GDT: Game 33 - Avs @ Dogs - The Ryker's Mullett Memorial Arena - 7PM

[chet1926]

Not sure what games you are watching but Englund is nowhere near JJ levels, and if you think that he is on JJ levels, then your standards have dropped significantly. JJ is a legit 7th dman.

Englund is like a middle to bottom pairing AHLer. His skating is bad, hockey sense is low, mediocre shot, horrible passer.

Once/if we ever get healthy he should be nowhere near the team. Like 3rd defensive call up at best. Ideally you get a JJ type player via trade to be the 7th guy, Hunt would be 8th and Englund can be 9th I guess hopefully it never gets to that point.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Not sure what games you are watching but Englund is nowhere near JJ levels, and if you think that he is on JJ levels, then your standards have dropped significantly. JJ is a legit 7th dman.

Englund is like a middle to bottom pairing AHLer. His skating is bad, hockey sense is low, mediocre shot, horrible passer.

Once/if we ever get healthy he should be nowhere near the team. Like 3rd defensive call up at best. Ideally you get a JJ type player via trade to be the 7th guy, Hunt would be 8th and Englund can be 9th I guess hopefully it never gets to that point.

I think you‘re expecting too much out of him or don’t remember how bad JJ is. Statistically England has done more than fine for a call up that’s had to play long termish for us. Obviously there’s very little upside offensively with him(and every call up dman) but in general he’s played pretty low event hockey. I’d say he and Hunt are pretty even on the call up list, would just depend on the type of dman needed to come up.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Needed cap space and a roster spot for Ristolainen.

Yikes. That's a massive mistake.

 

[henchman21]

@henchman24 said a few times that he wants to go watch an Avs game at the Mullet. I wonder if he's there tonight.

Wasn't there last night... 50/50 if I will be there in March. I have a meeting the next day in Tuscon, but the timing of everything makes it iffy.

Oh, I forgot to add that whoever trades for Shayne Gostisbehere is going to get a fantastic offensive defensemen. The Coyotes should be asking for a big haul for his services at the TDL.

Yeah he definitely has his warts, but he's a fantastic player. Any team that is lacking offense from the backend, he should be the top target... even over Klingberg.

 

[SirLoinOfCloth]

The only thing more pathetic than the Avs performance are the people blaming it on the injuries.

¿Que?

We're down 8 or so regular team players, and have been down 11 at one point. Pretty much the entire team is playing out of position up the lineup. Nearly half of this team doesn't even belong on NHL ice this regularly. One or two game callups maybe, but not weeks on end. Injuries are absolutely a legitimate excuse for the poor performance. If you think you can swap out Landy, Mack, Nuke, Byram et al for Englund, Hunt, Hudon, Meyers and Malgin and still be the same team you need to temper your expectations. The team could play better, but honestly with that many AHLers I think the team has actually played above expectations, not below.

 

[henchman21]

I’d say the injury excuse is a bit tired and all teams tend to go through them… but I’m perfectly fine with where the Avs are standings wise. I do think it is pretty clear the forward depth is an issue. Even with guys playing up… the 5v5 play leaves an awful lot to be desired.

 

[dahrougem2]

The Avs are going to be more than fine once they make a trade for a forward - and they will make a trade for one. LeBrun and Friedman have been putting it out there way too much for there not to be smoke, especially LeBrun.

It'll essentially be last year's team with whoever the target is replacing Kadri, and Rodrigues replacing Burakovsky. Chemistry will have to happen fast and we'll need some form of health but I'm not worried.

If this team shockingly does nothing by the TDL then yes, I'll be thinking 1st round exit. Otherwise it's just a holding pattern until TDL.

 

[Ceremony]

Englund is dung. All the non-Makar/Toews defensemen go out and try to survive until the top pairing is back out. Much like the forwards. One or two at a time can look good most of the time but when there are five AHL players on the ice at a time the whole thing collapses. Jack Johnson had no brain but he could at least move, which was alright when he had players around him to compensate for his limits.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

The Avs are going to be more than fine once they make a trade for a forward - and they will make a trade for one. LeBrun and Friedman have been putting it out there way too much for there not to be smoke, especially LeBrun.

It'll essentially be last year's team with whoever the target is replacing Kadri, and Rodrigues replacing Burakovsky. Chemistry will have to happen fast and we'll need some form of health but I'm not worried.

If this team shockingly does nothing by the TDL then yes, I'll be thinking 1st round exit. Otherwise it's just a holding pattern until TDL.

If we are going by the rumours thrown out by the “insiders” then the Avs overpaid for Hall and Giroux

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Should the Avs win against a weak Coyotes team? Yes they should especially considering their 6-1-1 record of their last 8 games. However with this lineup that Coyotes game was a lot closer to 50-50 odds of winning than the usual Avs-Coyotes games. You are not going to win all the games you are supposed to win. Heck BOS lost last night to the lowly Sens team. I guess the whole BOS organization should be panicking this morning. Travel didn't help as well.

