Quick Hits

I watched part of the Boston/Boston College game this past weekend and Shattenkirk was a beast throughout. He has a serious presence on the ice, and the announcers were all over him. Every time he touched the puck or hit somebody, they noted his presence.

He looks like he has a bright future ahead. I hope.

1. I always though Melrose was a class act. I tend to think of Mike Myer’s in Mystery Alaska when I see him.

2. I really do like Ted Nolan. Wonder if he’d be interested in a move to the Rockies?

3. Love the Grahame story! I do wonder how drunk he was though…

In Soviet Russia, drunk gets YOU.

I don’t watch a lot of Florida hockey (thankfully), but that sounds like a lot to give up for the guy

I actually hope he remains in our division. The Avs defense is a beast when it comes to shutting him down and other teams struggle with him like there’s no tomorrow.
I say, let him eat capspace and destroy northwest goalies.

As mentioned player, prospect, and a pick seems to be the going rate for any star player to be moved in today’s NHL. I wouldn’t mind seeing Clark, Stewart, and a pick for Bouwmeester (if the Avs knew that they could sign him to an extension). Bouwmeester seems like he’d be better suited to run the point on the power play than someone like Liles who is more of a secondary/ backdoor type of player.

Coming into this season, the Avs’ defensive corps was supposed to be one of the team’s strengths. But, I think that Bouwmeester is the type of player that makes any team better.

Although, I do agree with most that their main weaknesses are a depth faceoff/penalty killing center, and a top tier goaltender. AD touched on this in his most recent mailbag, when he said that they Avs need better 2nd/3rd line players, the a faceoff/PK center, and a goaltender. And to reference an earlier SB post, I also thought that Yannick Perrault could fit the bill as a depth center after reading that ESPN article. If PL were still the GM of the Avs, I think that it would have been a done deal. Even though he’s now technically any American citizen, Lacroix always seemed to have a sweet spot for fellow French Canadians: Francois Giguere, Brisbois, Turgeon, Theodore…anyone remember Vinny Damphousse being signed by the Avs before the lockout?

An interesting sub story of that trade would be Chris getting to play with big brother Anthony. I know that the jury’s still out on Stewart, but the Avs seem to have done a decent job in the past of getting something in return for first round prospects that turn out to be busts.

I don’t normally discuss these fantasy trade scenarios. But since I’m discussing the Avs’ other needs and trades with Florida, I would love to see the Avs get Craig Anderson. He is the best goaltender that no one’s ever heard of. The guy puts up gaudy numbers on a typically less than ordinary Panthers team and has been wrestling the starting job away from Tomas Vokoun. But Vokoun is still an all-star quality netminder with a no trade clause and two and a half seasons left on his contract while Anderson is due to be a free agent at season’s end.

In addition to my previous post, I just wanted to say thank you guys for this blog. I’m a non-local Avs fan (grew up in the Hershey area where I saw a lot of the Avs’ prospects first hand; now live in Pittsburgh.)

I learned about this site after seeing a link posted on a goalie bulletin board; I believe that one of the contributing posters here is also a fellow goaltender and a member there.

Before that, I tried to keep up with the Avs by reading the DP and RMN online day and even updated extensive threads at the Avalanche message board on ESPN regarding the Avs’ roster changes, injuries, call ups, trades, etc. That was mostly for my own enjoyment. But, the homers and trolls there didn’t make the job very rewarding. This is much more entertaining. Thanks again!

Welcome c0nquistad0rian , it always good to welcome a well articulated person on board.