GDT: Avalanche vs Rangers Tuesday January 14th, 2025 @7:00PM (Emergency GDT) Our blue is the superior blue.

[dahrougem2]

I dunno, frustrating as he is, the "otherworldy bad" Mikko Rantanen is currently 4th in league scoring (only nine points behind the league leader, Nathan MacKinnon), and tied for 5th in goals. And this is with the power play continuing to shit the bed and taking regular shifts with Casey Mittelstadt as his center.

I'm not sitting here saying he's been phenomenal, but he's really the least of their problems. The lack of scoring depth on even a good day, the continued struggles of guys like Mitts and Malinski, and of course, injuries are taking their toll.

I think people get upset because they want to see Mikko drive his own line and produce if he's going to ask for Nathan MacKinnon money.

We know 29 produces with anyone. We don't know if Mikko does.

 

[missionAvs]

What happened to Malinski yesterday? It seems like he was either hurt or incredibly super bad. I only watched the last 3 min. You can thank me anyway not LOC or Blackwood

It hurts to be bad so in this case, yeah he's hurting.

Hard to pick a favourite moment but I liked Mittelstadt being dispossessed at the blue line by a guy on his knees who didn't have a stick.

He thought his shadow was lining him up for a hit so he backed down. Understandable really.

 

[TatteredTornNFrayed]

Innala got 8 shifts in the game, Polin 6 shifts. Won't surprise me if they call someone else from Loveland soon, perhaps next game.

And Malinski got 1 shift after the 2nd period. He could be subbed soon if other guys get healthy.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I think people get upset because they want to see Mikko drive his own line and produce if he's going to ask for Nathan MacKinnon money.

We know 29 produces with anyone. We don't know if Mikko does.

Tbf I'd like to see Mackinnon get his head out of his ass. Idk what's up with him but the dudes somehow producing despite his lack of shooting and constant braindead plays.

 

[Avs_19]

I think people get upset because they want to see Mikko drive his own line and produce if he's going to ask for Nathan MacKinnon money.

We know 29 produces with anyone. We don't know if Mikko does.

What's kinda funny is I distinctly remember a similar conversation about MacKinnon and his production away from Rantanen (or a lack there of) during his own contract negotiations. Now the script has flipped in the opposite direct to downplay Rantanen's contributions when it's time for his contract.

 

[the_fan]

I think people get upset because they want to see Mikko drive his own line and produce if he's going to ask for Nathan MacKinnon money.

We know 29 produces with anyone. We don't know if Mikko does.

Mikko did it before when Nate was out with injuries few years ago. Mikko pretty much carried the team. He can do it, but maybe he’s not doing it this year because Nate hasn’t missed games

 

[niwotsblessing]

And?

He's a rookie being asked, as you noted, to play above his experience level when Manson was hurt and that seems to have negatively impacted his play. He also gets paired with De Haan frequently who is arguably not NHL level anymore.

Not every rookie Dman is Cale Makar. With rookies it is understood that there are growing pains, ups and downs during the season, and so forth. He's hit the halfway point of his first full season in the NHL and it shows.

I'd love to see him paired regularly with Middleton after Sammy G. gets back to have a regular partner, someone who can cover the backend physically, and who plays a simple and clean game.

At least he didn't cough up the puck on the PP to give up a shorty.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

I think people get upset because they want to see Mikko drive his own line and produce if he's going to ask for Nathan MacKinnon money.

We know 29 produces with anyone. We don't know if Mikko does.

I thought Mikko was fine with Kadri when Mack was out. But we've never had Mikko get us to having two great lines at the same time, which is not easy.

The line chemistry for the 2nd line is so bad most of the time.

When I saw Colton-Mitts-Rants I was like o boy. Rants needs quick puck carrier/playmaker on the line to succeed and Colton isnt that even though his quick. Mitts at the moment is just slow. Nothing was working for them before Mitts benching.

Colton is poor mans Lehky and needs others to do the passing so he can skate around to be in the right spot to snipe a goal like Lehky.

You need to have players in the same line who create a good combination and what we saw today was always going to fail.

I definately would bump Colton on the top with Druin and Mack since Mack needs speed beside him so his not always attacking alone and needing to turn to pass back.

Make the 2nd line Lehky-Parssinen-Rants. Nice forechecking with L and P and Rants sniping the goals. Tonight Parssinen showed he has the moves.

Loved Parssinen's game in the 3rd period.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Get Nuke back and everything will improve. We have two space creator forwards. Nuke and Mack and thats it. Makar also on defense.

Everyone gets better with more time and space. Especially passers like Mitts and Drouin and snipers like Rants.

Drouin-Mack-Lehky
Nuke-Mitt-Rants

 

[drhiii]

I didn’t get to see the game but apparently a lack of effort was universally noticed. I have to wonder if Landeskog’s presence would make the players more accountable?

Yessir, understatement too. Supreme bummer Landeskog's absence.. each day his return slips farther away.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Get Nuke back and everything will improve. We have two space creator forwards. Nuke and Mack and thats it. Makar also on defense.

Everyone gets better with more time and space. Especially passers like Mitts and Drouin and snipers like Rants.

Drouin-Mack-Lehky
Nuke-Mitt-Rants

Nuke, Landy, and Lehkky all playing and on different lines is god mode for Bednar’s system, and making our Ds life much easier.