We are still 6-2-1 in our last 9 games. Chill guys. Mack is coming back this week and it sounds like Nuke won't be out for long. The Avs will be fine.

 

[chet1926]

I think you‘re expecting too much out of him or don’t remember how bad JJ is. Statistically England has done more than fine for a call up that’s had to play long termish for us. Obviously there’s very little upside offensively with him(and every call up dman) but in general he’s played pretty low event hockey. I’d say he and Hunt are pretty even on the call up list, would just depend on the type of dman needed to come up.

No I'm fully aware of JJs capabilities and limitations, he's pretty bad. And that should tell you what I think of Englund if I think he's noticeably worse than JJ.

 

[chet1926]

Should the Avs win against a weak Coyotes team? Yes they should especially considering their 6-1-1 record of their last 8 games. However with this lineup that Coyotes game was a lot closer to 50-50 odds of winning than the usual Avs-Coyotes games. You are not going to win all the games you are supposed to win. Heck BOS lost last night to the lowly Sens team. I guess the whole BOS organization should be panicking this morning. Travel didn't help as well.

We are still 6-2-1 in our last 9 games. Chill guys. Mack is coming back this week and it sounds like Nuke won't be out for long. The Avs will be fine.

I mean I'm not mad we lost. I'm just frustrated with the injury situation.

Yeah sure 29 and 13 should be back sooner than later, but that's really it. We are still missing a lot after that and hearing that no one else is even close is aggravating.

Just kind of over the minor leaguers and want to watch some real hockey instead of hoping the minor leaguers eek one out.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I mean I'm not mad we lost. I'm just frustrated with the injury situation.

Yeah sure 29 and 13 should be back sooner than later, but that's really it. We are still missing a lot after that and hearing that no one else is even close is aggravating.

Just kind of over the minor leaguers and want to watch some real hockey instead of hoping the minor leaguers eek one out.

Yeah I hear you but the only one that you should be frustrating to hear about is Byram. Landy and Manson are on track with their original timeframe.

 

[dahrougem2]

If we are going by the rumours thrown out by the “insiders” then the Avs overpaid for Hall and Giroux

When LeBrun has a fully publicized conversation with MacFarland and it's acknowledeged the 2C position needs to be filled, I'd say chances are extremely high the Avs make a move.

MacFarland spoke about giving Newhook the shot. Well, that hasn't and won't be working. So now onto plan B.

 

[chet1926]

Yeah I hear you but the only one that you should be frustrating to hear about is Byram. Landy and Manson are on track with their original timeframe.

We just got an update from coach yesterday saying None of Byram, Manson or Landy are anywhere close.

Landy should be mid January which to me is close, Manson should have been early January which is close. And I'm just assuming Byram isn't coming back at all this year.

But hearing Landy and Manson aren't close is concerning seeing as how originally they should have been back sometime this month.

 

[The Abusement Park]

We just got an update from coach yesterday saying None of Byram, Manson or Landy are anywhere close.

Landy should be mid January which to me is close, Manson should have been early January which is close. And I'm just assuming Byram isn't coming back at all this year.

But hearing Landy and Manson aren't close is concerning seeing as how originally they should have been back sometime this month.

Landys timeline was always mid January?

 

[AllAboutAvs]

We just got an update from coach yesterday saying None of Byram, Manson or Landy are anywhere close.

Landy should be mid January which to me is close, Manson should have been early January which is close. And I'm just assuming Byram isn't coming back at all this year.

But hearing Landy and Manson aren't close is concerning seeing as how originally they should have been back sometime this month.

"Close" is relative. Landy was originally out 12 weeks which means mid-Jan at the earliest. That is still over two weeks out. And I'm pretty sure Manson is still out a couple weeks of his original timeline as well. For Bednar I can see that it is still not "close". We are talking another 10-12 games.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Georgie(v) is playing fairly decent goal... for getting repeatedly thrown to the barbarians by his mates. Same for Frankie. Personally find his/their play mostly inspiring.. plus preferring to find the upsides in a team that just won the Cup but is gasping for air. This kids will be allright.

Agree. Both goalies have been hung out to dry by terrible decision making by the d and fwds on the ice. I mean it's beer nite hockey level knucklehead braining.

But Toews isn't himself and Makar is having to play way more cautious than he has in the past. Both are being drained by too many minutes.

You do realize Kaut is hurt, right?

Also, Newhook, not playing center.

Yes, Foudy is on the Eagles. I'm sure he'll get another shot soon enough.

Thanks. I didn't know that. Haven't been tracking the team the last week or so. Knew about Nuke but not Kaut. I'm still hopeful that Newhook finds his game.... As opposed to having already found it.

 

[Metallo]

I’d say the injury excuse is a bit tired and all teams tend to go through them… but I’m perfectly fine with where the Avs are standings wise. I do think it is pretty clear the forward depth is an issue. Even with guys playing up… the 5v5 play leaves an awful lot to be desired.

I don't think the injury excuse is tired one bit. I was going through lineups yesterday and was getting angry seeing how few injuries other teams have at the moment and, if any, to inconsequential players. Real tip of the hat to WSH and COL for being afloat during this rash of injuries.

