2009-10 Colorado Avalanche Season Preview
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 18, 2009 6:01 AM MDT
in News
72 comments
2008-2009 Recap: Summarily awful. The team finished with the 3rd worst record in the league (32-45-5) and finished in the bottom 3rd in all the major statistical categories: 30th in goals scored (190), 26th in goals allowed (269), 25th in powerplay efficiency (15.7%) and 21st on the PK (79.9%). The team's leading scorer had just 59 points, the lowest number since the franchise joined the NHL in 1979. The bright spots? The team was 9-4 in shootouts and an inexplicable 20-0-2 when leading after two periods.
Who's In: The Avalanche were all about cutting payroll this summer, and didn't go hog wild in free agency market. The only two notable free agent signings were goalie Craig Anderson from Florida and enforcer David Koci from Tampa. New GM Greg Sherman also acquired defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing from the Kings in a trade for Ryan Smyth. Oh, and they drafted some kid named Matt Duchene.
Who's Out: Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, Ian Laperriere, Ben Guite, Tyler Arnason, Cody McCormick, Daniel Tjarnqvist, Andrew Raycroft, GM Francois Giguere and the entire coaching staff.
Team Strengths: [This space intentionally left blank]
Team Weaknesses: Offense, defense, goaltending, faceoffs, special teams.
Depth Chart: best guess:
- Galiardi - Stastny - Hejduk
- Wolski - Duchene - Stewart
- McLeod - Hensick - Svatos
- Tucker - Willsie - Jones
- Hannan - Foote
- Liles - Quincey
- Clark - Salei
- Anderson
- Budaj
Also in the mix: F Ryan Stoa, F David Koci, D Tom Preissing
Prediction: On paper, the Avalanche haven't done much to improve the team. If Anderson is the real deal, the goaltending should be greatly improved, but it still won't be on par with other superb goalies in the NW (Khabibulin, Luongo, Kiprusoff and Backstrom). Kyle Quincey is a nice addition on the blueline, but he joins a squad that underperformed badly last season; hopefully new assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre can turn what should be a deep squad around. Up front, question marks abound. Only one forward has ever scored 80 points in the NHL (Hejduk, once) and only 3 have ever cracked the 60-point mark (Hejduk, Stastny and Tucker). There is potential; Chris Stewart, T.J. Galiardi, Wojtek Wolski and David Jones have all shown flashes at time and, of course, Matt Duchene is hopefully ready to burst onto the scene.
There's no other way to spin it; the Avalanche are in rebuilding mode. Look for Greg Sherman to try to move more veterans this year, acquiring picks while trimming payroll. Scott Hannan and new captain Adam Foote may very well be on the move at some point, and don't be shocked if the team trades upcoming UFA Hejduk (who has a NTC...but also a cap friendly salary). If the Avs can get some picks for some older players and if the youngsters show progress, the season will likely be considered a success no matter how dismal their final record is.
I hope I'm wrong about this, but I figure the Avs finish near the bottom of the conference this year. I'm guessing 14th, one spot ahead of Phoenix.
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Wouldn’t that be the worst case scenario? Not good enough to make the playoffs, not bad enough to get a top 5 pick.
by exredcoat on Sep 18, 2009 6:59 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
that would indeed be a bad result.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 18, 2009 8:35 AM MDT up reply actions
It depends how it happens. 9th/10th with the new kids stepping up and the older guys who are going to be jettisoned having bad seasons.. i’d be okay with that.
9th with Clark, Tucker etc having good seasons and Wolski, Svats, Duchene, Stoa and younger players struggling… would be bad.
The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Sep 18, 2009 11:06 AM MDT up reply actions
True, our rookies would be softmores. We’ll have a few new rookies joining our team including Shattenkirk and maybe O’Reilly. Tucker will be gone along with a few other vets. We would have a decent first rounder. So even if we barely miss the playoffs this year, the next year may be looking even better.
Tucker will be gone.
I think that alone might make next year better.
by Rather Dashing on Sep 18, 2009 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions
Yep, pretty much. But, at least there will be hope going in to the playoff run in the Spring. I think they will be competitive.
by Dario on Sep 18, 2009 10:41 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Come on now, don’t be so negative. The Avs are UNDEFEATED in the preseason. This team is a juggernaut.
by exredcoat on Sep 18, 2009 6:58 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Who’s the second president?
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - "Hey Brother, can you spare a Left Winger?"
by Hopfenkopf on Sep 18, 2009 11:41 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
yeah but Salei and Clark have expiring contracts, they will be in demand.
The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Sep 18, 2009 11:07 AM MDT up reply actions
I am unsure about Foote, at least from an organizational stand. Personally, if he can return to some of his form this season, have a good season, and help some of the younger guys (One mentioned his influence last night during an intermission interview), I would think it would be good to have Foote come back another year or two. Especially if he were to do like Joe did, sign one year at a time which each dollar amount reducing as well.
I hope that Hejduk, will be with the organization until he decides to retire. So far he doesn’t seem to have lost anything, and I think he is still a good guy to have around in the locker room and on the ice. We need his veteran presence for a few more years.
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 18, 2009 12:35 PM MDT up reply actions
i’m with you on both hedgie and footer. i will be very sad to see them go – even more than i was with smyth and lappy
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 18, 2009 12:57 PM MDT up reply actions
trade and depth
I agree Foote and Hejduk will not be traded or if they are we pick them up again in free agency. I question the depth chart and hope to hope that Willsie will be at Lake Erie where he belongs. I am not sure who will be centering the 4th line but I am hoping for some creativity from the Coach. Jones won’t be on the 4th line and I do not think Galiardi will be on the 1st line.
I wouldn’t be suprised to see Hejduk get traded but Foote is too valuable as a leader for our young squad.
See I think opposite there. I could see Foote traded before Hejduk
The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Sep 18, 2009 11:07 AM MDT up reply actions
So you’re thinking that Hejduk would be better for our young forwards? I could see that but I guess I just don’t see him as being a strong leader, although he is by example. I hope that they’ll keep them both around as long as they can and trade Salei, Hannah, Clarke or Svatos.
I’m with Jibs.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 18, 2009 1:53 PM MDT up reply actions
This organisation isn’t going to smudge the “C” logo so soon after Super Joe hangs up his skates!
Foote will stay here until he retires.
two words: Brad May
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 19, 2009 8:53 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
With how bad we were last year, it’d be impossible NOT to improve. I think this team will be fast paced and ready and able to score. If our d-man can have a better year and we get solid, CONSISTENT goaltending I think we’ll make the playoffs.
I agree, I don’t see us being any worse unless they do so on purpose near the end of the season to make a run at Taylor Hall.
Oh, and I absolutely believe the end of last year was intentional and I’m glad they did because now we have Duchene.
that’s a good point. there was definite tanking going on towards the end
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 18, 2009 10:00 AM MDT up reply actions
I am not convinced that this year will be any different. If we trade some of our veterans at the trade deadline and we are focused on getting our kids playing better, putting points on the board may not be important to us, especially if we are hoping for another high pick. I doubt we will be worse, but I doubt we will be much better.
Sippin' PBR on a Colorado game day...
The only vets I’d be comfortable eneough to trade away would be like Hannan, Salei, and Tucker. I think this team needs Foote and Hejduk to look up to and both bring a lot to the ice, maybe not Foote anymore but Hejduk is awesome still.
by Avalanche318 on Sep 18, 2009 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions
i agree that neither hejduk nor foote should be traded. i refuse to say “won’t” because that is what i said about smyth and look what happened there.
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 18, 2009 10:43 AM MDT up reply actions
Let me try my spin.
The Avs have improved their team this year by going with youth and preparing for a long term run at the cup. While there is not much of a chance to be a playoff contender this year, there are no shortcuts and it’s obviouse that the Avs are taking the correct approach in rebuilding this team. This year should prove to be exciting for fans because Denver was not able to witness the last rebuild and growth of the previous Avalanche powerhouse team. I’m optimistic that the Avs will be a difficult team to play against but, at the same time, they will be going through some growing pains. Watching Duchene play his first year of NHL hockey, should he make the team, will only happen once. Here’s to hoping it’s a good one. I can honestly say that I haven’t been this excited about the start of the season sense 2001.
I was pretty stoaked about the Kariya/Selanne season even though it didn’t pan out at all. This blog has made me the most excited I’ve ever been about the Avs.
