The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 12, 2009 2:45 PM MDT
in NHL News
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It's on.
And damn, it's hard to be an Avalanche fan living in New Hampshire right now. Avalanche single game tickets are now on sale and yes, there are still good seats available for Joe Sakic night. I've been tempted all day to cave in and buy tickets, but once I factor in expenses like flights and a hotel, its just too much money for me.
As if that wasn't painful enough, training camp begins tomorrow. Veterans report today for medical evaluation, and I can't help but think of Steve Konowalchuk every year at this time. I would love to be able to check out a camp some year, but I think I'm going to have to wait until blogging becomes a high-paying gig (in other words, maybe around the time Matt Duchene's kids start getting drafted).
For those lucky enough to be in the area, camp will be at the Family Sports facility in Centennial from 9 to 11:30 AM. We've been getting great reports on rookie camp from folks like Dario, mfured20, avs21fan and hockeyheidi and all of us out-of-towners thank you kindly. Please keep up the excellent work!
As for camp, there will be 59 players in camp vying for 23 jobs but, realistically, there's only about 4 spots up for grabs, probably all at forward. Right now I have 10 forwards, 7 defensemen and 2 goalies - 19 players - locked in on the 23-man roster. Joe Sacco could keep 8 defensemen, but since the 7 he has right now all have solid NHL experience, I think he'll leave it at that and start with 14 forwards.
The widgets below list the vitals for each player, including whether they are currently under contract with the Avalanche, whether they are eligible to play in the AHL (junior players need to be 20 by December 31st of this year or have played 4 years in junior already), whether they will need to clear waivers to go to the AHL (the waiver period starts next Saturday) and what level of hockey they spent the bulk of their time at last year. Also, the players who I think are mostly assured of a roster spot have a check mark at the far left; it doesn't mean someone like T.J. Hensick can't play himself off the roster, but that's how I see things shaping up right now. For now, I don't have Duchene as a lock, but I do believe he's going to make the club.
- * indicates players is signed to an AHL contract
- ^ indicates a player on a professional tryout
- # indicates a player on an amateur tryout
If I was guessing right now about the 4 who make the team, I'd say Duchene, Stoa, Hendricks and either Bates or Willsie. I do think there are a number of other players who will have opportunities, though, so don't use permanent ink when quoting me. Also, look for Cumiskey and Weiman to get demoted by the end of the week because of their waiver status; there'll be others, but those are the two that I think the club would prefer to avoid exposing. The waiver exemption and AHL eligibillity is calculated by yours truly - hopefully I've got that all correct.
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My guesses are: Duchene, Stoa, Galiardi, and either Willsie or Bates.
by c0nquistad0rian on Sep 12, 2009 3:14 PM MDT reply actions
Galiardi definitely has a good shot.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 12, 2009 3:22 PM MDT up reply actions
I really think that his dedication to improving his strength and adding that 20 lbs during the off-season really helped him this year; i would actually be surprised if he doesn’t make it
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche:
Abandon all hope ye who enter here!
by BeachNSnowGirl on Sep 12, 2009 9:30 PM MDT up reply actions
may god help us
ifitsWillsie
"We just couldnt put the cat in the hat thats really why we lost today we just couldnt put the cat in the hat."
I think he’s the perfect injury call-up. You don’t want him in your lineup full time, but if you need a guy to fill in a few games, play some defense and be a solid veteran/not get to jittery and not screw up he’s the right guy.
The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Sep 13, 2009 4:53 PM MDT up reply actions
Wilsie weights 202!?! How did I never know this? He should use that more.
I think TJ and Tucker should have to fight for jobs personally. I think Stoa and Duchene make the club.
I’m just going to start preparing my plate of crow now: I think that Tucker is going to have a solid year (can’t be worst than last season, right?)
I also agree that I think that Hensick should have to fight for a spot. I just don’t see where he fits in. He’s not big or physical enough to be suited for duty on the bottom two lines. Nor does he have the defensive prowess. And either Duchene of Wolski are going to end up centering the second line. I’d personally rather see Galiardi and Bates centering the bottom two lines.
by c0nquistad0rian on Sep 12, 2009 3:31 PM MDT up reply actions
On Tucker
He really shouldn’t have a job…
but that’s only my two cents.
So long Super Joe. In a class of your own in every sense of the word.
I thinnk he should have a job...
at McDonalds or some such. We don’t need to pay his way on welfare.
I'll be there when they lift #19 to the rafters. Will you?
