Pre-Game Talk: Week of the New Year at home! Vs Jets, vs Sabers, vs Canadians.

[BaconNater]

Jared has great hear. I am happy to have him leading the way I will be following his chase for the all time coaching wins record!

 

[Balthazar]

I'm very interested to see how we fare against good teams.

This will be the first playoff team we face since the Devils 9 games ago (that's crazy).

Well I just looked it won't be a fair test after all. Jets are playing in Nashville the night before while we are waiting rested at home.

It's a scheduled loss for the Jets. Can't use that.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Mackenzie had his Wood hanging out just chatting up his teammates?

That's one way to bring the locker room together.

Just a bunch of guys being dudes.

 

[the_fan]

Well I just looked it won't be a fair test after all. Jets are playing in Nashville the night before while we are waiting rested at home.

It's a scheduled loss for the Jets. Can't use that.

Back to backs are just stupid. The NHL should just get rid of them. Shouldn’t be hard to make the schedule where there are no back to backs. Jets also played today, so it will be 3 games in 4 days for them

 

[dahrougem2]

Well I just looked it won't be a fair test after all. Jets are playing in Nashville the night before while we are waiting rested at home.

It's a scheduled loss for the Jets. Can't use that.

Every team plays back to backs. It's not an excuse.

 

[MacKaRant]

I like it all except putting the 2nd highest scorer in the league on the second line next to a deadweight center in Mitts.

MacK with Mikko. Forever.

Hi Jared

 

[forsbergavs32]

I just don't see any reason to split up Mack, Lehk, and Nuke right now. Mitts wasn't working with them either. It's not gonna matter who his linemates are, Mitts is gonna have to find a way to get going.

 

[Murzu]

Yeah, probably.

Drouin and Parssinen in for Smith and Innala.

That's such a huge upgrade lol. Health is nice and active, decent GM is also a blessing.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

So JD obviously has a lot of chemistry with Nate.

But I'm wondering if his style/IQ would help get Mitts going? He's a completely different winger than what he's been playing with and is also much smarter than our average wingers (Lehky and Landy exlcuded).

I'm thinking I'd like to see:
Nuke-Nate-Rants
JD-Mitts-Lehky

Top line is just a bunch of damn men amongst boys...as long as Rants can stay on his feet.
That second line might be one of the higher IQ lines the Avs have iced in a long time.

 

[RECKLESS]

Any of the top six combos is no excuse for Mitts. He doesn't have Ivan and Kovalenko in any case on his wings anymore so it's just game on.

 

[Bensch88]

Yeah Mitts need to find his A game very soon. Wouldnt be against trying Colton as the 2nd line center (i know he is better on the wing but Bednar needs to do so something regarding Mitts)
Drouin Mac Mikko
Lehky Colton Nuke
Kivi Mitts LOC
Kelly New guy whoever

Even if its just for a few games

 

[lionsDen]

Mackenzie had his Wood hanging out just chatting up his teammates?

That's one way to bring the locker room together.

Maybe it lingered on in her brain… maybe she’s crushing lol

 

[lionsDen]

I wonder if the locker room issues this year has dragged mittelstdat down, after playing in buffalo for so long. If this team can get juiced again I look for his game turnaround. I’m not concerned

 

[MaKarter]

Droiun- MacKinnon- Nichushkin
Lehkonen- Parssinen- Rantanen
Colton- Mittelstadt- O'Connor
Kiviranta- Kelly- Innala

I say try it for few games to help the new Finn fit in and hopefully get Mittelstadt working again.

 

[dahrougem2]

I'm not opposed to sending Mittelstadt a message for a game or two.

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Drouin - Colton - Rantanen
Kiviranta - Kelly - O'Connor
Parssinen - Mittelstadt - Ivan

 

[RECKLESS]

Droiun- MacKinnon- Nichushkin
Lehkonen- Parssinen- Rantanen
Colton- Mittelstadt- O'Connor
Kiviranta- Kelly- Innala

I say try it for few games to help the new Finn fit in and hopefully get Mittelstadt working again.

Nice. Give Pärssinen a good welcome boost of confidence. Also, would be a f***ing dream to see an all-Finn line on the Avs. Let's gooo!!

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Nice. Give Pärssinen a good welcome boost of confidence. Also, would be a f***ing dream to see an all-Finn line on the Avs. Let's gooo!!

Kiviranta - Parssinen - Innala

 

[RECKLESS]

Kiviranta - Parssinen - Innala

Beat me to it.
I was just about to edit to add to my post:
"Even if it's Kivi-Pärssinen-Innala."

 

[lionsDen]

I'm not opposed to sending Mittelstadt a message for a game or two.

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Nichushkin
Drouin - Colton - Rantanen
Kiviranta - Kelly - O'Connor
Parssinen - Mittelstadt - Ivan

From what I’ve read Parssinen is not a winger and he struggled there he’s a C it’s like opposite of Colton.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

I'm not opposed to sending Mittelstadt a message for a game or two.

Do you think the kid is unaware of what's going on or something? lol

 

[LOFIN]

I'm not opposed to sending Mittelstadt a message for a game or two.

From what Bednar said, he's well aware of what's going on and he's taking it pretty heavy at the moment. If you want to "demote" Mittelstadt, IMO it would be a wrong message paint it that way. It should be messaged clearly to him that it's to accommodate Pärssinen, that's it.

 

[dahrougem2]

Do you think the kid is unaware of what's going on or something? lol

I think he's fully aware. I also think he shouldn't be spoon fed 2nd line minutes if he can't even do the little things.

It's one thing to be in a production slump. Mittelstadt can't win a battle or make simple passes without turning pucks over.

The less he plays at the moment, the better.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

I think he's fully aware. I also think he shouldn't be spoon fed 2nd line minutes if he can't even do the little things.

It's one thing to be in a production slump. Mittelstadt can't win a battle or make simple passes without turning pucks over.

The less he plays at the moment, the better.

I don't agree. He's a scoring line center. Playing him on a checking line with less capable wingers isn't going to help him OR the team. It's just going to make things worse.

 

[dahrougem2]

I don't agree. He's a scoring line center. Playing him on a checking line with less capable wingers isn't going to help him OR the team. It's just going to make things worse.

Mittelstadt played his best hockey of the season with checking style fast skaters on his line.

See if that gets him going again, because two months of scoring options hasn't done anything.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Mittelstadt played his best hockey of the season with checking style fast skaters on his line.

See if that gets him going again, because two months of scoring options hasn't done anything.

Your suggestion was putting him on the 4th line (12 minutes or less TOI) and making his wings Parssinen (new center who has played zero games in our system) and Ivan (AHL player)

See if it gets him going again lol. No, you're just burying and sabotaging him.

I just don't agree with you on this. I think it's a stupid idea.