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Hey, if he’s the poor man’s tubby 2.0 at least we didn’t waste a 1st on it. It’s nice to see that the Avs are learning.
For a pick outside the top 100, that wouldn't be a bad result. "Big guy who wins board battles" is a role every team needs on their 4th line & PK.
Additionally, since he's going to Denver, the Avalanche development staff & management have direct access to working with him. Not saying it's going to work into turning him into an NHLer, but we've seen tons of teams selecting guys in their backyard and/or steering them to CHL or NCAA teams in their backyard in order to have direct access for development purposes.
At this point I trust U Denver’s development more than the Avs. Not sure how much you know about the Avs and their drafting/development but it’s been subpar. I honestly like this draft this summer. Could be sneaky good. But yea the Avs have definitely held interest in DU players over the years.
Not a post against you personally... I just feel some facts need to start coming out on what the Avs do at the AHL level.
But isn't it fair to argue that there isn't really any recent history success?
To get to 200+ games, that’s pretty much 3 seasons. LOC just got 200 games at the end of 22-23. It takes time. Maybe Malinski is the next guy? I have my doubts, but easily possible. Englund a more recent guy, looks like he will too.
We both know that the AHL isn’t for developing top guys. They are there for a season or two max and move on. If they don’t, they simply aren’t impact players as the talent isn’t there. The AHL is for developing depth. The Avs org does have an ability to get players to take the step into being NHLers. Role guys, but NHLers.
You’ll have you day in court sir!
Is it a development problem or a lack of spotting talent from the scouting team? I mean, the Avs have drafted blokes who retired after their third/fourth year getting drafted or picking 1st rounders who are barely an ECHL-quality player. No development system can save those lost souls. Avs can absolutely do a lot better when it comes to funds for the farm system, but Kroenke doesn't seem like that type of sports investor. Just look at their practice facility situation for the past 15+ years. The only thing going for it is that it has a great view...outside.
I’m not sure which it is, so I tend to slant towards both. Hench has put forth what seems like a solid argument in one direction, but I still struggle with the following:
Avs know this too, there's a reason why they haven't been able to find a long-term head scout and one of the reasons is not renewing their contracts.
This is the point I side with, you can put Mikko Rantanen on the worst AHL team like the San Jose Barracuda and he still would have hit PPG status in the AHL. If somebody has talent, they will overcome even the worst development systems' and coaching staffs'. However, the project picks need a lot more help and that is the side development matters. Not in terms of getting them to the NHL level, but having the IQ of the development staff to understand what it takes to make the NHL, what role each prospect should have in the NHL, knowing the player's weaknesses, and using development training to overcome this. IQ of the development staff is the most important because like a personal trainer will know which muscles need which exercises to hit them, you gotta know what the player is weak in, and which training methods will improve on those weaknesses.
Exactly. Every fringe prospect or project pick has something that is holding them back from making it to the NHL. Whether it's skating, or needing to shoot more, or playing a less perimeter game, or working on their shot, or even just adapting from playing an offensive role at lower levels to learning to be a 4th liner in the NHL. The development staff has to get to know a player, figure out what they need to make the final step, and give them whatever they need to make it there. Development staff are the people who are in charge of the last 10% of a prospect's journey, but the first 90% is up to them. If a guy has too many weaknesses or insurmountable flaws (like Beaucage's skating) development can't squeeze blood from a stone.
I wonder if part of the Avs poor drafting record, particularly with role players, is due to an inability to get a read on who is willing to make the mental switch into becoming a Calvert/Cogliano type and who is going to struggle to adapt as they rise up levels and their skill advantage disappears. That seems like something you would hope to find out during interviews with the players/coaches, do you think there's a disconnect there that's preventing the Avs from identifying players who are a bust risk due to their mentality? Or is that just something where the only way to find out is to let them get to age 22 and see if they're prepared for it?