Don't count out Dupuis
Not Willsie I hope. I think Yip would be better than him. Galiardi should make it. They should be building new guys not fooling around with Willsie.
I agree, if Dupuis is a dark horse to make the team.
Colorado Avalanche Prospects (www.avsprospects.blogspot.com)
by Angélique C. Murray on Sep 12, 2009 4:15 PM MDT up reply actions
Just look at that nose.
I thought you knew that algebra was all razzamatazz. A Globetrotter always saves the good algebra for the final minutes.
That my son is a hockey nose!
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 Sep 12, 2009 9:17 PM MDT up reply actions
What is with the "D"?
Let him who hath understanding
reckon the number of the beast
for it is a human number
its number is six hundred and forty two.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Sep 13, 2009 2:17 PM MDT up reply actions
The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Sep 13, 2009 2:51 PM MDT up reply actions
I live in Seattle
And woke up early after a looooooong night to by my tix to Super Joe’s Night. I would not miss it for anything in the world! I’ll be in 308 row 11 when #19 is raised to the Pepsi Center rafters.
"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy
*buy my tix
"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy
Dude!! You’re directly in front of me 2 rows! I have seats 10,11 and 12 in row 21 section 136
You miss 100% of the shots you never take.
-Wayne Gretzky
Perfect position to throw popcorn at him. If you’re into that stuff
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
True True!
But at the price of popcorn at the Can I’m not sure I can afford it!
I'll be there when they lift #19 to the rafters. Will you?
You're both behind me
Section 136, Row 9, Seats 3-4
So long Super Joe. In a class of your own in every sense of the word.
I’ll be there too. Section 380…something. Even if we lose 10-0, it’ll still be the greatest sporting event I ever go to.
by Rather Dashing on Sep 13, 2009 8:53 AM MDT up reply actions
I think
Duchene, Stoa,Galliardi, and either Yip, Dupius, or Bates.
"We just couldnt put the cat in the hat thats really why we lost today we just couldnt put the cat in the hat."
Kind of bugs me that all of these rosters list Stoa at center and Galiardi at left wing when really the exact opposite is true. Also, Dater had a mention in his latest article that Wolski is back at left wing and Hensick is playing right wing, leaving the team’s top three centers as: Stastny, Duchene, Galiardi. I can dig it. Although as I and some other people have said, Wolski at third line center would be a nice luxury to have (but obviously only on a deeper team.)
by c0nquistad0rian on Sep 14, 2009 12:53 PM MDT reply actions
My feeling all along has been that Wolski’s position this season depends a lot on Duchene. If Duchene makes the team it is most likely that Wolski will play on his LW and not as 3rd center. If for some reason Duchene does not stay past 9 games, Wolski will be the 2nd center.
I feel a little for Wolski, because it sounds like he felt more comfortable last season as a center and his current style seems to fit as more of a center. But at the same time, I don’t see wasting him as a third line guy when the team is so short at the LW position. If we had a stacked team and rolled three very good scoring lines, having him center that third line would be a different story.
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 Sep 14, 2009 2:08 PM MDT up reply actions
If he’s so woeful at LW (he seems to be the only one who has a real problem with it) why hasn’t the new regime tried to swap him?
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Nothing Inspirational Comes to Mind
maybe they plan to, but want to get him out there to generate some interest again. it’s been a while since anyone saw his shoot out magic; that will be his selling point i think
The 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Anything is possible.
"To all the cynics, I'm sorry for you, ... I'm sorry you can't believe in miracles."
-Lance Armstrong
by BeachNSnowGirl on Sep 14, 2009 8:20 PM MDT up reply actions
IIRC, he was not at all woeful at LW in the playoffs a few years ago against Dallas. Now I’ll grant that SuperJoe could probably make me look like a legit third round draft pick if I were on his wing, but the Baron is not so bad as it would otherwise seem on the wing, though I’m the first to admit that he did not bring it sufficiently last year.
Fact of the matter is that there was ABSOLUTELY NO secondary scoring last year, so if all the opponent has to do is key on the first line, there’s no way that they’re going to be effective. I see that changing this year (especially if we can get Tucker down to Charlotte and let a kid who wants to play onto the ice).
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - "Hey Brother, can you spare a Left Winger?"
he does.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 15, 2009 7:11 AM MDT up reply actions
OK
Repeat after me:
“Unconditional Waiver, Unconditional Waiver, Unconditional Waiver”
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - "Hey Brother, can you spare a Left Winger?"
Maybe he can teach one or 2 of the rookies this, although last year’s performance shown he couldn’t teach a dead dog to lay still.
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