Quick Question for the Faithful

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 27, 2009 12:41 PM MST in News Comment 18 comments

Topline_medium

2ndline_medium

Why aren't the top two lines Smyth/SoS/The Duke & Svatos/The Baron/Stewart? We have a good 3rd/4th line with the IBC and we can roll Tucker/McCormick/Willsie on the other line. Why hasn't Granato started putting all his offensive eggs (especially the future ones) in one basket at this point?

0 recs | Comment 18 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Because

Tony feels he should scratch Svatos and play our best offensive threat Darcy Tucker on the second line. I think there must be some clause in Svatos’ contract that prevents him from playing with anyone but Arnason. Since Arnason was scratched, Svats couldn’t play either. It’s just yet another problem with this team.

by avs19fan26 on Feb 27, 2009 1:31 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Because Stewart and Svatos are both natural RWs? Stewie has been tried at LW some but was not productive.

The team has 3 borderline top 6 guys right that should be RWs right now (Svatos, Stewart, and Jones) and another that probably needs to be playing there too to experience success ultimately (Hensick).

Jones and Stewart are fast, skilled, and big. Even if Jones never find a scoring touch to match the rest of his game, he’s a killer 3rd liner. Those 2 are the future of the organization at RW, imo. Svatos may have slightly better hands (though that’s debatable with Stewart) but he’s tiny and injury prone.

FG, if you’re reading, trade Svatos. Now. and see if people are interesting in Hensick.

by thedoctor on Feb 27, 2009 1:32 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

*interested

by thedoctor on Feb 27, 2009 1:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Occam’s razor—-because he’s a bad coach.

I'm Mr. Positive

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Feb 27, 2009 2:28 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

by eltharion_doa on Feb 28, 2009 6:12 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if Svatos isn’t in the teams future, maybe they should trade for afenagenov and see how he plays the rest of the season here, it doesn’t have to be straight up but move svatos and bring in ‘someone’ else.

I'm Mr. Positive

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Feb 27, 2009 2:31 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

afinogenov is leaving in when his contract is up for russia, he hates it here. that’s the scuttlebutt, at least.

plus, he’s worse than Svatos. he’s just like him but without the hustle.

by thedoctor on Feb 27, 2009 2:49 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Mike, if we had the answers we'd be coaching

honestly though, thedoctor might have the best theory…though I don’t know if Stewie/Svatos has been played at LW enough yet to know if either would be more productive there. Another option could be to split the RPM line (like Granato did in Atlanta and role Hejduk as a LW. I know it’s not his best position, but he’s played it a few times this season (I think) and might play it better than Svatos/Stewie.

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Feb 27, 2009 3:06 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

going forward, I think we need to find a decent top 6 LW in trade or UFA as a stopgap. We could conceivably make a run at Gabby, but he’s always hurt and going to be expensive. Same with Havlat. Lehtinen might be interesting if you could sign him for a 2 year deal. Maybe a Zednik.

But why just a stopgap? If we get a top 5 pick, Tavares/Duchene/MSP are all probably pretty close to the NHL players, if not straight to the bigs, and MSP is a LW, Duchene is probably a LW in the NHL, and Tavares could play LW or center. In all likelihood, we end up with MSP or Duchene. That’s the other top 6 LW imo.

by thedoctor on Feb 27, 2009 3:59 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Because Granato

is not a good coach.

I don't believe in Peter Budaj.

by BraxtanFILM on Feb 27, 2009 3:49 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I get that Stewie and Svats are both natural RW’s, but The Duke ain’t gonna be here forever, so maybe getting some time at LW for either of them would help in the long run.

2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 27, 2009 6:16 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

In fact, there were rumors (innuendo) that The Duke would be retiring after his contract is up with the Avs which is the end of next season, if I remember right. So yeah, The Duke may be leaving before we know it. Brutal.

An ounce of confidence can carry you a mile toward winning. Oh, and Red Wings suck.

by texacogirl on Feb 27, 2009 8:40 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I've heard that too

and fwiw I think there’s a lot of truth to that. he’s getting up there in age and he’s supposedly got some knee issues that will require surgery and significant down time. Be tough to want to come back (if possible) after that. Just look at how hard its been for svats (shitty linemates notwithstanding) after his acl surgery. BTW, I haven’t heard specifics on what the knee issues might be, only that there are some.

Get rid of the loser point

08-09 Avs- can we decline the penalty?

by TheRed on Feb 28, 2009 12:51 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

I was so traumatized by the rumor when it first came out of Hejduk ending his career after the current contract that I emailed some of the Denver hockey reporters and they said that the rumors were overblown and not to worry too much about it. I’m going with that for now.

by Pookie on Feb 28, 2009 9:26 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought a lot of it had to do with his knees

If I remember he had surgery a couple of season ago, and he was still having trouble after the surgery.
He seems to be doing much better know, and I wonder if that would weigh into his decision.

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Feb 28, 2009 9:30 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it would

Unless the work he ahs to do to overcome problems i nhis knees takes too much of a physical and mental toll. The way I see him playing now however, suggests that whatever he’s doing , it must be working. Obviously he’s not working with the avs training staff, or his knee would be herniated and require amputation.

Get rid of the loser point

08-09 Avs- can we decline the penalty?

by TheRed on Feb 28, 2009 11:56 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs