Final Grades: Forwards Part 2
by Dustin Burfiend on May 20, 2010 9:29 AM MDT
in Final Grades 2010
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GP: 81 G: 8 A: 18 P: 26 PIM: 18 TOI/G: 16:45 H: 37 FO%: 47.8
Ryan O'Reilly was the Avs other magical 18 year-old who helped suddenly change center from the Avs weakest position to its strongest. Radar certainly hit a wall offensively after actually leading Matt Duchene in points early in the season. However, where he really shined was in the defensive zone. He ate up time on the pk and wound up being the go to guy for defensive zone faceoffs throughout much of the season, though his face off percentage wasn't exactly glowing. A glowing stat is the fact that he had 69 takeaways, tying him for 8th overall in the league with Jonathan Toews. Like Galiardi, O'Reilly seemed to turn it on when the team was playing its worst but it rarely translated into points. He is just 19, though, so hopefully he is just going to get better and better.
GP: 15 G: 9 A: 11 P: 20 PIM: 8 TOI/G: 17:50 H: 15
Peter Mueller was a revelation after the trade deadline with 20 points in his fifteen games. He showed instant chemistry with Duchene and Hejduk and as a pointman on the power play with Liles. He is superlatively talented but had a lot of trouble in in Phoenix, scoring only 17 points in 54 games. One if his problems was returning to form after a concussion so hopefully he comes back okay next season (I hate you so much Rob Blake). I'd like to give him an A++ but...
via cdn.nhl.com
GP: 16 G: 2 A: 1 P: 3 PIM: 0 TOI/G: 13:12 H: 12
Kevin Porter didn't really impress me during his time with the Avs but he wasn't bad either. Joe Sacco clearly saw something in him that he liked as he was kept in the lineup down the stretch. He is a restricted free agent this summer. I wouldn't mind seeing them hang on to him as an injury replacement.
GP: 81 G: 20 A: 59 P: 79 PIM: 50 TOI/G: 21:23 H: 42 FO%: 50.0
This was Paul Stastny's first year being paid like a first-line center and despite some maligning he earned his paycheck. He put up nearly a point per game despite the Avs top winger only scoring 28 goals. Maybe the problem is his talent for playing a quiet game, even when he is dominating. He isn't big or physical or blazing fast so maybe he isn't wowing certain people but he is very, very good. If we pick up Kovalchuk (still not sure about that) his numbers next year could be sick. Besides that, he is solid in his own zone and does work on both special teams. He took a bunch of faceoffs (1703) and was an alright 50%. He showed a lot of leadership on the ice this season wearing the 'A.' I'm still not sure he is captain material yet but I don't know how he is in the locker room either.
GP: 77 G: 28 A: 36 P: 64 PIM: 73 TOI/G: 16:41 H: 100
Chris Goddamn Stewart went to the AHL early in the season and then came back and became the top right wing on the team. He led the Avs in goals and ended the Avs super-long hat trick drought. He was second on the team in hits and got into and won plenty of fights. In other words, his is a premium power forward and this is only his second season. Right now Dustin Byfuglien is proving just how valuable a power forward is for a winning team and while CGS isn't as big as Big Buff, he is more talented. In my mind, Stewart is just as important to this team as Stastny, Duchene or Anderson.
via www.blogcdn.com
Ryan Stoa was primed to be a breakout rookie this season. Unfortunately he is slow in a league where speed in king. He was looking better at the end of the season but he is going to have to get a lot better in order to break the (it makes me so happy to say this) the depth of the Avs forwards.
GP: 54 G: 7 A: 4 P: 11 PIM: 35 TOI/G: 11:24 H: 22
Marek Svatos continued his regression this season by only scoring 7 goals. He doesn't really add anything else beyond his goals so, yeah, seven goals is bad. He is a free agent this summer so he should be gone. I hope he can regain his form on another team.
GP: 71 G: 10 A: 14 P: 24 PIM: 47 TOI/G: 12:07 H: 87
Darcy Tucker. I'd be the first to admit that I really don't like the guy but by all accounts he is a great locker room presence. If you look at his stats - 10 goals and 87 hits - they aren't that bad for a fourth line veteran but I never saw him add the same kind of grit and energy that guys like Matt Hendricks did. I probably won't freak out too badly if they resign him but it certainly should be at a severely reduced amount. God, I miss Ian Laperriere.
via i.cdn.turner.com
GP: 4 G: 0 A: 0 P: 0 PIM: 0 TOI/G: 11:05 H: 2
What can I say about Brian Willsie? He is pretty much a non-factor (sorry to any Willsie fans out there).
via media.rockymountainnews.com
GP: 62 G: 17 A: 30 P: 47 PIM: 21 TOI/G: 18:56 H: 30
I wasn't sure whether to grade Wojtek Wolski but he played 62 games for this team and was a huge part of the Avs making the playoffs. Wolski put up crazy good numbers during the beginning of the season but tailed off quite a bit before being traded. That is the main rub with Wolski: consistency. He has the talent to put up 30 goals and 70+ points a season but often looks like he just doesn't care on the ice. He is good in his own zone most of the time, however, and the fact is that he does score points. For these reasons, I'm still not convinced that trading him was the right move but its clear that the front office had other motivations that a pure talent for talent trade. I hope he does well in Phoenix because I always liked him.
GP: 11 G: 0 A: 1 P: 1 PIM: 4 TOI/G: 9:59 H: 21
Stephane Yelle was a good late season pick up for the Avs, getting them a veteran center with a ton of playoff experience. Olde Yeller's days of offensive contributions are well behind him but he was still good in his own zone and knows what it takes to win. I was hoping he could be someone who could take important draws for the Avs but his percentage was tied with Duchene's terrible 44%.
GP: 32 G: 11 A: 8 P: 19 PIM: 22 TOI/G: 14:41 H: 43
Brandon Yip was yet another impressive rookie. He scored 11 goals in just 32 games (by comparison Galiardi scored 15 in 70 and O'Reilly scored 8 in 81) and then added 4 points in the playoffs showing a bit of clutch play. He has a college rep for being nasty and threw down 43 hits adding a bit of an edge to his goal scoring prowess. Tough guys that can score are always needed. He did only play 32 games but its tough not to get excited about him.
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Wolski looks like a misfit member of Robin Hood’s merry men in that picture.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on May 20, 2010 9:36 AM MDT reply actions
I was looking for pointy ears myself. Looks like an elf or maybe Vulcan.
It's all fun and games until someone blows up Detroit...then it's a PARTY!!!
by Busted Twigg on May 20, 2010 9:37 AM MDT up reply actions
Question...
Would a Vulcan elf have pointy ears? Or round?
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
Chinese Fire Drill w/Wingers!!!
IMHO, O’Reilly’s drop in offensive production is directly attributable to the constantly changing set of wingers he played with. And I understand this was primarily due to injuries. Give “Radar” the same two wingers for a long period of time to build chemistry with and I think he will provide surprising offensive production.
Make neither of them Tucker or Svatos, and it will help greatly.
It's all fun and games until someone blows up Detroit...then it's a PARTY!!!
by Busted Twigg on May 20, 2010 10:13 AM MDT up reply actions
I’d like Gali – O’Reilly – Yip…
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 10:46 AM MDT up reply actions
Or Gali – O’Reilly – Jones…
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 10:48 AM MDT up reply actions
My Lines
If we don’t pick up any forward UFAs this summer. And I hope we don’t, or UFA D-men. Stewie has played LW before so he and Jones may be the 1st line wingers? Pure conjecture right now :)
Galiardi-Stastny-Stewie
Mueller-Dutchie-Duke
Stoa-O’Reilly-Jones
Mcleod-Hendricks-Yip
Oooh, my favorite
I love talking about potential lines for next year because it always puts a smile on my face. I like:
????-SoS-Stewie
Mueller-Duchene-Hejduk
Galiardi-O’Reilly-Jones
McCleod-Hendricks-Yip
???? is assuming we fill our most glaring need. Yip is the obvious move up for injuries because he can play on any line. Meanwhile, our third line takes its rightful place in Avs lore as best of the decade.