 

[Pokecheque]

I think people get upset because they want to see Mikko drive his own line and produce if he's going to ask for Nathan MacKinnon money.

We know 29 produces with anyone. We don't know if Mikko does.

Boy I dunno if anyone, Nate included, can produce with the depth pieces or struggling players on this roster.

I think we know he can drive a line (he proved that a couple seasons ago) though I understand that, given his tendencies, that a long-term commitment is dicey. That said, he's still an astounding talent.

I still wouldn't come even close to saying he's playing "otherworldly bad" right now though. That's just absurd. Though it does come from this forum's resident Chicken Little so I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

I think people get upset because they want to see Mikko drive his own line and produce if he's going to ask for Nathan MacKinnon money.

We know 29 produces with anyone. We don't know if Mikko does.

He is the Robin. Never going to be the Batman.

 

[chet1926]

Eh, I just don’t agree here for multiple reasons. 96 is a write off in terms of effort but the other two are very rarely lazy. They lead by example all the time and are playing copious minutes on top of that.

The other reason is talent level, and this is where 96 does apply. He can get away with it and get the ice time he does because he contributes regularly on offence. If LOC or kivi or any other bottom six player played with his effort level they’d be on waivers. You have to make allowances for super talented players and that’s ok as long as there’s a balance, which the Avs have in that regard, imo.

29 and 8 are great most nights. The last 2 weeks they've been complete ass. Probably from fatigue. If that's the case and they are fatigued, then we're SOL.

These two absolutely have to be better than what they've given over the past 2 weeks.

96 will always be completely hit or miss. Which sucks.

Once again the biggest issue is health. You've got Nuke out, Drouin probably playing at 70%, Girard out, Manson maybe 70%, Wood out, Ivan out, Ludvig out, Landy who knows what but sure as hell not playing. And the people we are replacing them with are complete ass. So it's not like they aren't trying they just are all so so hockey players that don't bring much to the table.

Effort needs to be better, but you are also dealing with stupid amounts of minor league fodder as well.

 

[Jasenr]

Boy I dunno if anyone, Nate included, can produce with the depth pieces or struggling players on this roster.

I think we know he can drive a line (he proved that a couple seasons ago) though I understand that, given his tendencies, that a long-term commitment is dicey. That said, he's still an astounding talent.

I still wouldn't come even close to saying he's playing "otherworldly bad" right now though. That's just absurd. Though it does come from this forum's resident Chicken Little so I shouldn't be surprised.

Imagine if Nate and Mikko would be playing as good as they could How many points would they have...

He is the Robin. Never going to be the Batman.

He might be Robin but his damn good being that. Edmonton has 2 Batmans and the depth is well....

 

[Jasenr]

29 and 8 are great most nights. The last 2 weeks they've been complete ass. Probably from fatigue. If that's the case and they are fatigued, then we're SOL.

These two absolutely have to be better than what they've given over the past 2 weeks.

96 will always be completely hit or miss. Which sucks.

Once again the biggest issue is health. You've got Nuke out, Drouin probably playing at 70%, Girard out, Manson maybe 70%, Wood out, Ivan out, Ludvig out, Landy who knows what but sure as hell not playing. And the people we are replacing them with are complete ass. So it's not like they aren't trying they just are all so so hockey players that don't bring much to the table.

Effort needs to be better, but you are also dealing with stupid amounts of minor league fodder as well.

If Avs were fully healthy then they propably could affort to lose 96. But at the moment his pretty much Bednards goto guy if you need someone to fill any role in offense. Left Right or Center. He might not be worlds best in any of those but he can do them. Last night was a good example. His versatile and healthy. Maybe its all the falling down like having drunkard luck

 

[The Abusement Park]

He's a rookie being asked, as you noted, to play above his experience level when Manson was hurt and that seems to have negatively impacted his play. He also gets paired with De Haan frequently who is arguably not NHL level anymore.

Not every rookie Dman is Cale Makar. With rookies it is understood that there are growing pains, ups and downs during the season, and so forth. He's hit the halfway point of his first full season in the NHL and it shows.

I'd love to see him paired regularly with Middleton after Sammy G. gets back to have a regular partner, someone who can cover the backend physically, and who plays a simple and clean game.

At least he didn't cough up the puck on the PP to give up a shorty.

For me it has nothing to do with his talent, but everything to do with his skillset. I don’t want my bottom pairing guy to only be good at the PP if he isn’t going to be a PP staple. He’s fine, but his skillset doesn’t fit what this team needs unless Cale is hurt. But even then he’s not going to replace Cale’s role.

 

[forsbergavs32]

I only say half the game once I got to my motel room but Malinski needs to sit for a game or 2. I think he’s fully capable of being a decent 6D but right now he probably needs to step out so he can reset.

Also when we get Nuke back I’d like to see the same thing done with Mitts. It would give him a chance to reset and the Avs can get a good look at what the future may hold for Parssinen.

 

[Avs9296]

I only say half the game once I got to my motel room but Malinski needs to sit for a game or 2. I think he’s fully capable of being a decent 6D but right now he probably needs to step out so he can reset.

Also when we get Nuke back I’d like to see the same thing done with Mitts. It would give him a chance to reset and the Avs can get a good look at what the future may hold for Parssinen.

He can sit but Girard needs to come back first. Unless you want Craig Ludvig back in the lineup.