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

[Hinterland]

Well, Bednar talked at length about Mittelstadt struggling and having to fix the 2nd line. At the same time he said he said he really likes the MacKinnon and Kelly lines. Assuming those two lines (in bold) are set in stone for now and with Pärssinen and Drouin coming in I wonder if the Kelly line is gonna become the new 4th line. Sure sounds like Bednar identified Mittelstadt as the problem on the 2nd line which leaves an opening for Pärssinen. Mittelstadt would still get decent enough linemates with Drouin and Ivan:


Lehkonen, MacKinnon, Nichushkin
Colton, Pärssinen, Rantanen
Ivan, Mittelstadt, Drouin
Kiviranta, Kelly, O'Connor

 

[LOFIN]

Lehkonen, MacKinnon, Nichushkin
Colton, Pärssinen, Rantanen
Ivan, Mittelstadt, Drouin
Kiviranta, Kelly, O'Connor

Need to swap Drouin and Colton. Mittelstadt and Drouin both want to distribute the puck, let's not put them together.

 

[Hinterland]

Need to swap Drouin and Colton. Mittelstadt and Drouin both want to distribute the puck, let's not put them together.

Long term maybe. Depends on Drouin's condition though. He hasn't played for a while and he'd have to shoulder a heavier workload with Rantanen on his line.

I think with Bednar really liking the Kelly line and not trusting Mittelstadt the Mittelstadt line would be ideal to ease Drouin back in.

 

[LOFIN]

I would love to see Rantanen and Pärssinen together, even if that's probably a tall order. They have never played together, but know eachother and train together during the summers (along with Lehkonen of course).

 

[Hinterland]

I would love to see Rantanen and Pärssinen together, even if that's probably a tall order. They have never played together, but know eachother and train together during the summers (along with Lehkonen of course).

Reading between the lines I think that's actually not an unlikely scenario. Bednar wants to fix the Rantanen line and identified Mittelstadt as the problem. He could move Colton to the middle but then who's gonna take Colton's spot on the wing? Pärssinen is definitely more of a Center. Drouin would be ideal but they probably want to ease him back in. Assuming MacKinnon's and Kelly's line don't get touched only alternatives include Innala, Smith and Ivan. Rather unlikely.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Drouin has skated on the 4th line in his first practice back.

That’s probably where he starts.

Since this tweet, Smith was sent down and Parssinen was acquired.

Today’s practice should be very telling.

 

[Hinterland]

Drouin has skated on the 4th line in his first practice back.

That’s probably where he starts.

Since this tweet, Smith was sent down and Parssinen was acquired.

Today’s practice should be very telling.

Yeah. I agree. But with Pärssinen also coming in one of Ivan and Innala is likely gonna get scratched. Probably the latter. Since Bednar talked at length about Mittelstadt struggling and having to fix the 2nd line I wonder if Drouin is gonna start with Mittelstadt and Ivan (probably) or Innala.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Do we even know of Parsnip is playing tomorrow? For all we know he's still hitchhiking his way to Denver as per KSE's penny-pinching policy

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Yeah. I agree. But with Pärssinen also coming in one of Ivan and Innala is likely gonna get scratched. Probably the latter. Since Bednar talked at length about Mittelstadt struggling and having to fix the 2nd line I wonder if Drouin is gonna start with Mittelstadt and Ivan (probably) or Innala.

I think the idea of Parssinen playing anything other than the 4th line is a huge stretch.

Newly acquired player, will have had one practice with the team, has had a poor season, not a top 6 player, and Bednar isn't breaking up KKO'C. He loves that line and will keep it as his 3rd line.

Lehky - MacK - Nuke
Rosco - Mitts - Rants
Kivi - Kelly - LOC
JD - Pars - Ivan

Just my guess, but again, today's practice will give a better indication.

 

[CobraAcesS]

He used to do that, and I have a feeling he could that if Bednar gave him a small kick in the butt.

Reportedly the ask has been around 11.850-12.5M. And no, the Avs have not gone near that yet.

Where did you get the 11.8M part of that?

 

[JoeSakic13]

Do we even know of Parsnip is playing tomorrow? For all we know he's still hitchhiking his way to Denver as per KSE's penny-pinching policy

Of course he is. We need another Finn to score a hattrick.

 

[LOFIN]

Where did you get the 11.8M part of that?

Kyper, early November:

As Avalanche fans remain frustrated that pending unrestricted free agent Mikko Rantanen has yet to re-sign, some within the organization have been left to think ownership may not have made it a top priority. Speculation is it will take an offer between $95 million and $100 million (U.S.) to get a deal done.

So 11.875-12.5 over 8 years.

 

[hockeyfish]

Do we even know of Parsnip is playing tomorrow? For all we know he's still hitchhiking his way to Denver as per KSE's penny-pinching policy

I hear the Mongolian boarder is hard to cross this time of year.

 

[LOFIN]

Do we even know of Parsnip is playing tomorrow? For all we know he's still hitchhiking his way to Denver as per KSE's penny-pinching policy

At least he doesn't have to get a visa

 

[Hinterland]

I think the idea of Parssinen playing anything other than the 4th line is a huge stretch.

Newly acquired player, will have had one practice with the team, has had a poor season, not a top 6 player, and Bednar isn't breaking up KKO'C. He loves that line and will keep it as his 3rd line.

Lehky - MacK - Nuke
Rosco - Mitts - Rants
Kivi - Kelly - LOC
JD - Pars - Ivan

Just my guess, but again, today's practice will give a better indication.

Not a lot of options though. Again, Bednar talked at length about Mittelstadt struggling and having to fix the Rantanen line. Sure doesn't sound like Mittelstadt is gonna keep his spot. Then, options are kinda limited. Is Drouin able to shoulder that workload from the get go? Unlikely. Innala or Ivan? Unlikely. Break up any of Bednar's beloved and praised lines? Unlikely.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Kyper, early November:

So 11.875-12.5 over 8 years.

If he'd take 11.8M it should be done by now.

 

[LOFIN]

If he'd take 11.8M it should be done by now.

It should be. But also in October Kyper reported that the Avs had not been interested in going anywhere near the MacKinnon contract for Rantanen, whatever that means. Are the Avs offering him something starting with a 10?

 

[CobraAcesS]

It should be. But also in October Kyper reported that the Avs had not been interested in going anywhere near the MacKinnon contract for Rantanen, whatever that means. Are the Avs offering him something starting with a 10?

Must be then..

11.75M just sign the damn thing lol

 

[LOFIN]

Must be then..

11.75M just sign the damn thing lol

One can obviously say that's just one report, but I do think Kyper is realiable. He doesn't usually spit about speculation these days. And it would make sense, considering how much the Avs played hard ball with Landeskog a few years back.

 

[jani]

If you think Mitts and Kelly are interchangeable, you have to re-evaluate your life. I don't think the 3rd line will be separated with how they're playing and based on Bednar's comments.

 

[Jasenr]

Of course he is. We need another Finn to score a hattrick.

Innala, Pärssinen, its your turn

 

[shadow1]

Mittelstadt's struggles are in a league of their own, but Colton has also done nothing lately.

Last 8 games, 1 point, 9 shots. He had 42 shots in his 12 games before that.

The obvious solution is to put Drouin on that line. Put Colton with Ivan and Parssinen and see what happens. Speaking of Ivan, he's also been an absolute zero lately, but playing 5 minutes a night with the likes of Felhaber and Smith will do that to a player.

 

[LOFIN]

Well what the f*** is this

I get Bednar not wanting to break up the two lines, but I'd swap Pärssinen and Colton in a heartbeat. Though I guess having Pärssinen just flown in, natural that he's not slotting straight away into the top-6.

 

[Metallo]

I think the idea of Parssinen playing anything other than the 4th line is a huge stretch.

Newly acquired player, will have had one practice with the team, has had a poor season, not a top 6 player, and Bednar isn't breaking up KKO'C. He loves that line and will keep it as his 3rd line.

Lehky - MacK - Nuke
Rosco - Mitts - Rants
Kivi - Kelly - LOC
JD - Pars - Ivan

Just my guess, but again, today's practice will give a better indication.

Seems logical. Coaches don't want to juggle all their lines at once, specially those that work. So a "minimal disturbance" approach is to be expected, i.e. don't change anything except ease in the two new guys on the 4th line.

Edit: Should have looked the post above before posting. I have to admit I'm surprised by the changes. Pretty drastic.

 

[missionAvs]

Well what the f*** is this

I get Bednar not wanting to break up the two lines, but I'd swap Pärssinen and Colton in a heartbeat. Though I guess having Pärssinen just flown in, natural that he's not slotting straight away into the top-6.

Bednar: "Hey Casey, we're going to set you up with a more relaxing opportunity while you get your shit together. We think that this will get you going offensively. I would expect like 5-6 minutes a night and you'll be playing with.....hold on give me a sec while I check..... Oh yeah, the new guy Pärssinen and some guy named Innala."