Meet Your 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche (Goalies)
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 27, 2011 7:00 AM MST
in Avalanche By The Numbers
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Every year around this time, I like to look at the Avalanche roster and take stock of everyone's contract status with an eye towards who will be back next year and who might be potentially on the market at the deadline. I don't get many things right here, but looking back at last year's entry, it wasn't all that far off. This year - at least for goalie - the waters are a little murkier.
The Avalanche currently have one goalie in the system under contract next year. That goalie would be Trevor Cann, who has spent much of this season in the CHL. Cann was a 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft and it doesn't look like he'll be panning out for the Avs. He shouldn't feel too bad, though; none of the goalies in that draft have played in the NHL to date.
The real question, of course, is whether or not the Avalanche will extend Craig Anderson. At this time last year, Anderson was a lock to be locked up long-term, and a deal in the $4 million range wouldn't have raised many eyebrows. Anderson hasn't dominated this year, though, and there aren't any indications yet as to whether he will return after his contract ($1.82 million per year) expires this summer.
If Anderson doesn't return, it is safe to say that the Avs' next starting goalie is not currently in the system. Peter Budaj ($1.2 million), John Grahame ($500,000) and Jason Bacashihua ($500,000) are all UFA's this summer. None would be expected to be a go-to guy in Colorado next year and unsigned prospects Calvin Pickard and Sami Aittokallio are likely a couple of years away. Potential free agents include J.S. Giguere, Ilya Bryzgalov, Tomas Vokoun and Jimmy Howard - not exactly an inspiring crop even if all end up hitting the market.
What the Avalanche do at the deadline will likely depend on whether or not they intend to re-sign Anderson this summer. If that's the case, don't expect any goaltender movement either in or out at the deadline. If Greg Sherman and the Avalanche brass feel that the team will need to go in a new direction, it wouldn't be out of the question to see a goaltender swap at the deadline, similar to moving David Aebischer for Jose Theodore (hopefully with better results).
Gut feeling? Anderson will be back, but the Avalanche part ways with Budaj to shake things up a little.
Next Year's Projected Lineup:
- Craig Anderson: $3.5 million
- Random NHL backup: $600,000
Projected Total Cap Hit: $4.1 million
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I’m not sure Andy deserves a 3-4 yr deal…yet. That may change.
Unless the Avs are ready to bring up Pickard or Aittokallio who on the market would be a better back-up? Not sure there are many that will be willing to do what Boods has done and be as positive an influence on the team as he’s been.
The Avs defense is "air tight"....so tight it's gasping for air and turning purple.
by Americanario on Jan 27, 2011 11:54 AM MST up reply actions
Agreed. And I do believe that the Avs weigh chemistry and work ethic highly in their equations. Boods brings both.
Hunwick- Twice as good as Holos when seen through the (extremely) narrow lens of takeways!
by Rapierwhitt on Jan 27, 2011 12:06 PM MST up reply actions
Me too
I think he’s one of the better backups available for the price.
Winnik is a fucking Win!
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 27, 2011 8:11 AM MST up reply actions
And for attitude, locker room/bench presence, etc.
He seems happy in his role, studies and helps everyone on the team (even his competition, Andy).
The Avs defense is "air tight"....so tight it's gasping for air and turning purple.
by Americanario on Jan 27, 2011 12:07 PM MST up reply actions
yep, and I would pick him as a back-up over Smith, Leclaire, Lalime, etc. I don’t see any sort of upgrade with those guys.
I think when Pickard is ready to move up, that would probably be the new back-up goaltender.
2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Defying Corsi
And at that point I’d love to see Budaj become a goalies coach full-time. The man’s smart as hell.
Optimism. When.
All this, and as the defense improves his attitude and work ethic become more even important factors in positively contributing to the team.
Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!
by niwotsblessing on Jan 27, 2011 4:23 PM MST up reply actions
Random NHL backup: $600,000
Misspelled “eventual starter” there methinks
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Nonsense, I expected him to go 0-82 because I hate the Avalanche
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by UZ on Jan 27, 2011 8:24 AM MST up reply actions
Gut feeling? Anderson will be back, but the Avalanche part ways with Budaj to shake things up a little
If they want to shake things up, might I suggest an overhaul of their defense first.
2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Defying Corsi
well, they are kind of in the middle of that already.
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 27, 2011 8:35 AM MST up reply actions
Defense or not, the goalie situation needs to be fixed. These guys are both getting lit up, and the old “the D is hanging them out to dry” thing isn’t the whole problem. It’s not helping, but neither goalie – especially Andy – looks good at all this year. All numbers aside, I think Boods has looked like the better goalie, but he’s still not starter-caliber. I think it’s time for the Avs to get real serious about figuring out how to bring on some proven talent.
