Let's Get This Party Started: Avalanche Begin New Season Tonight

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 7:56 AM MDT in News Comment 37 comments

The 2008-09 NHL regular season finally begins tonight for the Colorado Avalanche. After a disappointing end to last year and a lackluster off-season (at least on paper), our brave boys in burgundy and blue take to the ice against the Boston Bruins in the Pepsi Center at 8:00 PM Mountain time.

Now, there are two ways of looking at the season ahead of us. One way is with bitter pessimism and doubt. The other is with optimism and excitement.

For those of you determined to see the worst in everything, Adrian Dater has an article for you, called "A Season of Uncertainty":

To the skeptics, the Avalanche looks like a team on the decline. The starting goalie from last season is gone, the first-line center is 39 years old and the crop of youngsters on the way isn't a threat to upstage Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin anytime soon.

...

If the Avs played in the vanilla Eastern Conference, they might be a top-four team. But in the beastly West, they'll be fortunate to make the playoffs.

Thanks for the pep talk, Knut Rockne.

For those of you who prefer to seek silver linings and glimpses of hope, Rick Sadowski offers a far more upbeat, "Sakic, Avs Brimming With Confidence":

It should come as no surprise that optimism abounds throughout the Avalanche organization heading into the 2008-09 regular season, which kicks off tonight against the Boston Bruins at the Pepsi Center.

Isn't that usually the way teams feel on the eve of a season opener?

So pick your poison. Personally, I'm going with Sadowski this time, because I'd rather hear that the team is pumped and ready to go---no matter their weaknesses or potential problems---rather than a doom-and-gloom rehash of all the possible worst-case scenarios they could suffer through this year.

And, in case you have more time to kill, check out the rundown of interesting opening game stats the Avalanche web site put together. I was unaware that Sakic has the most opening game goals of any active player. Let's hope he pads that stat.

The first game thread of the season will post at 3 PM Mountain time today, and I wrote an essay for it, so be excited.

0 recs | Comment 37 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Read More: avalanche, rick sadowski, adrian dater

Comments

To be fair

At least Dater did end on a semi-good note.

"If the Avs played in the vanilla Eastern Conference, they might be a top-four team. But in the beastly West, they’ll be fortunate to make the playoffs.

They can do it, but Budaj has to improve, and everybody must stay healthy. "

That is totally true. If we get hit by the ‘S’-Plague again, it’ll be very tough.

by Drakenlot on Oct 9, 2008 8:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but that’s true of most teams. And really, Budaj doesn’t have to improve. If he keeps up his pre-season level of performance, he’ll be fighting for the Vezina.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 8:52 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I ignored the Budaj knock.

by Drakenlot on Oct 9, 2008 8:59 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I have my doubts...

For one thing, the 1st-line center is 22, not 39 (can’t believe he’s so young, plays like a veteran).

Honestly, can’t get too excited about this team. The supposed strength, the defense, still have some big question marks (everyone except Foote and Salei, for various reasons). Goaltending is uncertain, power play has to improve, and anything offensively after Stastny’s line looks a bit shaky. But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

by Dan Winkler on Oct 9, 2008 9:04 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I definitely won’t argue that skepticism isn’t healthy, I just don’t want to get bogged down assuming the team will be bad, you know?

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 9:08 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

I understand, man. I’ve been watching this team (old fogey alert!) since opening night 1995. I’m exciting to be going to tonight’s game, too. But, right now, I’m not feeling it.

It’s like any team that doesn’t have talent to burn (i.e., Detroit) – they’ll need breaks to have a good-great season. Smyth, Hannan, Budaj, Wolski, Hejduk, Arnason, Wyatt Smith (wait – what?), and a few others will have to be a helluva lot better than they were last season. They have to stay away from injuries. They need other Western teams to have some bad luck. Coaches have to address the power play. Etc. But yeah, you’re right, it’s opening night, so it’s absolutely right to be hopeful.

by Dan Winkler on Oct 9, 2008 9:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

For one thing, the 1st-line center is 22, not 39

Sakic wasn’t coming back to become a 2nd line center. We’ll have to watch the minutes they get to determine this for real.
Maybe DD can give us some stats (play time per 60 min) for both Stazzer and Super~~man~~Joe

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 9, 2008 11:19 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, technically speaking, I’d say RPM is line 1.

But I’d say RPM and Sakic’s line will be relatively even in playtime.

by Drakenlot on Oct 9, 2008 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this point I think it posturing, everything I have seen about the lines tonight “lists” Sakic’s line first. But both those lines should be pretty even in TOI.

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 9, 2008 1:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

we have 2 top lines, it’s that simple.

by thedoctor on Oct 9, 2008 2:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

allan muir

if anyone pays attention to si.com, allan muir, the “supposed” nhl expert offers up such a doozie. in an article which shows the pics of the top rookies to watch, muir shows 26 different rookies worth watching this year. ranked #26 are the avs…david jones you think?? nope.. maybe TJ??nope… instead, its per ledin, with this absolute GEM of a description,
“It tells you all you need to know about Colorado’s feeder system that the only "rookie” with a chance to crack the roster isn’t much younger than that guy who’s planning to retire next spring."

ive been reading Allan Muir for a while now, and over the course of this summer, he’s perhaps become one of the shittiest experts ive seen in a while. Why does no one at least TRY to get some info before posting these ridiculous articles. It peeves me off at how many ridiculously dumb hockey analysts/bloggers there are.

by EddieAVS on Oct 9, 2008 9:10 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Well

technically Jones and Hensik aren’t rookies (I don’t think so at least). Cumisky, and Stewert are better picks though.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 9, 2008 9:16 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i get it..

I understand that since Jones played more than 25 games..hes not officially a rookie candidate. But neither is Per Ledin. You need to be under 26, and Muir knows that. If Ledin is in his list, theres no reason to overlook either of tj or jones. I mean, Jones is 2 games over the rookie limit.

by EddieAVS on Oct 9, 2008 9:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regardless of any of that, Per Ledin is not in the Avalanche “feeder system” at all. He’s a free agent signing from Europe! He wasn’t drafted, didn’t come up through the North American junior/college ranks, and is just now playing on this continent for the very first time.

Muir is a hack. Basic information is not difficult to find about rookies and prospects. The Avalanche prospects even have their own blog!!!

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 9:27 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bahh

whose got time for research. Melt Your Face-off had a great read about how lazy some print journalists can be.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 9, 2008 10:37 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I loved that post. As a matter of fact, I generally like reading MYFO. Maybe MHH should push the boundaries once in a while and say everyone other than Ovie sucks munkybells… Then again, maybe not

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 9, 2008 11:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ledin has just been sent down…

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 9, 2008 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was sent down on Tuesday.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 12:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just stupid

Currently Ledin is forward depth for the LEMs. Jones is an absolute top notch prospect who may have a breakout year. Hensick may turn into a pretty good NHL center someday. Stewart could still develop into a good power forward (or could be a bust). They have a couple of young defensemen in the system, especially Williams, who could be top tier in the NHL. Hockey’s Future’s latest rankings (last January) had the Avs system ranked 13th in the league. Where is this bozo getting his information from?

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Oct 9, 2008 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Problem

is that I don’t think Jonesy would count as a rookie since he played 20-something games last year.

by Drakenlot on Oct 9, 2008 11:34 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

A true technicality. But I guess I am more annoyed just at his tone of the cupboard being bare, which frankly, just isn’t the case right now. A few years ago it was, but the team has drafted fairly well over the past several years, including some kid named Stastny who is still only 22.

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Oct 9, 2008 12:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s not actually getting any information, just making shit up as he goes.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 12:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait

I can do that

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 9, 2008 12:06 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, you DO do that!!

Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 12:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha ha

you said “do do”

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 9, 2008 2:06 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fitting, don’t you think, given the topic?

Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 2:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve had about all I can have from these doom and gloomers. The XM Home Ice stooges did their rundown of the west this morning, and had Colorado 10th based on their “inability to keep pucks out of the net.” They honestly said that we have nobody on D after Footer and that our goalies were comparable to LA.

I think my next post will read something like “If you don’t believe in the Avalanche, GO F*CK YOURSELF!”

Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 12:20 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, anything less than a Vezina, a Conn Smythe and a Cup will not be enough to convince people that Budaj is a good goalie. I guess he’ll just have to “surprise” everybody.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong

he’ll need to break every single goalie record before he gets recognition by the press.

by Drakenlot on Oct 9, 2008 7:58 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I noticed the same thing on NBC sports’ website. They have a rundown of all the teams. In contrast to XM though, they have Nashville 10th in the West, and Colorado 8th. So there’s something positive!

by Mrs @ MHH on Oct 9, 2008 2:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs