Who is your favorite young gun?

He’s got the best hands around the net of the bunch, and he plays like he really wants to score all the time. And he just looks like he’s having so much fun out there, hitting and fighting and scoring. He’s impressed me every time I see him in camp, and now he’s doing the same at the NHL level.

burgandy and frostbite blue unipron.

Fixed

TJ Hensiiick hasn’t shown all that much since coming up to the NHL, but Jones and Stewart are performing like crazy.
Still, my favourite has to be Kyle Cumiskey. I don’t know why players like JML and KC (is his middle name perhaps Fred?) are always so high on my list, as their scoring is way too low for an offensive D-man. But something about their speed makes me feel happy whenever they’re on the ice.

Right now? It is McLeod. That was my gut reaction, and I tried to talk myself out of it. I don’t tend to like the agitator/fighters that much, but right now I love the fact that he is playing the game that he can play: Hit anyone you can, and drive the net whenever possible.
Last night was a great example: He hit Phaneof behind the net and dropped him to the ice in the first period, and was still playing hard and driving the net at the very end of the game.
Now that I have praised him he will probably revert to utterly brainless penalties at horrible times. Even if that does happen, I’d still rather see him (or just about anybody frankly) on the Power Play instead of Tucker.

The guy has been everything I expected of TJ Hensick. He’s going to be a good one.

He’s supposed to be just another fighter and role guy, but he’s scored more goals than Marek Svatos. Not only has he been productive, but many of his goals came on nights where the Avalanche were otherwise playing awful and gave them a much needed spark.

If he weren’t on the list, I’d go with stewie, but he is and I have been really impressed, not just with his play, but by how much he has improved over last year. His stupid penalties are way down (although not eliminated) and he’s a fellow ginger, so I’m a little biased. Red Power!

Both are powerful, drive to the net, score goals, hit, and aren’t afraid to fight. Plus both play with a lot of passion and heart, which the Avs need right now. The more experience both have, the fewer stupid penalties we will probably see.

I’m a daydream believer in Davy Jones. I still think he is going to be a monster (not as in a LEM) someday. Dude has mad speed and is developing some mad skill. And he’s big. In fact, here is my order of favorites based on the careers I think they will have (hopefully with the Avs):

1. Jones
2. Stewart
3. McLeod
4. Hensick
5. Cumiskey
6. Dupuis
7. Durno

I would have easily said Hensiiick and Jones. Jones showed some good potential in the preseason. He hasn’t been as big a force since then, but still has those game where you are just expecting him to break out.
- We saw last season what Hensiiick could do and hope for more of the same this season. Maybe he is still gripping the stick to tightly, or he hasn’t quite adjusted to the speed of the game and either makes that pass just a little too late, or shoots just s little too early.

- As the season goes on McLeod has really started to become a good player. He’s becoming a Hinote or Yelle style player. A solid 3rd or 4th line guy that will grind out the game and then come up with a big time play when needed most. He’s taking some of the load of fighting from Lappy which is nice as well. He’s is one of our better “complete” players, which is interesting since a lot of people were screaming about him getting a roster spot over guys like Jones and Hensiiick.

- Stewart is also looking like a guy that is ready to stay with the club. He is working hard night in and night out, goes hard to the net and is also scoring timely goals. In 21 games he is just another player who has more goals that the Doughnut hole.

- I like Cumiskey, but we haven’t got to see much of him this season. One thing I have always liked about him is his puck handling. He is one of the few guys that you will see take the puck form end to end. He is so good with the puck on his stick in his own end and often carries the puck out instead of trying to dump it out. He isn’t good enough defensively yet, but if paired with a good stay home defense man he could be a future staple on this team to come.

I love watching him play. He just looks like he’s having so much FUN out there and he’s not sacrificing his level of play to do so. He hits hard, doesn’t back down from a fight, is so strong on the puck, has some speed, and can score. I could see him being a huge asset in the playoffs.