Only my comments, ideas, thoughts, and opinions are stupid. But not me, right? Right?
Andy has talent…a good defense is the bigger priority. Our defense is THE worst in the league…maybe Toronto is worse…but Andy is starter material, you can’t expect him to win games when the guys are doing what they’re doing in front of him.
Teams have proven that you don’t need an all-star back there, you need really good defense to win.
No we’re the worst. 3.3 GA/g is good for 30th. Toronto is low on that list too at 25th but it doesn’t help that they’re sitting second-worst in the league in giveaways. The D-corps is honestly not that bad up there.
Optimism. When.
(and Lebda)
No kidding, did you see the splits on their record with him in and out of the lineup? Yikes
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
J.S. Giguere, Ilya Bryzgalov, Tomas Vokoun and Jimmy Howard – not exactly an inspiring crop
All of them have better SV% and GAA than our current goalies. I would take Vokoun and his .923 save percentage any day of the week.
No, scratch that, I would take any goalie who looks like they can be bothered.
My opinion is worth about what you paid for it: Nothing.
Anderson had a .923 sv% in FLA too.
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 27, 2011 10:48 AM MST up reply actions
Vokoun please...
Unless Andy picks it up…
I don’t see him getting over 3 million a year
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Where is my sunshine? Where are my rainbows?
My fantasy hockey team sucks. But at least I'm not a Red Wing sellout.
Fuck sunshines and fuck rainbows.
I want an offence that can score, I want a defence that can defend and a netminder who will mind the fucking net.
Failing all that, I would at least like to see some goddamn effort
My opinion is worth about what you paid for it: Nothing.
by Nemesis44UK on Jan 27, 2011 9:30 AM MST up reply actions 8 recs
rec
for the simple statement of the truest truth
Yes Danger is my real last name.
by David Danger on Jan 27, 2011 9:32 AM MST up reply actions
Rec, mostly for the clear British precision of your statement.
Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!
by niwotsblessing on Jan 27, 2011 4:25 PM MST up reply actions
The Avs scouts are really upbeat about Brandon Maxwell (currently with the Kitchener Rangers). I’m guessing he’ll get a good shot to make the team out of training camp next Fall. He will only be 20 years old, so I’m thinking he would be a backup and not handed the starting role at first.
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by BrianD on Jan 27, 2011 9:31 AM MST via mobile reply actions
Talking about prospects, I’m not excited about Patterson who is with the Univ. of Minnesota. He is shaky and inconsistent. I know he’s a freshman, but at this point I think we threw away a draft pick on him.
"If you got no angle, just let it dangle..." -old hockey proverb
by Lost Winter on Jan 27, 2011 10:33 AM MST up reply actions
I think your mixing up Patterson with someone else. He’s a junior and I’d hardly call him inconsistent or shaky. He’s been very good for the Gophers this year. Perhaps you are referring to Kieran Millan from BU? He too is not a freshman, but a junior and has been fairly inconsistent since his freshman year.
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by Angélique C. Murray on Jan 27, 2011 11:46 AM MST up reply actions
I am unwilling to toss Andy away at this time. We know the guy has game. I want a couple of bodies in front of Andy over 6 feet tall with anger issues.
Oh, and I’m unwilling to toss Bood’s under the bus too.
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That said. Sign Andy AND Vokoun.
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Matt Duchene... better at being Pavel Datsyuk than Pavel Datsyuk...
yeah, I bet Andy is just itching to being Vokoun’s backup again
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 27, 2011 9:41 AM MST up reply actions
Sign Ballard while you are at i as well, since you know…he hurt them both within a month
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
Relax, you’re insured.
"I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later." -- M.H.
Nice.
Hunwick- Twice as good as Holos when seen through the (extremely) narrow lens of takeways!
by Rapierwhitt on Jan 27, 2011 12:10 PM MST up reply actions
Ha, I forgot about that…
If Andy doesn’t want to be a backup again, I suggest that he picks up his game. The worst thing is that we know he can play superbly, but I have seen him give up way too many soft goals this season and that isn’t on D, that’s on him.
Last season he dominated his crease and played with a swagger that gave the D-men confidence. This year, he’s not chasing the puck and giving up all too easily. No one seems to know what to do and all too often it results in a goal or five.
My opinion is worth about what you paid for it: Nothing.
I remember him playing his best when he was talking penalties for roughing and generally being a dick.
