Colorado Avalanche 2008-09 Roster

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 7, 2008 3:42 PM MDT in News Comment 36 comments

Well, that was quick. The Avs cut Brian Willsie, Per Ledin and TJ Hensick, sending them all to the AHL Lake Erie Monsters for further minor league basting. Looks like the Tyler Arnason Era will continue in Denver for the time being.

Courtesy of the Denver Post, here is the current Avalanche Roster, at least until the injuries start piling up:

Forwards

No. ... Player ... Ht. ... Wt.
39 ... Tyler Arnason ... 5-11 ... 204
28 ... Ben Guite ... 6-1 ... 211
23 ... Milan Hejduk ... 6-0 ... 190
54 ... David Jones ... 6-2 ... 210
14 ... Ian Laperriere (A) ... 6-1 ... 200
11 ... Cody McCormick ... 6-3 ... 215
55 ... Cody McLeod ... 6-2 ... 210
27 ... Scott Parker ... 6-5 ... 240
19 ... Joe Sakic (C) ... 5-11 ... 195
94 ... Ryan Smyth ... 6-1 ... 190
26 ... Paul Stastny ... 6-0 ... 205
40 ... Marek Svatos ... 5-10 ... 185
16 ... Darcy Tucker ... 5-10 ... 178
8 ... Wojtek Wolski ... 6-3 ... 210

Defensemen

5 ... Brett Clark ... 6-0 ... 195
52 ... Adam Foote (A) ... 6-2 ... 220
22 ... Scott Hannan ... 6-1 ... 225
44 ... Jordan Leopold ... 6-1 ... 200
4 ... John-Michael Liles ... 5-10 ... 185
24 ... Ruslan Salei ... 6-1 ... 212
29 ... Daniel Tjarnqvist ... 6-1 ... 207

Goalies

31 ... Peter Budaj ... 6-1 ... 200
1 ... Andrew Raycroft ... 6-0 ... 185

Discuss.

ADDENDUM: C'mon kiddos, we've got the roster, let's see some line combinations, defensive pairings and special teams possibilities. Let's speculate!

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Comments

I thought Ledin had a one-way contract?

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 7, 2008 3:49 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

He does, which only means that he gets paid the same wherever he’s playing. I wonder how many other people get $600k to play in the A? Guess gold paint is expensive. Anyway, I’m personally hoping last years injury plague doesn’t get repeated, but if it does you’ll see him soon enough.

by TheRed on Oct 7, 2008 4:58 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Foote

I guess Foote is now officially the 2nd Assistant captain, not that there was ever a ton of doubt over that.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 7, 2008 5:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Alternate Captain

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 7, 2008 5:19 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh sorry. I meant Alternate TO the Captain

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 7, 2008 5:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Parker

not really sure why, but this roster list, which was updated sometime this afternoon, is listing Parker on the IR. Which makes NO sense.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 7, 2008 5:16 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You’re right, that does make no sense.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 7, 2008 5:19 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I bet they’re gonna break his arm like that goaltender in Victory. Does that mean Sly Stallone will get his spot?

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 7, 2008 5:33 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just for kicks...

The average size of the 23-man roster is a shade under 6’1", and a shade over 203 lbs. The average age is 29.2 years old. Officially, Darcy Tucker is the smallest player (at 5’10, 178 he’s 7 pounds lighter than Marek Svatos, which I find a bit tough to swallow). Scott Parker, of course, is the largest at 6’5", 240.

Wojtek Wolski is the youngest player at 22 (Stastny is also 22, but will turn 23 in December, two months before Dubya).

The roster includes 13 Canadians, 4 Americans, 2 Slovaks, 1 Czech, 1 Pole, 1 Belarusian and 1 Swede.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 7, 2008 6:57 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

whoa. There is somebody smaller that the Svatts machine? Didn’t see that coming.

InYoFace Phadouche! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Oct 7, 2008 7:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

C'mon kiddos huh?

Throwing out the “be civil” thing huh? YOU ALL SUCK!………kidding, Avs blogosphere is great.

Here’s my line combos

Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk (of course).
Tucker(!)-Sakic-Wolski (Tucker is out to protect old man Sakic, plus good chemistry)
Svatos-Arnason-Jones (I think Jones and Svatos is a great mix. Arny can stick handle)
Mcleod-Guite-Lappy (They want to fight everybody)

Alternate lines I think would have Jones and Wolski swap. Jones played well with Sakic last year, plus Wolski and Svatos did well on a line with Arny centering, even though Arny seemed to be trying to catch up to the other two half the time.

Foote – Liles
Hannan – Clark
Leopold – Salei

I’m not sold on Salei and Leopold but I remember Hannan being the most successful with Clark. I like Foote and Liles although I’m not sure Foote is fast enough to cover a pinching Liles. Foote is smart though, and Liles does get back quickly.

What say you?

