry with new players, or sometimes it doesn’t develop at all

The system and chemistry go hand in hand IMO. Guys know where to be in the scheme and new guys need time to adjust to that. I'm not taking the onus off of Nelson and his compete level, but that uncertainty also effects confidence. Particularly offensive players. Drouin took about 20 games before looking comfortable. Necas on the other hand fit in almost immediately because of his speed.

 

[dahrougem2]

Yeah. This. Avs put a lot of shots on goal but didn’t generate any real traffic or get to rebounds. Like it or not this is exactly how Berube likes to win games. The other team didn’t make the adjustments necessary to counter this. They have a habit of making goalies look better than they actually were.

They dumped the puck a lot but then didn’t forecheck with any sort of urgency.

It's not like the Avs didn't generate excellent chances, though. They technically generated more high danger chances than their season average last night.

Yeah, you want to see them get to rebounds bu Woll was phenomenal last night. Stopped 2 goals above expected.

 

[Pokecheque]

It's not like the Avs didn't generate excellent chances, though. They technically generated more high danger chances than their season average last night.

Yeah, you want to see them get to rebounds bu Woll was phenomenal last night. Stopped 2 goals above expected.

He was to be sure. Avs weren't terrible either. Just not quite good enough.

Oh well, best to get these out of the way.

On a side note, I would not be surprised if the league quietly denies Sutherland and his crew a deep playoff run based on last night's uproariously bad job. They never outright publicly punish an official when he does something to embarrass the league but I'd be willing to bet they noticed, and are not happy.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

He was to be sure. Avs weren't terrible either. Just not quite good enough.

Oh well, best to get these out of the way.

On a side note, I would not be surprised if the league quietly denies Sutherland and his crew a deep playoff run based on last night's uproariously bad job. They never outright publicly punish an official when he does something to embarrass the league but I'd be willing to bet they noticed, and are not happy.

You’re making it sound like he intentionally blocked the clearance lol

The dude slipped and fell, it was never intentional. You know he was hoping and praying nothing happened and probably felt like shit when Lorentz scored.

We can move on.

 

[Pokecheque]

You’re making it sound like he intentionally blocked the clearance lol

The dude slipped and fell, it was never intentional. You know he was hoping and praying nothing happened and probably felt like shit when Lorentz scored.

We can move on.

I know he didn't mean to, just saying when any ref makes a gaffe THAT public, the league notices. I'm not even saying that's fair, just that Bettman & Co. do not like it when that happens. I vaguely recall Furlatt (I think it was him at least) made a controversial call of some sort, and the NHL quietly skipped over him and his crew when it came to selecting officials for the playoffs. If Sutherland makes it in, that's fine, but I won't be shocked if he doesn't.

Beyond that I thought they did an absolutely terrible job last night. The Avs did not lose because a ref made a dumb mistake though, they just didn't bring their A-game against a hot goaltender.

 

[the_fan]

It was his to lose a week ago. He the. Proceeded to lose it by checking out 4 games in a row.

I think Nate was the favorite first half of the season, then Draisaitl started scoring all the goals for the Oilers, and might get to 60. I think he’ll win the Hart

 

[the_fan]

The system and chemistry go hand in hand IMO. Guys know where to be in the scheme and new guys need time to adjust to that. I'm not taking the onus off of Nelson and his compete level, but that uncertainty also effects confidence. Particularly offensive players. Drouin took about 20 games before looking comfortable. Necas on the other hand fit in almost immediately because of his speed.

It’s a fair point, but the Drouin example is little different. He came to the Avs from the Habs where he was struggling, also had personal issues, so it’s understandable why it took him long to adjust to a new team and start producing.

Nelson on the other hand was producing just fine in NY, and he should be a stylistic fit on the Avs, but for some reason, hasn’t been able to adjust so far. The reason I don’t agree it’s a system issue is because Nelson is struggling to do the easy simple things.