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by i2strange97 on Jan 27, 2011 10:06 AM MST up reply actions
Maybe the missus told him to play nice.
"When they should be throwing to the cutoff man, they are reading Men's Health for ab workout tips. When they should be sacrifice bunting, they are buying effeminate designer jeans. When they should be fouling off pitches, they are masturbating. Always, they are masturbating."
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by Tempestuous Binary on Jan 27, 2011 10:14 AM MST up reply actions
Perhaps the team could interfere with his marriage, cause a divorce, and get him back to his grouchier, more competitive self.
Not advocating this, mind you, just pointing out that those are the kinds of things that teams can do to “be creative” in the cape era.
Hunwick- Twice as good as Holos when seen through the (extremely) narrow lens of takeways!
by Rapierwhitt on Jan 27, 2011 12:12 PM MST up reply actions
cape era
Oooh, is Batman involved in anyway, cuz he would be a kick ass goaltender?
2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Defying Corsi
Incredibles FTW
Winnik is a fucking Win!
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 27, 2011 4:24 PM MST up reply actions
thats what he taught us at goalie camp
back home in Illinois
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I would hope the Av’s keep Andy,but let Budaj go, I have high hopes for Pickard, however in the mean time though what about the youngish Josh Harding, Mike Smith, Jeff Deslauriers, and Erik Ersberg, or veterans Brain Boucher, Mathieu Garon,and Patrick Lalime..or for a bit more cash Pascal Leclaire
Behind Enemy Lines
Ya thats probably not a good choice plus he probably would be asking more than Andy anyway
Behind Enemy Lines
Based on what? His insurance premiums and need to cover them? He is marginally better than Andy this year and is marginally worse (in fewer games – SURPRISE!) than Andy over their respective careers.
Because Foppa at 50% is still better than 95% of the NHL.
I kind of like the idea of letting some younger guys play as backup. Seems like you just never know when some seemingly random kid will just go on a tear.
by MalachiConstant on Jan 27, 2011 10:36 AM MST up reply actions
God love Boods, but if he’s looking for another 7 figure deal, he should seek it elsewhere. I’d be OK, keeping him at say $750K, but there’s a hell of a lot of supply in the market for backup keepers and not much in the way of demand.
Because Foppa at 50% is still better than 95% of the NHL.
The idea of letting Boods go makes me sad, but makes sense if you believe the rebuild is still several years away. Bring in a youngun’ and see what happens.
Hunwick- Twice as good as Holos when seen through the (extremely) narrow lens of takeways!
by Rapierwhitt on Jan 27, 2011 12:15 PM MST up reply actions
Not Ersberg. Has some amazing games sandwiched by mediocre to bad. Wouldn’t be an improvement at all.
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by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 27, 2011 1:44 PM MST up reply actions
Harding’s coming off some serious injuries, Smith is …. not good, Deslauriers is not good enough to be the 4th goalie in Edmonton’s system, Boucher is the definition of streaky, Garon is a serviceable backup but not an upgrade, Lalime seems to be trending down from his modest showings. Haven’t seen much Ersberg.
Leclaire? No.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
I really like the drafting of Pickard…but I pray he stays away from this team if they show no resemblance of defense… last thing we want is this kid coming in and getting lit up and his confidence getting destroyed because of the piss poor defense.
I was disappointed he didn’t make it onto Team Canada at the World Juniors this year…you would have to think he should be a lock for next year though
Behind Enemy Lines
Too early really…goalies tend to develop slower and I’d like a bigger focus on reworking our defense and injecting new blood there.
This.
Hunwick- Twice as good as Holos when seen through the (extremely) narrow lens of takeways!
by Rapierwhitt on Jan 27, 2011 12:16 PM MST up reply actions
I always look at MA Fluery on the “bringing up a goalie too early” front. That guy was in the NHL, then at the World Juniors, then NHL, AHL…all over. He is still inconsistent, but a Stanley Cup winner
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
He’s really good now…but he was horrible when he was first brought up…and this is for a guy who’s had national exposure…but he’s great now.
I wouldn’t qualify him as great. He has stretches of great followed by 3-4 games in a row where he looks downright incompetent. Heck, Brent Johnson took over as number 1 for a time in the beginning of the year…then MA got back in and the Pens had that huge run
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
He didn’t have a good start…a lot of goalies go through rough stretches, and he’s been great since. Look at his numbers after November 17th…they’ve been damn good and the saves he’s making are huge.
Having Crosby on my team I’ve seen a lot of Penguins games and he keeps them in games when the offense isn’t going.