InYoFace Phadouche! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Oct 7, 2008 7:44 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I like it. I would switch Jones and Wolski, like you said, just to see how Jones does on the second line, but I like it. I also had Clark and Leo switched, for not really any specific reason. Of course, I’d like it a lot more with Hensiiick replacing Arny, but I’m not gonna go there…

by Rather Dashing on Oct 7, 2008 7:48 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hensick would be better, but, meh. We survived Arny last year, the Avs can survive him again.

InYoFace Phadouche! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Oct 7, 2008 8:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

these are the forward lines that you will see opening night

nice work. but the D pairings will be

Foote / Clark
Hannan / Liles
Leopold / Salei

by thedoctor on Oct 8, 2008 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Though Svatos and Wolski had good chemistry last season, they need a center who can hit the net and keep up. I’d keep Wolski with Sakic-Tucker. Tucker has played well with Sakic, as has Wolski and Tucker had a physical presence to that line. Jones will do the same on that third line, Wolski tried and did alright going into the corners, but he isn’t as physical as Jones.

Ryan-Paul-Milan – RPM – is a given
Tucker-Sakic-Wolski
Svatos-Arnason-Jones
Mcleod/McCormick-Guite-Lappy

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Oct 7, 2008 10:45 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, I’m absolutely shocked both the Codies stay. I think it would’ve been good to keep Hensick and Ledin instead. Well, oh well. Here are my combos:

RPM line (naturally)
Wolski-Sakic-Svatos
Tucker-Arnason-Jones
McCody (either one)-Guite-Lappy

Dmen:

Liles-Hannan
Foote-Clark
Salei-Leopold

Goalies:

Starter: Andrew Raycroft
Back-up: Peter Budaj
(Lol, just kidding)

I see some of you guys have Svatos on the 3rd line, but come on, he’s a former 30-goal scorer, and I have no doubt he can do it again if he stays healthy. As for the defensemen, there’s really no go-to, shutdown pairing on my speculative line-up, but I would prefer the nice mix of offense/defense in each of the pairs. And on the goalie situation: Budaj’s our man. I hope he plays 50-60 games this year. Unless he gets tired or something, or just sucks, which I doubt will happen.

Go Avs!

by Mike, (Avs Fan) on Oct 7, 2008 11:28 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I like a lot what you have going on here. The Wolski-Sakic-Svatos line does look tempting.

I failed to note, with the lines I posted, my first PP unit would be Smyth-Stastny-Svatos (and liles-Salei as the d-pair). Svatts has great finishing and Smyth can cause havoc in front of the net and pick up those rebounds. Stastny has the ability to set them up.

Unless Svatos can show me he can stay healthy, I think he should be kind of a utility scorer. 3rd line even strength, but 1st PP unit.

PS. Despite all the grief Liles got last season due to lower scoring, I think he really improved on the defensive side. Liles and Hannan could be a good shut down pair with offensive upside.

InYoFace Phadouche! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Oct 7, 2008 11:55 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure I’d put svatos and smyth on the same pp unit. It seems to me that a lot of svats goals are from areas where smyth would be if he was utilized correctly (i.e. in front of the net). I would rather have two low slot threats on two lines rather than one. All of that is helped by a good shot from the point, and from the little we saw of salei I’d say he’s got the shot if he’s told to put it on net. I’d definately not like to see sakic on the point again, but we’ll see.

IIRC sakic had a beef with not having enough “grit/toughness/stay the hell away from my star” on lines last year. For that reason I think Tucker will be a linemate for sakic, and possibly jones if he gets a little meaner. Both those guys can score, and tuckers mean enough to fulfill the latter requirement. Obviously you’d want someone who can score on the ice with joe, so the cody’s, lappy, guite, and arny are out. Unless its edmonton, then arny plays on joe’s line, both pp lines, and double shifts in the second period…..

by TheRed on Oct 8, 2008 2:01 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The team does have a lot more grit this year than in years past, and I think it’ll work out nicely. I was disappointed with the FA period and the signing of Tucker, but from what I saw in the pre-season, I’m not as much. I hope that the new – old – coach lets Smyth and Tucker play the way they want to play, with Smyth putting his rear in someone’s face Tomas Homlstrom style, and Tucker getting inside everyone’s head a little bit.

by AaronHawn on Oct 8, 2008 7:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly

I liked the Tucker signing.

I always said he deserves better linemates, and T.O. just never had them.

I hope that we get near career high numbers from Tucker, just so I can laugh at my bro’s face that they ditched a legitimate player. Plus, it will more than make up for them handing us the Dull Razor.

by Drakenlot on Oct 8, 2008 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

We are already seeing some of that “putting hie rear in someone’s face” from Smyth. That gwg against Chicago in the OT was a direct result of him being parked in front of Huet instead of below the blue line. Hopefully it continues because that RPM line should cause some serious damage.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Oct 8, 2008 12:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Liles

I suppose you’re right, but Liles doesn’t strike me as a shut-down guy more in the sense of his size and hitting ability. He is good at positioning himself well for defense though, so yeah, I guess it could work out.