For example, Bednar tried him on the 1st PP unit, and Nelson struggled to even make simple plays like get the puck and make a pass, he would just turn it over. That’s not a system thing, that’s just him not having confidence to even make simple plays. Maybe he’s still shocked for being traded, and didn’t really wanted to be traded.

 

[Ceremony]

I've been quick to criticise Malinski this year when everyone here seemed to think he was great but he had a good game last night.

Blackwood should have had that goal but holy f***, how are you an NHL official and manage to do something that stupid?

 

[NorthernAvsFan]

It’s amazing how good players become bad when the step into the Avs 2C role. You’d think playing in the shadow of MacKinnon would be easy.

Good wingers, easy matchups. But still…

 

[S E P H]

The referee definitely didn't help on the GWG. And Woll had a good game. But the Avs also need to take accountability for the loss.

The Avs for all their shots actually did very little to actually trouble Woll. They took almost 40 shots but there were very few rebounds and second chances, very little crashing the net, very few screen plays, and hardly any tipping attempts. Maybe try not shooting high glove side every single time if the goalie has shown he's got a hot glove hand. You need to create your own luck sometimes.

Yes Toronto got a couple of lucky bounces with their two goals, but they also hit the post two or three times.

Yeah, I noticed that as well. A ton of outside shots with little to no traffic in front along with an absolute putrid GWG allowed by Blackwood.

 

[S E P H]

4 points back of Dallas who have 2 games in hand. And only 13 games left.

Dallas only need to go 11-4 to clinch 2nd even if the Avs go 13-0-0. Seems a bit too far.

Minnesota are only 2 points back with both teams having 13 games left.

View attachment 995951

It looks like either:

R1: Dallas
R2: Winnipeg/Vancouver
R3: Vegas/Minnesota/Edmonton/LAK

Or

R1: Vegas
R2: Edmonton/LA
R3: Dallas/Minnesota/Winnipeg/Vancouver

I like the idea of Dallas in R1 without Heiskanen. It'll get tougher later on when he's healthier. But that path also means facing Winnipeg in R2 instead of Edmonton/LA. A Dallas/Winnipeg path would be pretty bruising, but if you knock out Dallas and Winnipeg early you're theoretically getting an easier WCF against Vegas/Edmonton/Minnesota/LA.

The Vegas and Edmonton/LA path is easier on paper. But you could have Dallas with Heiskanen in the WCF that way.

There's pro's and con's of both sides.

Another point is that even if Minnesota passes the Avs it'll still be somewhat important to keep picking up points to stay ahead of Edmonton and LA so the Avs would have home ice in a potential R2 matchup if they go that route.

Whatever the case it's a pretty good position to be in. The Avs don't have to worry about missing the playoffs so they can simply focus on the process rather than the actual results.

From that perspective it's pretty encouraging how the Avs played last night. They came into Toronto who are battling for top seed in their division and almost doubled them up in shots. Yeah they got some bad bounces and lost but in the grander scheme of things the performance is what matters more at this point. It would be far more concerning if they won 1-0 but got dominated.

We can seriously blame Georgiev for us finishing 3rd and on the road lol.

It’s amazing how good players become bad when the step into the Avs 2C role. You’d think playing in the shadow of MacKinnon would be easy.

Good wingers, easy matchups. But still…

View attachment 996124

My argument all along is that Nelson isn't really that good...

 

[the_fan]

It’s amazing how good players become bad when the step into the Avs 2C role. You’d think playing in the shadow of MacKinnon would be easy.

Good wingers, easy matchups. But still…

View attachment 996124

The Avs haven’t really had legit options for 2C role since Kadri. Nelson should be one, and maybe it will workout but hasn’t so far.

After Kadri they tried JTC, Newhook who are not top 6 forwards. RyJo was a reclamation project at best, and no one should be surprised why it didn’t workout there

Mitts is young and not established, so he wasn’t a sure thing either and it’s understandable why it didn’t work out with him either.

Nelson should be that guy and hopefully he will be or we’re screwed…. Again.

 

[Balthazar]

List of 2nd line centers under Bednar:

Soda
Kerfoot
Jost
JTC
Kadri
Newhook
Ryjo
Mitts
Nelson

That's 9 guys that were given a chance at 2C.

I'm not counting Duchene/Mack/Eller and others who ended up there at some point.

 

[the_fan]

List of 2nd line centers under Bednar:

Soda
Kerfoot
Jost
JTC
Kadri
Newhook
Ryjo
Mitts
Nelson

That's 9 guys.

Yup, and exactly 2 guys jump out from that list who should be good 2nd line centers. Kadri and Nelson

 

[missionAvs]

You’re making it sound like he intentionally blocked the clearance lol

The dude slipped and fell, it was never intentional. You know he was hoping and praying nothing happened and probably felt like shit when Lorentz scored.

We can move on.

Don't lie. I saw you sitting rink side with that laser pointer. You know Sutherland is like a cat so when he saw the laser pointer shining in front of him, he tried to avoid it and tripped. Your fault RIAL, your fault.

 

[Richard88]

The worst part about that GWG was that it came totally against the run of play. The Avs had been dominating ever since the start of the 1st period, finally earned a powerplay, only to be undone by that backbreaker which turned the tide in the game.

 

[Richard88]

A look at the metrics from the game, what stands out:

Malinski tied with Mackinnon for a team-high 6 shots and 60 CF%. Nice game.

Coyle at 2C posting an 83.33 CF%. Maybe we won't be so screwed if Nelson doesn't pan out...

Girard-EJ is looking good.

 

[The Moops]

View attachment 995945

Honestly the best one I've ever seen. Good work

 

[Pokecheque]

List of 2nd line centers under Bednar:

Soda
Kerfoot
Jost
JTC
Kadri
Newhook
Ryjo
Mitts
Nelson

That's 9 guys that were given a chance at 2C.

I'm not counting Duchene/Mack/Eller and others who ended up there at some point.

And Soda was never *officially* the 2nd line center even though for all intents and purposes he was. Through that lens (and the fact he had two grinders as wingers) he did perfectly fine as a stand-in 2C.

Apart from that, so far the only guy who actually excelled in that role listed was Kadri. Mitts did good for a while and then disappeared, but that's it. Newhook, Johanson, and Jost were disasters, Kerfoot IMO was never a center to begin with.

Nelson is TBD.

 

[sethro109]

View attachment 996156

Honestly the best one I've ever seen. Good work

Hahah. Thank you. I've made so many of these now, I figured I should do a gif one too.

 

[Richard88]

And Soda was never *officially* the 2nd line center even though for all intents and purposes he was. Through that lens (and the fact he had two grinders as wingers) he did perfectly fine as a stand-in 2C.

Apart from that, so far the only guy who actually excelled in that role listed was Kadri. Mitts did good for a while and then disappeared, but that's it. Newhook, Johanson, and Jost were disasters, Kerfoot IMO was never a center to begin with.

Nelson is TBD.

The early results with Coyle are promising at least... 61.65 CF%.

Only 0g + 1a in 6 games though.

 

[the_fan]

How can someone look at that list of players we’ve tried at 2C and blame Bednar? Take out Kadri and Nelson and it’s bunch of crap. Or if crap is too harsh, it’s bunch of players who are simply not 2nd line centers, and I read that Bednar is responsible for lack of 2nd line center production

 

[Pokecheque]

The early results with Coyle are promising at least... 61.65 CF%.

Only 0g + 1a in 6 games though.

View attachment 996163

Yeah, offense is not his forte but dude scraps like hell down low and along the boards, wins a lot of puck battles. Has lost some key draws but I think the Avs are just gonna be cursed in that department for the foreseeable future.

 

[Ararana]

How can someone look at that list of players we’ve tried at 2C and blame Bednar? Take out Kadri and Nelson and it’s bunch of crap. Or if crap is too harsh, it’s bunch of players who are simply not 2nd line centers, and I read that Bednar is responsible for lack of 2nd line center production

Pretty sure that's the point he's making.

Crazy considering this core started with a center depth of Duchene/ROR/MacKinnon/Stastny.