"By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, most of them occurring during Game 1 of the NHL playoff series." ~Steve Rushin
I’d like to pick up a high-threat, top-scoring LWer (like Kovi…ideally Parise, but I know that’s a drug-induced dream). If we can, mine are:
Parise(cuz it’s my dream) – SoS – Stewie
…..grrrr, I will stop now cuz Dixo just stole my lines….
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 12:13 PM MDT up reply actions
That’s fine if all we want this team to do is get into the 2nd round of the playoffs. Sorry, but Stewie and Jones together on our top line won’t win Cups. First, they’re too similar. I think at this point, Stewart gets the edge because he’s proven more durable. Perhaps that’s unfair but two years running, Jones has had major injuries. I’d prefer to give our third line the talent Jones has to offer and our top line the power forward in Stewart. That top line NEEDS a star winger on it to compliment Stastny. He can’t live up to his potential without one, IMO. Sorry, but neither Jones or Stewart give him that, especially when put together on his wings.
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 12:35 PM MDT up reply actions
????- James Neal
I kinda would like to hear Derek B’s take on the Avs potentially being able to get James Neal from the Stars. He is RFA I think would fit nicely here. No, he’s not a Top 6 but put up some decent numbers for his age (22) and, while Im no cap expert, it seems we might could afford him.
The kicker is not the cap money, but the draft picks we would have to surrender. Remember how much Edmonton coughed up for Penner? Neal had a much better season this year than Penner did that year.
That’s unless Dallas allows him to walk. Which is next to impossible.
I spent more effort eating a pudding than Tyler Arnason skated last year.
Throw another log on that flame youwe’re carrying for Parise.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - Much more gooderer than last year!
RFA after next year, UFA year after that (maybe)
The way I read that article, Parise has another year left on his contract before he becomes a RFA. NJ can hold him for another year with a qualifying 1 year offer. Then he becomes an UFA. I just don’t seem him as being all that available. The ways I see the Avs landing him:
1. Trade players + prospects + picks now (NJ signs Kovi, needs cap room)
2. Sign big RFA contract after ‘10-’11 and give up several 1st rounders
3. Wait for the UFA feeding frenzy (if it happens) after ‘11-’12
What am I missing?
It's all fun and games until someone blows up Detroit...then it's a PARTY!!!
by Busted Twigg on May 20, 2010 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions
The trading power of Tucker
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 2:58 PM MDT up reply actions
Nothing. As far as I can tell, Parise is untouchable unless he has a falling out with Lou. His trade value would demand Duchene in return (plus Tucker, I guess), which ain’t happening. We won’t scuttle the rebuilding process to sign a RFA of his level, and UFA for a guy with his tools — the term feeding frenzy is perfect. Not all teams can afford a Parise, but all teams want one.
The one feint, minor glimmer of hope we have is that Stastny really made him want to play here during the Olympics.
"By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, most of them occurring during Game 1 of the NHL playoff series." ~Steve Rushin
That glimmer wouldn’t be able to turn into a shine until he becomes a UFA tho, unfortunately.
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 3:26 PM MDT up reply actions
Again, I will make no friends with this, but why not use our high-threat LW Mueller for the 1st line? With a power forward, play maker and a sniper on our 1st line, how could we EVER lose {Crash (Stewie), Pass (Stastny) and Burn (Mueller)}? Serious though, I know that Duchene, Mueller and Hejduk worked well together, but do you really think that Stastny couldn’t make it work with him as well?
Mueller-SoS-Stewie
Yip-Duchene-Hejduk
Galiardi-O’Reilly-Jones
Mcleod-Hendricks-Stoa/whoever
Yip gives the 2nd line that “guy” who will crash/smash the net while the super skilled snipers Duchene and Hejduk circle like sharks who smell blood. The first line now has a pure sniper with real game breaker skills, it’s just a matter of if Mueller can keep his game up and play like he was. Gally does his best work with Radar and throw Jones in the mix for flavor (the short handed goal line?). Now, sign Kovi, draft Dylan McIlrath and all our worries and problems go away.
All ya gotta do is put a little Kovi in you heart….
The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, "I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it."
Avs fan in Sharks country.
Jimmy Howard is the new bacon. He makes everything better.
All ya gotta do is put a little Kovi in you heart….
You know that I disagree, but if you put him in your heart, does he go on the ice too, or does he just hang out in your atria or somethin’?
Mueller-SoS-Stewie
Yip-Duchene-Hejduk
Galiardi-O’Reilly-Jones
Mcleod-Hendricks-Stoa/whoever
;-P
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - Much more gooderer than last year!
I’d exchange Yip and Jones on those lines for starters. Whoever on the 4th likely turns out to be Tucker.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
Radar’s tied for 8th in the league for takeaways? Holy crap. I knew the kid was good defensively, but holy crap. Get his offensive game back, which LTC and a lot of us have said has much to do with linemates, and what an amazing two-way center we’ve got on our third line. Correction: scary good two-way center. Tied for 8th…holy crap.
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 10:41 AM MDT reply actions
It’s important to remember that takeaways are one of those stats that are somewhat biased by arena. If he was 8th for takeaways in away games, I’d be more psyched.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
You and your logic
need to shut the fuck up. Kisses!
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 11:43 AM MDT up reply actions
The arena bias is a big thing. That’s how Datsyuk gets two takeaways per shift in Detroit because they count 1) the puck, and 2) Pierre McGwire’s breath.
"By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, most of them occurring during Game 1 of the NHL playoff series." ~Steve Rushin
by Dixomatic on May 20, 2010 12:14 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
damn you
now Chi has to redo the VO…“Two takeaways on each and every shift.” (and yes, I have that whole thing pretty much memorized.)
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 12:16 PM MDT up reply actions
We’re in the clear. It’s an average of 1 per shift because he gets none in visitor arenas. (And I’ve watched that masterpiece at least twice a day since it went up.)
The perfect tone and inflection from Chi when he says, “Dead!” gets me every time.
"By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, most of them occurring during Game 1 of the NHL playoff series." ~Steve Rushin
"Dead" gets a serious laugh out of me every time still too...
even tho I’ve seen it a gazillion times given the editing that went into timing the whole thing. I will watch it to that point – or fast forward to it – on a regular basis.
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 12:47 PM MDT up reply actions
Rec'd - coz I totally LOLed
2) Pierre McGwire’s breath.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - Much more gooderer than last year!
Yeah I was thinking the same thing, but in all honesty, old Yeller didn’t do too much of note this year, so maybe no sbnation photos of him in a unipron have surfaced.
Thanks Joe...
compliance with the new MHH rule.
http://sbnationnhl.deco-apparel.com/shop/product/1087613
Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 20, 2010 2:30 PM MDT up reply actions
Now available in black and 5 shades of blue
What is up with that?
Quitter's People United Member #33
"I am a business major in college after all." - One MHR commenter's rationale for knowing more about the Denver Broncos than I do. LOL.
by Bob in Boulder on May 20, 2010 3:16 PM MDT up reply actions
black is all you need.
(i didn’t think it would work in burgundy, but we can add pretty much any color you like)
Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 20, 2010 3:19 PM MDT up reply actions
We REALLY need to get a new logo this summer.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
I would concur with this.
Quitter's People United Member #33
"I am a business major in college after all." - One MHR commenter's rationale for knowing more about the Denver Broncos than I do. LOL.
by Bob in Boulder on May 20, 2010 3:27 PM MDT up reply actions
not only would i, i do.
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 3:32 PM MDT up reply actions
DDC
Teacher is picking on me again.
Quitter's People United Member #33
"I am a business major in college after all." - One MHR commenter's rationale for knowing more about the Denver Broncos than I do. LOL.
by Bob in Boulder on May 20, 2010 3:35 PM MDT up reply actions
heehee
This is our team: underrated, filled with amazingly talented kids and veteran leaders, both young and old, who are buying into the vision of a hard working, fast moving, never-say-die game. They are the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche.
by Cheryl Bradley on May 20, 2010 3:51 PM MDT up reply actions
This?
We REALLY need to get a new logo this summer.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on May 20, 2010 3:39 PM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
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