 

[Pokecheque]

Thanks. I didn't know that. Haven't been tracking the team the last week or so. Knew about Nuke but not Kaut. I'm still hopeful that Newhook finds his game.... As opposed to having already found it.

I think any improvement in Newhook's production will not come from Newhook himself, but rather the return of players from injury who will bump him a little lower in the lineup and therefore give him softer minutes. Once he's a depth scorer and the opposition has to key in on guys like MacKinnon and Nuke rather than him, he'll put up much better numbers.

Honestly I don't think he's played all that bad. It's just unfortunate that he's very likely not the impact player we were all hoping for.

And I fully believe once the dust settles and the Avs end up swinging for that solution at 2C, whatever that may be, Newhook won't be on the roster anymore.

 

[dahrougem2]

I think any improvement in Newhook's production will not come from Newhook himself, but rather the return of players from injury who will bump him a little lower in the lineup and therefore give him softer minutes. Once he's a depth scorer and the opposition has to key in on guys like MacKinnon and Nuke rather than him, he'll put up much better numbers.

Honestly I don't think he's played all that bad. It's just unfortunate that he's very likely not the impact player we were all hoping for.

And I fully believe once the dust settles and the Avs end up swinging for that solution at 2C, whatever that may be, Newhook won't be on the roster anymore.

Yeah, while it's still quite early I think the signs are there that Newhook is at best going to be a middle six winger who should probably play on a team's 3rd line. He's scoring at a worse pace this season than his rookie season.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Should the Avs win against a weak Coyotes team? Yes they should especially considering their 6-1-1 record of their last 8 games. However with this lineup that Coyotes game was a lot closer to 50-50 odds of winning than the usual Avs-Coyotes games. You are not going to win all the games you are supposed to win. Heck BOS lost last night to the lowly Sens team. I guess the whole BOS organization should be panicking this morning. Travel didn't help as well.

We are still 6-2-1 in our last 9 games. Chill guys. Mack is coming back this week and it sounds like Nuke won't be out for long. The Avs will be fine.

The boys were obviously missing their legs. AND really weren't focused. Too many duh moments.

The rink they played on was interesting too. Not an excuse but the corners were quite shallow and those kinds of changes mess up your angles and positioning. And help a d-zone check and pin game like the Yotes played last night.

I dunno, was it even 200 ft in length 'cause the NZ seemed smaller? The NHL has pretty much standardized rink dimensions so places like the original Boston Garden no longer exist. But suddenly one season, you find yourself playing on a rink built on a college campus??

I was musing to myself as to whether the Avs should practice at Honnen or Sertich before heading down to AZ next time. LOL

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I think any improvement in Newhook's production will not come from Newhook himself, but rather the return of players from injury who will bump him a little lower in the lineup and therefore give him softer minutes. Once he's a depth scorer and the opposition has to key in on guys like MacKinnon and Nuke rather than him, he'll put up much better numbers.

Honestly I don't think he's played all that bad. It's just unfortunate that he's very likely not the impact player we were all hoping for.

And I fully believe once the dust settles and the Avs end up swinging for that solution at 2C, whatever that may be, Newhook won't be on the roster anymore.

Yeah, hopefully the Avs can recognize that if he isn't a Center for us, we cant afford him moving forward.


I still think he's a really nice, valuable trade chip in a trade. He just doesn't hold the same value to us because we have 5/6 of our Top 6 forwards locked up for quite a while and Newhook has shown he's both not ready and likely never will be ready, to be the last missing spot in our Top 6.


We're unfortunately in a situation where we cant afford 3rd line wingers making $3-4M starting next season.

 

[henchman21]

I don't think the injury excuse is tired one bit. I was going through lineups yesterday and was getting angry seeing how few injuries other teams have at the moment and, if any, to inconsequential players. Real tip of the hat to WSH and COL for being afloat during this rash of injuries.

Each team goes through it and with important players. Toronto went a significant stretch without their top 3 defensemen and have had 2 of their top 4 out pretty much the whole season. Carolina has been without their starting goalie and a top line winger for the majority of the season along with another top line winger for a stretch. Avs are far from alone in missing important players.

 

[henchman21]

The boys were obviously missing their legs. AND really weren't focused. Too many duh moments.

The rink they played on was interesting too. Not an excuse but the corners were quite shallow and those kinds of changes mess up your angles and positioning. And help a d-zone check and pin game like the Yotes played last night.

I dunno, was it even 200 ft in length 'cause the NZ seemed smaller? The NHL has pretty much standardized rink dimensions so places like the original Boston Garden no longer exist. But suddenly one season, you find yourself playing on a rink built on a college campus??

I was musing to myself as to whether the Avs should practice at Honnen or Sertich before heading down to AZ next time. LOL

The ice in Mullett arena is exactly the same size as every other sheet of ice in the NHL. The difference is Mullett arena probably has the single best ice surface in the league. It is incredibly hard and fast... and the boards are really fast. It has quickly gained the rep of the best ice surface in the league and will be the new standard.