GO AVS!!!
by Avalanche318 on Sep 18, 2009 10:04 AM MDT up reply actions
agreed! I’m hoping this will be an exciting team to watch, even if the wins aren’t where we want them quite yet.
As good as some of the Avs teams were in the glory years, I felt like alot of the time during the regular season, they would only play as hard as they had to, leading to some of the playoff meltdowns where they couldn’t just flip the intensity switch to “on”. I think with the young guys coming up, the energy should be there at the very least.
I was pretty stoaked about the Kariya/Selanne season even though it didn’t pan out at all.
I literally jumped out of my chair and did a happy dance all around the room when i read the press release; then i called my friend to tell her; and then i ordered a kariya 3rd jersey. i wonder where the hell that thing is….
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 18, 2009 10:46 AM MDT up reply actions
It was really fun to listen to the game last night. There seemed to be energy on the ice, but maybe it was Moser’s excitement on the play-by-play. There were so many time that you could feel the chance that one of the kids was going to do something big. I can’t wait to actually SEE a game. Lets hope that energy and excitement is here all season.
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 18, 2009 12:39 PM MDT up reply actions
next saturday night baby!!! we def need to meet up during an intermission.
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 18, 2009 12:58 PM MDT up reply actions
LOL, I have a Selanne 3rd and a White Kariya
When Selanne started crying at the end of the season about how he wasn’t well coached (which may have been the case)…only THEN did he come out and say his knee was f’ed up all year, I got pissed. I think I still might change the nameplate on it to Wolski (he played when the old 3rd was around right?)
I can’t change the Kariya to Duchene…because it an old CCM
I’m with you, I still want to change my #8 from Selame to Wolski
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 18, 2009 4:15 PM MDT up reply actions
i think...
we’re going to be better, but we’ll still lose a lot of winnable games. it’s just hte nature of having such a young team. i predict a 5-10 pick in the draft next year.
Young players do tend to have problems with consistency. One night they’ll look brilliant, the next they’ll look like anything but.
by Inebriated Simian Miscreants on Sep 19, 2009 7:08 AM MDT up reply actions
Ever since the Duchene signing and even more since seeing the rookie and training camps video clips, I’ve been believing that anything can happen this year. (See the signature line change from abandon hope to miracles happen.)
But I’ll be honest here. Look at the forward lines again and we only have 2 vets: Hejduk and Sham Wow. Now, I love the Duke. Next to Foppa, he’s my favorite player. (Yeah, I love my BF and all but take the desire out of the equation and he drops in ranking a bit.) But seriously folks…unless Tucker grabs more of the Wow and less of the Sham this year, it could be another brutal one.
Boy Wonder has said outright that he has to work on his confidence, that it’s not a natural thing for him. What might happen to that confidence if they get beat down during a winnable game? The same could be said for all of the young guys. Heaven forbid injuries pop up again; you all know who are going to be the targets for big checks and tough, shut down play. Losing either of them…I won’t even finish the sentence.
I’m just saying that my excitement for how well they’d do has been tempered a bit by seeing the lines glaring at me like that. That’s not to say I’m not totally pumped to watch the future of this club playing with the big boys and finding their groove with one another. It’s just…I predict 13th at best in the Western Conference with a #5 draft pick at best. 15th and 3 again at worst.
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 18, 2009 11:07 AM MDT reply actions
You know, I don’t think that Duchene’s confidence would be shaken by losing games. He’s been a hockey player for long enough to know that no matter well he plays, he can’t make the team win. His playoff performance last year is proof of that. If he can’t get on the board at all then I think that would but I don’t see that happening. The simple fact that he’s playing on a team with SoS, Hejduk, Liles and Quincy will give him chances to bury the puck and create chances and his confidence will increase naturally. Also, something else to keep in mind is that Quebec sucked the first year Sakic played.
I hope you’re right, but I still wonder… Losing day in and day out can affect anyone. Well, except maybe Avery. That guy just doesn’t give a shit.
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 18, 2009 11:42 AM MDT up reply actions
Well, except maybeAveryArnason/Tucker. Those guys just doesn’t give a shit.
