Avalanche Season Recap Part II: Who's In Your Five?

by Joe Dunman on Apr 8, 2008 12:22 PM MDT in NHL News

I could do player-by-player report cards, or some other detailed, highly quantitative analysis of individual performances this year. But I'm not going to do that, because other people (see: Draft Dodger and Shane, maybe Jibble) will likely do that.

No, instead I'm just going to pick the five players from the Avalanche who most impressed me this season. Their statistical output plays into my choices, of course, but I also considered a number of intangibles that probably wouldn't make many scouting reports.

So, without further ado, the following are the top five Avalanche players of the regular season:

	Paul Stastny Son of Stastny had a great rookie season, but even with a ruptured appendix his sophomore year was better. 71 points in 66 games. The only other player to score more than 70 points in less than 70 total games was Sidney Crosby. Sure, Stastny was inconsistent at times and lost a lot of games to injury, but the team would be nothing without him.
	Jeff Finger Last season Finger caught our attention by injecting some much-needed physicality into the Avs blue line during The Streak. This season, Finger turned it up a notch. Hit after hit, solid play after solid play, he was the player we all (mistakingly) expected Scott Hannan to be. Hopefully he gets re-signed this summer, and not just because he's a trivia god. Oh yeah, and he went +12 with 19:57 ATOI.
	Ben Guite I have to admit, part of the reason I picked Guite was the boss handlebar mustache he sported for much of the season. Oh, and his 11 goals. He's a gritty checking forward who can shut down almost any forward in the league, and he's had to tolerate Cody McLeod on his line for a long time now, and that takes a strong will, I'm sure.
	Jose Theodore I can't believe I'm saying this, but I've been thoroughly impressed by Theo this season. When Coach Q finally decided to go with one goalie, Theodore went into full Pimp Cane mode and has been solid enough to keep the Avs going through a ton of injuries and poor coaching decisions. Could Budaj have done the same thing? I think so. But he didn't get the chance, and Theodore did, and he didn't let us down.
	Marek Svatos Svatos had a horrible sophomore year, exposing himself as a weak one-sided player. But this season, before bowing out with a blown ACL, he reinvented himself. Sure, he can't pass to save his life, but he was on pace to surpass 30 goals (and had six game-winners), and his efforts on defense were transcendental. He was clogging passing lanes and even body checking, amazing for a guy who is shorter than his official height of 5-10.

Honorable mention goes to all three of the trade deadline acquisitions: Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote, and Ruslan Salei. They've all missed games due to injuries/fatigue but when on the ice they've been invaluable. Salei has filled the role Karlis Skrastins never could and Adam Foote has taken a leadership role that nobody on the blueline seemed able to assume all season. And Forsberg. Well, we all know how good he's been (when actually playing).

I could give a list of the five worst players, but why trash anybody? The guys that have underachieved (or just plain sucked) know who they are and no doubt want to improve. Keep your heads up, fellas.

So who's in your five?

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Comments

good list

nice to see Guite on there. and, yes, I will be doing the grading thing again, but not until after the Avs are knocked out. I figure that'll help me kill a month or so this summer...

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Apr 8, 2008 1:05 PM MDT reply actions

Re: good list

Yeah, the summer. I thought about that. Other than July 1st, it's going to be slow-going. But I've got a couple of ideas for off-season projects and I know for sure I'll be taking a week off completely after the Avs get eliminated (or win the Cup).

by Joe Dunman on Apr 8, 2008 1:07 PM MDT up reply actions

When is the site upgrading

When is this overhaul coming?

by Dario on Apr 8, 2008 1:08 PM MDT up reply actions

Re: When is the site upgrading

Still no final date set, but all of the MLB blogs have changed formats and others should start moving over next week.

I have a feeling the hockey blogs will be last on the list, but that's probably better considering the playoffs are just starting and it should be crazy for a few weeks.

It will be easier to transition after the season is completely done.

by Joe Dunman on Apr 8, 2008 1:11 PM MDT up reply actions

Can we end the Finger vs Hannan/Foote notes?

Maybe it is just me, but I never saw Hannan as a big Footer/Finger hitting defender coming in. He was a skilled shutdown man that covers well and pins Forsbergs, I mean players, into the boards.

It IS possible I am reading into semantics though. I didn't equate physical into hard-hitting.

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Apr 8, 2008 1:21 PM MDT reply actions

Re: Can we end the Finger...

I said we mistakingly assumed Hannan would be the kind of player Finger has become. Or at least I was mistaken.

Hannan came in under the expectation of being a big, imposing physical presence who hit a lot, and he wasn't. It's no fault of his own, I don't think, because he's not a big hitter and wasn't before. I just assumed he would be with the Avs. I was wrong.

I was just comparing the two not to belittle Hannan (who has many faults besides his lack of hitting), but to illustrate the fact that Finger filled a gap in the Avs blue line when someone else was expected to.

by Joe Dunman on Apr 8, 2008 1:31 PM MDT up reply actions

I think

The Avs are to blame for the expectations. They painted him as our Saving Footer.

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Apr 8, 2008 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions

Re: I think

Yeah, there was definitely that air around him when he got signed, and I suppose the Post, the RMN and the Avs organization are as much to blame as anybody.

by Joe Dunman on Apr 8, 2008 2:15 PM MDT up reply actions

But I think it is fair

To assess Hannan as an overall disappointment this year. He received a big FA contract, and was billed at the very least as a top pairing shut down defenseman capable of playing a physical game. I don't care if he isn't the next Scott Stevens out there Lindrossing people, but his lack of physicality, including just a seeming unwillingness to mix it up along the boards or in front of the net, has been a major disappointment to me. He has been better overall as the year has gone on, but only the arrival of Salei and Foote has provided the Avs with the physical presence they need on the blue line.

So to answer your subject question, lowayne, I guess "No." ;)

by Bob in Boulder on Apr 9, 2008 9:47 AM MDT up reply actions

My Five:

My top 5 this season (in no order):

Wolski- I don't care what Q says, he played well and did the dirty stuff on that Arnason, Svatos, Wolski line that carried us thought the injury spell, also known as 2008.

Finger- The guy earned himself a very nice raise this season. Also the Jibblewifes favorite player.

Guite- Best Checking Avs Checking line center since Yelle, who happens to be one of my all-time favorite Avs.

The Svats Machine - Too bad his knee exploded, he may have been the Avs MVP this season

Theo: Wanted to go with Stastny, but Theo played well when we needed him most.

So I guess I'm saying I agree with you Joe

by Jibblescribbits on Apr 9, 2008 10:28 AM MDT reply actions

top five

I agree with you about Wojtek there- he filled the gaps in that Arnason/Svatos line (going into the corner, being responsible defensively). The thing is, he never really stood out, and he's the type of player who can. It was a little unfair of Q there to put him on a line where he'd have to play the responsible role and then punish him for not going wild on offense.

Top Five:
-Marek, who was the only one who seemed to care for a while there. I'm convinced he's the reason we stayed afloat with all those injuries for as long as we did.
-Jose. Pimp.
~~Stastny. Before he got hurt, I had full confidence in a 21~~year-old could lead the team.
-Brett Clark. Surprised he hasn't been mentioned, as he was pretty good offensively and so solid overall.
-Lappy/Guite. They filled their roles well, and I have a soft spot for players who actually put in effort.
Honorable mentions to John-Michael Liles, who wasn't spectacular offensively but was still had a good presence on the ice, and Jeff Finger, for being reliable and giving a damn.

by Katie OD on Apr 9, 2008 7:14 PM MDT up reply actions