5 Players to Watch in 2010
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 23, 2010 6:00 AM MDT
in Avalanche News & Notes
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Last year, lots of Avalanche players not named Marek Svatos had breakthrough years. Today, I thought I'd gaze into my magic 8 ball and predict which members of the Avs are most likely to show improvement again in 2010. Of course, this list was originally supposed to include 19 players, but...well, you know.
#5: TJ Galiardi: Galiardi had 39 points last year, with almost half (19) coming in his final 27 games. Galiardi appeared to really come into his own in the playoffs as he seemed to continually get under the skin of the San Jose Sharks. Since the Avalanche slept through free agency this summer, Galiardi is slated to get plenty of prime ice time this year. I think he's capable of 50+ points.
#4: David Jones: Jones was on pace for 35 goals and 70 points when his season was tragically ended early by yet another unfortunate injury. While I don't think Jones will score 70 points, I do think the speedy winger is capable of a 20/45 season. He just needs to stay healthy.
#3 Kyle Cumiskey: The Road Runner had a measly 7 points in 53 career games going into last season. While he improved his offensive output significantly - 20 points in 61 games - he's still got plenty of room to improve offensively. Cumiskey often seemed hesitant with the puck in the offensive zone. Like Galiardi, he appeared to gain confidence as the season wore on and I think he's primed for a big season. No Avalanche defenseman has scored 40 points in the last 3 seasons; Cumiskey has the tools to hit that mark this year.
#2 Peter Mueller: Mueller had 37 points last year, but 20 of those came in 15 games with the Avalanche. Mueller looked every bit like the player the Coyotes thought they were getting when they drafted him 8th overall in the 2006 draft. We've covered the Mueller / Wolski trade extensively here at MHH and while I'm still not sure it's going to end up as a "win" for the Avalanche, I do expect Mueller to improve substantially on those 37 points; he should be able to eclipse his previous career best of 54 points. This is even more attainable now that Rob Blake has retired.
#1 Matt Duchene: This one is an easy call. Duchene showed tremendous poise as a rookie last year, and by the end of last season he was arguably the most consistent forward on the team. With his talent - and no more Darcy Tucker as a linemate - an 80-point season is a definite possibility.
There's my list. How would yours compare?
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I agonized over whether to vote for Jones or not. It’s so easy to think he will meet expectations as long as he doesn’t get injured, but how many seasons have we been waiting for that to happen now?
Colorado Avalanche: PROMOTING itchy playoff beards since '10
by FiveJeffFingerDiscount on Aug 23, 2010 6:21 AM MDT reply actions
two?
Is it hockey season yet?
BUFFALO NATION WILL see your BUFFALO BILLS KICK THE soul out of the TUNA FISH FLIPPER ACE VENTURA OILY FLAUNDER NO TAIL SHAMUU WHANA BEs - abayarde
Paul McCartney Can't Play Piano
Burgundy Wave: Nobody's favorite Rapids Blog!
I voted for him, and hope his injuries are mostly over. We all had some concern for Svatos and even Stastney the past few seasons. Stastny came back last season and played 81 games (could have played 82 if the Avs had needed him to). It helped him that he didn’t have to block shots on the PK as much.
I don’t know if Jones will actually make an improvement, but it will be nice to see what he will be able to produce over a full season if he can play 70-80 games.
MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Aug 23, 2010 12:16 PM MDT up reply actions
Ferris
Mostly based on the short article in the Post the other day. He knows he’s a better player than he got to show in PHX, and he’s in an ideal situation with a bunch of young guys like himself. The talent he showed last year with us was no fluke, you can’t fake his shooting ability.
O’Reilly will by default play with much better players and I think he’s going to double his assists at least. His goal scoring will probably stay pretty moderate in the 15 goal area but I think he’s going to set up some really nice chances for Yip/Jones/Gally (whoever ends up on his wing).
I think with all the attention on the sophomores, we are going to get bigger years out of Hejduk and Stastny. With Duchene gaining some extra attention on the second line, Stats might have a career year at center.
It’s all about the cool Aid!
see, I think O’Reilly is going to be the one hurt the most by the Avs’ inactivity. He should have some decent linemates to start the season, but if there’s any injuries up front (and we know they’ll happen) he’s going to be stuck with guys like McLeod and Porter. The Avs don’t have a lot of scoring depth and that’ll really show on the 3rd and 4th lines. IMO.
The 8th month is the month for Wolskis
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 23, 2010 7:28 AM MDT up reply actions
May O’Reilly is what McLeod needs to get some of his scoring touch going…..just a thought/hope.
MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Aug 23, 2010 12:18 PM MDT up reply actions
Hey y'all!
Avapants here, reporting that I just voted for Mueller! He’s going to benefit from the Avs’ system quite a bit through the entire year and as long as he stays healthy, I think he and Duchene are totally gonna tear it up! Who’s with me?! Woooooooooo Muuuueeelllleerrrrr!!!!!!!!
Avapants OUT!
Ps, does anyone else feel a bet comin’ on? Somehow I feel it, deep inside me, just wanting to burst out…I’m going to have to find someone here in ATX to dupe…
"Okay, here's the deal, there's a difference between 'confident' and 'cocky'. For example, I'm confident enough to tell a girl that I'm the only guy she'll ever need, but I'm nowhere near cocky enough to quote myself." - Me
Cuminsky has the most to gain
And he will!
Don't eat the snow from your skates. - Sage advice from a 7 year old.
I know we are talking about players that saw a lot of time last year but I am hoping for a breakout by Stoa and one or two of our new defense. We have some strong prospects with the defense and I think Foote needs to play the 7th man on defense. I hope not to see Koci what a waste when he takes a spot.
If Jones stays healthy please please and still has his speed he will get at least 25 goals.
I agree with the comment about Cumiskey if he finds his confidence… he could get to the 40 points and really I would like to see him paired with someone else other than Foote this year.
Roadrunner's linemate
I’d like to see Wilson line with him, though not this coming year.
I don’t think Wilson is experienced enough to take full defensive responsibility when Cumiskey drifts in deep in the offensive zone.
This year I think they’ll stick with Foote. Unless he’s the 7th D-man, then it’s more of a crap shoot.
Dear Colorado Avalanche: Thank you for the excitement, see you in October.
I think Stoa would have been #6 in my book. I think he’s going to have a solid year
The 8th month is the month for Wolskis
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 23, 2010 10:43 AM MDT up reply actions
It's all about Gally!
He was such a beast versus the Sharks that I’m fully confident he will play better than ORLY next season.
My vote is going to Roadrunner
Duchene has the most upside with regarding points he could rack up, but you know teams will be playing him like a #1 line. My bet is he’ll top his total last year by a good amount, but I don’t think it’ll be a final number of 80+.
I’m thinking high 60 – low 70.
Roadrunner I could see doubling his point total last year.
Dear Colorado Avalanche: Thank you for the excitement, see you in October.
If they shift defense on Duchene like a #1 center then Stastny and Hejduk are going to kill them. You’ve got to love two strong centers, best. thing. ever.
Tough to say Duchene is going to “Break out” this season, when he did lead all rookies in points last season, but I definately think he has a chance at a 82 GP, 30G, 52A season. On the wagon!
Proud to report that my folks own a bar about 30 minutes away from Goderich where O’reilly just bought a house, and about 3 weeks ago Radar and Drew Doughty along with some others got kicked out for being over served. Guys training hard in the offseason!
by RyanO'Reilly FanClub on Aug 23, 2010 11:07 AM MDT up reply actions
Radar and Drew Doughty along with some others got kicked out for being over served
Overserved? Or underage?
Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Aug 23, 2010 11:19 AM MDT up reply actions
Drinking age is 19 in Ontario, yeah? That would be sweet having a family member that owns a bar.
Anybody grotesquely rich on here that would be willing to fund the startup of a MHH Avs bar in Denver?
by MalachiConstant on Aug 23, 2010 11:25 AM MDT up reply actions
Ahh
For some reason I thought he meant here in Denver, and then I was wondering why Doughty was out here.
Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Aug 23, 2010 12:00 PM MDT up reply actions
If I had the means, there would already be one in place.
"Half the game is mental; the other half is being mental." -- Jim McKenny
Yeah we’re a beach community in Ontario near where the O’reilly brothers just bought a house. I’m out in Vancouver now so I only found out from my brother who was partying and recognized them.
Apparently he went up to Doughty and asked him if he had a pen, and then as he asked what he wanted him to sign he was like “Sign? don’t sign anything I gotta get this chicks number” Classic, he did the same move to Corey Perry a few years before that at the same bar.
by RyanO'Reilly FanClub on Aug 23, 2010 1:16 PM MDT up reply actions
In Spain you just have to be tall enough to put money in the pop machine in order to drink beer…though I’m told that what’s in the machines isn’t really beer.
MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Aug 23, 2010 6:05 PM MDT up reply actions
A friend of mine's grandparents own a bar in Barrie
Even better is it’s about a block from the college, so we all walk down there after classes.
Greatest thing ever.
Dear Colorado Avalanche: Thank you for the excitement, see you in October.
You mean Stastny/CGDS
But either way, you know if they send the best against Stas, Dutchy will destroy them.
If they stop Dutchy, Stas will skate circles around them.
This is going to be awesome.
Dear Colorado Avalanche: Thank you for the excitement, see you in October.
Not to burst anyone’s bubble or anything, but most teams do have two top tier lines as well. It’s not like the Avs are the anomaly here. What I’m more excited about is the third line…….Gali/Radar/Yip (or whatever similar design Sacco throws out there) should be better than most third lines the other teams ice.
I just like the fights.
by Cheryl Bradley on Aug 24, 2010 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions
I voted Dr. Jones,
My newsletter told me that he is gonna stay healthy this year ;-)
"That F******* sandwich had it coming!" -Mike@MHH
I voted for him too
and I am keeping my fingers crossed I didn’t just jinx him by doing so.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Now with Playoff Goodness!
Wait, you got your newsletter? Did mine get lost in the mail?
MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Aug 23, 2010 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions
I accidentally spilled vodka all over it
Is it hockey season yet?
BUFFALO NATION WILL see your BUFFALO BILLS KICK THE soul out of the TUNA FISH FLIPPER ACE VENTURA OILY FLAUNDER NO TAIL SHAMUU WHANA BEs - abayarde
Paul McCartney Can't Play Piano
Burgundy Wave: Nobody's favorite Rapids Blog!
by UZ on Aug 23, 2010 7:40 PM MDT up reply actions
Based on his off-ice endeavors, I expect Patrick Kane to have plenty of “breakouts” this year.
There's a place out west where the Powder River rolls off the Bighorn Mountains. It's a land of red walls, blue sky, and clean air, where the eagle glides high above the canyons and makes its nest in the rocks that overlook the valleys where the sagebrush and cottonwoods grow. This is ranch country - has been for more than a hundred years.
Well things have changed some since the early days, but there's still a thread of character and tradition that runs true from one generation to the next. You can see it in the way folks out here set a horse; you can hear it in the way they talk. And when the work's all done, there's nothing they like better than to get together at the one room schoolhouse under the red wall for another down home, homegrown, Western Saturday night.
I know hope is springing eternal for everyone this time of year, but the guy I’m actually most excited about is Stewart. With better PP numbers, I could see him ending up in the neighborhood of 75 or dare I dream maybe even 80 points.
That’s not a huge point increase, but numbers similar to guys like Parise and Heatley would cement his status as a legit NHL power forward.
I can get behind this. CGDS is the enigma of the group for me. If he improves to his potential and sticks consistently with it, he can have a gigantic impact for the club.
by MalachiConstant on Aug 23, 2010 11:27 AM MDT up reply actions
Stewart probably maxed out
For a power forward, you cant really expect too much more. Even with a full season of consistent effort i dont forsee many more points. Although id like to be proven wrong
by HeyPeterman on Aug 23, 2010 11:29 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Stewart is going to have a monster year. Here’s the “science”:
By the second game of the season, teams will know they need to put their top D against Duchene, Mueller and Hejduk. Too much speed and skill for a 2nd D pairing to keep up with. Hell, this may become evident before preseason ends.
This means Stewart and Stastny will have the 2nd pairing, which puts CGDS up against smaller defensemen or bigger, slower defensemen — but rarely the Doughtys, Webers, Keiths and Lidstroms of the world who get the puck and keep it. Stewart will eat defensemen of the Rafalski and Liles type for breakfast this season, but just having a big bodied defenseman against Stewart is no guarantee of success either because he can still skate well. Not to mention, Stastny can put any defenseman out of position, especially the slow ones. Throw in the breakaway ability of Jones and you have the prototypical perfect line of Speed, Skill and Power. Now also throw in the fact that opponents will have to take the grit factor into account, witch will put the JSS line against a couple grocery-bagging goons every once in a while. I’m thinking 41-43-84 for Stewart this season, with about 90 PiMs.
Now, where’s that Kool-Aide man with another round of the CGDS good stuff.
"Half the game is mental; the other half is being mental." -- Jim McKenny
by Dixomatic on Aug 23, 2010 1:39 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Also, I think Stastny is more of a force to be reckoned with than Duchene the next season. Granted, that paradime might shift down the line, but Stastny’s feel for the game and his positioning trump Duchene’s work-ethic and puck-handling.
If Duchene would score every shot that rung of the post last season, he’d be a Rocket Richard nominee.
Especially since Stastny has his own excellent work ethic himself.
Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Aug 23, 2010 4:26 PM MDT up reply actions
Duchene to top 40 goals
This guy is so driven and got better as the yr wore down lesser players. If Stamkos can break 50, Duchene can easily reach 40. I look for him to terrorize goalies. 42G 44A 86PTS
by HeyPeterman on Aug 23, 2010 11:22 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
terrorize is a great word. seeing his improvement is hands down the thing I’m most excited for this coming year.
Hey, Peterman. Welcome!
The 8th month is the month for Wolskis
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 23, 2010 12:42 PM MDT up reply actions
and check out channel nine. Check out this chick….
by Brett Shumway on Aug 23, 2010 1:52 PM MDT up reply actions
On the rankings…
I would flip Cumiskey and Mueller – because the Avs defense has got a younger with the loss of Clark and Salei and Cumiskey will be expected to play more minutes. Mueller is going to be competing for two top six positions (Stastny, Duchene, Hedjuk and probably Stewart can be set in stone) minutes with other players. Obviously the fact that Galiardi, Jones and Mueller have their eyes on the same minutes will mean that at least one of these three will not improve as much as expected (this will be Galiardi imo).
Barring lengthy injuries (which I know is a major caveat), the Avs’ third line is going to be simply fearsome. The defensive capacities of Radar, Yipper, Dr. Jones & Gali are great and they all know perfectly well where the back of the net is, giving the Avs a legit 3rd scoring line for the first time in a long while. Even Highlander Winnik Porter Stoa look pretty strong on the 4th line.
If Gali falls off (and I don’t really think that he will since he spent the majority of last season in the bottom 6), it will only be because he gets even more time on the PK and less on the 2nd PP.
Colorado Avalanche Offseason Strategy - Please wake us in October
I definitely agree that the Avs 3rd/4th lines look pretty good.
If Gali falls off (and I don’t really think that he will since he spent the majority of last season in the bottom 6), it will only be because he gets even more time on the PK and less on the 2nd PP.
That’s the thing – he probably will get that distribution of minutes if Jones and Mueller succeed, simply because he has the best two-way ability (Jones may break even, but I am pretty sure that Mueller skill set and his results playing 3/4 line minutes in Phoenix means he will be a liability in the bottom 6…)
I love porter
Especially the Breckenridge Vanilla Porter. Delicious.
Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Aug 24, 2010 10:51 AM MDT up reply actions
Haven’t tried it but will have to. I like Deschutes Black Butte Porter too. And Boulder Porter is pretty good.
Your 2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Reaching Up to the Cap Floor
by Bob in Boulder on Aug 24, 2010 10:57 AM MDT up reply actions
Deschutes Black Butte Porter….mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm nomnomnomnomnomnom
I just like the fights.
by Cheryl Bradley on Aug 24, 2010 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions
Also good.
And don’t forget Red’s Tommyknowcker Cocoa Porter
Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Aug 24, 2010 12:13 PM MDT up reply actions
I was going to have one or two Sunday night, and I polished off my remaining 4 because it was so tasty.
Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Aug 24, 2010 12:14 PM MDT up reply actions
Ummm, after my Tax and Cost final tomorrow I am sitting down with one or two Ports… and some cheese.
Sandie
"We called him Clark Kent because away from the rink, he was just a nerd. Then he'd go into the Colorado dressing room and put on his Avs jersey, and all of a sudden he was Super Joe"- Theo Fleury
by Sandie Gauthier on Aug 24, 2010 1:09 PM MDT up reply actions
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