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 18, 2009 12:41 PM MDT up reply actions
First off— those line will not be anything like the ones posted above. Jones will NOT be on the fourth line, Willsie will not be in the lineup (and if he is, I’ll be annoyed cause he really is an AHLer). Hensick should also be a winger, not a center (I know Dater said that wasn’t a good idea, but it might be better) otherwise make him the extra man unless he is going to have a “breakout” season, which I’m not expecting Hensick to do any better than what has done. Feels like there is too much laziness in his play. Also, Hannan and Foote will not be paired together; neither will Liles and Quincey. I’m also
by toothandnailer777 on Sep 18, 2009 11:55 AM MDT reply actions
I was having similar thoughts when I first saw it but then I realized it’s a depth chart, not line combos.
ive been thinking about lines and cuts, but I am going to wait until after sundays game to make any final predictions. it really is going to be an interesting year! im pumped!
Sippin' PBR on a Colorado game day...
I’m not dead set on the line combos, but it represents my best guess. no one really has any idea what Sacco is going to do.
not sure I understand why Foote and Hannan won’t play together. they played together last year…
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 18, 2009 1:57 PM MDT up reply actions
I would think it’s better to split them up because then you can have one offensive d-man out there with a defensive d-man. If they put Liles and Quincy out there together, one of them will have to take on the role of defensive d-man, otherwise they will expose themselves too much. That just seems like a waste of talent.
and now is the time to play with the lines and see who gels
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 18, 2009 5:03 PM MDT up reply actions
10 points alone
Could be had if Stastny can stay healthy in a season. I hope Stastny doesn’t become an injury prone frustration.
Joe Sakic. Captain forever.
Yeah, I think the health of Stastny could very well define the season. He needs to stop blocking shots.
Agreed. The fact that Stastny had the second best rate of blocked shots per 60 minutes amongst our forwards is troubling (behind only Willsie). For comparison – Tucker had the 3rd worst rate behind Hejduk and Stewie.
In an ideal world Tucker and Stastny will have the reverse of their totals last year this coming season.
He needs to stop blocking shots.
in one of the interviews with SoS after the first day of training camp, he said the exact same thing. Laughed about it and said he needed to play fewer minutes on the PK and let others get in the way of the pucks.
i have a feeling sacco will ream him if he blocks shots. i don’t see him as the kind of coach that would waste his top line center when there are so many tough-guy forwards on the team now. i suspect we won’t seen Stastny on the PK much anymore.
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 18, 2009 5:06 PM MDT up reply actions
I think this is going to be a great season
But I don’t think we’re going to be very good.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 18, 2009 2:41 PM MDT reply actions 4 recs
I rec'd this comment
because I am going to have fun watching the Avs, even if their record is 0-82. Watching Duchene alone will make it a great season!
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
I agree to a point. If last night was nay kind of indication, then this team will be very fun to watch. But unfortunately, the more they lose the less fun I think it will become. Not that it won’t be fun to watch the young guys progress, but losing starts to wear on you at some point.
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 18, 2009 4:19 PM MDT up reply actions
right. it’ll be fun for a while, but there’s no way 0-82 will be even remotely palatable.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 18, 2009 4:20 PM MDT up reply actions
but there’s no way 0-82will bewould be even remotely palatable. so that’s why it’s a damn good thing the Boy Wonder is around to keep something as criminal as that from happening.
fixed
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 18, 2009 5:09 PM MDT up reply actions
Buck up guys,
We play the Coyotes 4 times and the Islanders a few times, right? Right?
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - "Hey Brother, can you spare a Left Winger?"
by Hopfenkopf on Sep 18, 2009 5:13 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
The one thing a 0-82 record would do
would guarantee a #1 draft pick. Sooooo, from that perspective it is actually more than remotely palatable, it is OUTSTANDING. No wallowing around in mediocrity for a few years because they end up in the middle of the pack. And I know they won’t have that record, but if I go into the season with that frame of mind, I won’t be disappointed. Any win will be an unexpected, wonderful surprise.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
still wouldn’t guarantee the pick.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 19, 2009 8:54 AM MDT up reply actions
Draft Fail
Yeah, wouldn’ that be great: have the worst record in the league and still lose out on the #1 draft pick. I’m not even going to go there.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
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