Go Avs!

by Mike, (Avs Fan) on Oct 8, 2008 12:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

My Choice

Offence

1) Smytty – Stastny – Duke
  - RPM = points by the dozen.
2) Truck – Sakic – Svats
  - Truck will do very well on this line, some great linemates. And Svats as well.
3) Davey – Arny – Dubya
  - Svats/Davey are exchangable, but really, I think this is a good line for tertiary scoring and grit. Although Hensiick would be a better choice…
4) McC – Guite – Lappy
  - I like McC more, but again, he’s interchangeable with McL.

D#
1) Footer – Liles
  - Good duet IMO. Footer’s smart and Liles adds that point option.
2) Hannan – Clark
  - Another good combo, I think they complement each other well.
3) Leo – Salei
  - Again, good combo. As long as Leo drops his ‘prone’ suffix.

PP (Note, I’m no good with guessing these)

1) Smytty – Statsny – Duke Liles – Salei
- Again RPM.

2) Svats – Sakic – Dubya Leo – Clark
- Potential for greatness.

I’m not even going to attempt the PK, besides saying Trucker’s a lock for one.

Shootout choices:

Sakic, Stastny, Duke, Svats, Arny.

Sidenote, if Foppa signs who would go down to give him a spot? I’d love to see Arny gone, but Foppa doesn’t deserve 3rd line. Although Foppa with Davey and Svats sounds spectacular.

by Drakenlot on Oct 8, 2008 7:26 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think thats a fair sidenote.

Foppa isn’t here – who knows if he will be here, so act like he wont come here.

And, also, same thing goes with Arny. I would LOVE to see Hensiiiiick here, and I believe he deserves to be here, but the powers that be decided that Arny gets to stay – so, we go with that. I believe that before, lets say, 15 games are up, and Arny isn’t producing, Hensiiiick will get the call.

by AaronHawn on Oct 8, 2008 7:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I added that sidenote as a wet-dream rather than anything that can possibly happen.

That is true we should give Arny the benefit of the doubt, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt for the last couple years, now I’m just tired of it. Everyone deserves second chances (read. Theo and my ex) but third and fourth chances? I think that’s just pulling at strings that aren’t there.

Although I’d love to see Arny show me as being a pessimistic jackass and produce.

by Drakenlot on Oct 8, 2008 7:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possibly he will...

He had a good first season here in Colorado and that got him a contract. He was under a crappy coach, so maybe Tony G. can save him?

He has talent, and loads of it, he just needs to USE it!

by AaronHawn on Oct 8, 2008 8:49 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he shows me up, that can only mean good things. So here’s to hoping that a miracle happens and he shows up to games.

I just won’t be betting money on it happening.

by Drakenlot on Oct 8, 2008 9:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which McC is preferred?

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 8, 2008 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Cormick more, but Leod fits in very well.

by Drakenlot on Oct 8, 2008 11:17 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great question. McCormick is a bit of an enigma. There have been times when he has looked like he could be a legit 3rd or 4th line winger and contribute with more than just his fists, and other times when he looks fairly lost. McLeod, for all of his brain dead penalties and inability to fight his way out of a paper bag, seems like he may have more potential to actually be a player as well. I guess I’d like to see what McCormick can do given an extended chance, because like I’ve said elsewhere, he could fill both McLeod’s and Parker’s roles.

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Oct 8, 2008 11:19 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The kid can fight. Since neither he nor McLeod can score goals on a regular basis (sucking slightly worse than the other does not equal "better"), I’ll take the one who can fight.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 8, 2008 11:23 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh

That’s what he meant, I’m just brain dead at work.

Cormick is consistent at being very inconsistent. But yeah, I’d like to give him an extended chance to see if he can become consistently average.

No more crap factory nights. That goes for everyone.

by Drakenlot on Oct 8, 2008 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

McCody

I’ll throw in what I said on Shane’s blog yesterday:

McCormick is the better Cody to keep on the ice. McLeod is just too, “pesty”. I mean, he gives cheap hits, he doesn’t fight a lot (and when he does, it seems he loses most of the time), and he’s not as sound as McCormick defensively.

I also really didn’t like that whole incident last season where he picked up the octopus and threw it into the crowd vs. the Wings. I hate the Wings, and it was cool to see him do that, but it’s not like he, or the team, backed up the action. When you do something like that, you better be sure your team can back you up and win the game. Or at least be sure you can back it up and win a fight. If neither happens, you’ll look like an ass, which is exactly what happened to McLeod.

Go Avs!

by Mike, (Avs Fan) on Oct 8, 2008 12:37 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i didn’t mind the octopus thing, i thought it was funny. but he missed a chance to be an uber badass by taking a huge bite out of it…i really think he almost did, but chickened out at the last second.

by thedoctor on Oct 8, 2008 12:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs