Classics Avs/Wings '99-00

by chiavsfan on Aug 14, 2009 3:32 PM MDT

Since I just got the NHL Network added to my cable package this month, I may be a bit behind on my "classic" series watching. I just finished watching 3 classic playoff series re-runs (Avs/Wings '99, Avs/Wings '00, Avs/Devils '01)

I enjoyed the Avs/Wings ones particularly...not just because they won both series, but the way they won. Just some quick observations

1) These two series reminded me just how GODLY Patrick Roy was between the pipes. A gaffe or two withstanding, he is just an amazing goalie. It makes me appreciate what the Avs had in goal...and just shows me how awful the tenders have been since.

2) Chris Drury. I am not really as sentimental as everyone else about the Drury trade, and his production under albatross contracts is making me more so. But what a monster (thanks Pierre) this guy was, on both ends of the ice

3) Peter Forsberg. My lord, this guy in his prime...Alex Ovechkin reminds me alot the Forsberg "no hold barred" style of play. I think the one thing Forsberg has on Ovie is his playmaking ability. But both guys are just incredible, and I see a lot of Forsberg's play in Ovechkin now.

4) Adam Foote was a beast under the old rules. The man just killed whoever came near the front of the net.

5) Sandis Ozolinsh. I don't know if he was a big time predecessor to today's "puck moving defensemen" but the guy shot from everywhere, no hesitation.

6) Darren McCarty is such a cheap shot piece of...well you know what word I was going to use. Every hit they showed in these two series, by McCarty, was from behind, after the whistle, or after a play while someone wasn't looking. What an ass clown.

OK, just random thoughts. Now back to reality, and probably last place...

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heartily agree

Drury was such a god depth center, in that he was great at faceoffs and defending & was leagues ahead of the lines his went up against. He didn’t have a lot of flash, but a lot like Ovie and Foppa, he would read things very well and get slippery when he needed to be. I still can’t believe that he managed a $7mil a year salary cap contract…

A theme of what I’m nostalgic about is a time when the Avs had teeth. Both in scoring punch (obvs) and in actually punch, forgive the pun. I really do believe that our tough defense keps pucks out and 19, 21, and 33 freer to work their magic. Unless we somehow get permission to play with an extra defender, I’m not sure our ‘depth’ this year at D is going to be of much use…

I just want Drury back... I recognize the Drury->Morris->Statsny chain, and I stick with the statement.

by wflan on Aug 16, 2009 10:50 PM MDT reply actions

I watched the 2001 playoff series against the Kings, Blues and Devils yesterday.
And I miss both Drury and Tanguay. Drury was a monster during that run and had some very slick, very timely goals. Tanguay was good through out the run, but was the proverbial nail in the Devils coffin in game 7.
It also reminded me of what we had on the ice, even before Foppa went down we had guys like Podein playing on the first line with Sakic.

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 Aug 17, 2009 9:33 AM MDT reply actions