Pickard is already used to playing behind a bad defense :-)
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by Angélique C. Murray on Jan 27, 2011 11:48 AM MST up reply actions
Yep, THN Said he’s faced more shots than any other goalie in North America this year. He’ll fit right in here.
At 17-16-3, .923SV%, 2.51GAA, 5SO, with a I’d welcome his struggles on this team any day.
Because Foppa at 50% is still better than 95% of the NHL.
I’ve always liked Vokoun. Have seen him be tough on the Avs and pull out wins when I thought the Avs outplayed them. Kinda’ like that thing that Andy did a bunch last year.
Hunwick- Twice as good as Holos when seen through the (extremely) narrow lens of takeways!
by Rapierwhitt on Jan 27, 2011 12:17 PM MST up reply actions
I really like Andy but I don’t think he’s the solution in goal for the Avs. So far in his career he hasn’t shown that he can be consistent for a whole season. Though he really was on fire the first half of last season, he was mediocre after the Olympic break.
This season he struggled with injuries and I know the D sucks big time, but still Andy allows that one fluke goal almost every game.
It’s difficult to tell whether a goalie is really good or not in front of a shitty defense. I say fix the defense first and if goal tending is still a problem at that point, then buy some. It’s one position to fill versus six.
by MalachiConstant on Jan 27, 2011 1:08 PM MST up reply actions
This, a good defense can make a mediocre/good goalie look great. Even a great goalie can’t always make a bad defense look good.
The Avs defense is "air tight"....so tight it's gasping for air and turning purple.
by Americanario on Jan 28, 2011 11:47 AM MST up reply actions
Andy and Cumiskey for Vokoun. Mix in picks to make it even (not many though)
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 27, 2011 1:28 PM MST reply actions
hunwick is going to have to be packaged with a good player or a pick. one of those we’ll give you this….but you have to take Hunwick too. (a la the kings and pressing and quincey).
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 27, 2011 3:49 PM MST up reply actions
Was thinking this tonight at dinner
CBJ needs a PP QB of some flavor (or so say many pundits). They’re also pretty cash strapped and could use some cap relief.
If they can get him up from the minors, how about Hunwick for Commodore straight up?
64 is undoubtedly the better Dman, but Hunwick is RFA at the end of the season and would be fortunate to get a contract at his current roughly $1.5M.
Avs can eat the $3.8M cap hit from 64 for this year and next and get a big, mean, defensive Dman to pair w/ Shatty for the next 1.25 seasons while Footer retires and Gaunce can not be rushed.
Because Foppa at 50% is still better than 95% of the NHL.
I haven’t seen him this year, actually it’s been two years since I have. Other than politics is he in the minors cause he sucks to some extent? He was getting scratched after all?
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 28, 2011 10:11 PM MST up reply actions
He was getting scratched and depending on who you talk to, he was sucking, but the BJs have a plethora of big, defensive defensemen, but can’t seem to move the puck. We have the opposite issue. Perhaps the teams could help each other.
Because Foppa at 50% is still better than 95% of the NHL.
Yeah, that Hunwick guy can get the puck moving….
Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 30, 2011 8:07 PM MST up reply actions
I think both Budaj and Anderson will be around next year, but on short contracts. Budaj is the ideal backup and unless he gets an offer to be a starter somewhere (which is possible) I think we keep him. Anderson played well enough last season to deserve another shot, though I certainly hope he finds some of his old mojo.
All that said, I would LOVE to sign Ilya Bryzgolov. And if we looked like we were (with Foppa) in a position to make a cup run this year, I wouldn’t be opposed to trading for Bryz or Vokoun at the deadline. However, I doubt we’ll be in a position to make a cup run, unless Andy picks it up, in which case why trade for a goaltender?
My Hunch
Or call it a wild-assed prediction that makes me look pretty cool if I get it right: The way this team’s management works, there’s gonna be something big – like “how in the hell did we swing that?” big, in the goalie category. This year? Maybe not. But I’ll bet Sherman and the gang know as well as we do how big of a priority our goalie situation has become, and they’re working on something that’s gonna freak us all out when it happens.
Defenses can be retooled, and there’s always trades to be made, prospects to bring up, and next thing you know you have something that works. With goalies, you need one guy that kicks ass, which is why I wouldn’t be surprised if that has become priority #1 for management.
They are always surprising us right when we’ve reached our “Why doesn’t management care” crescendo.
Only my comments, ideas, thoughts, and opinions are stupid. But not me, right? Right?
With goalies, you need one guy that kicks ass…
How are Niemi and Leighton doing this season?
Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!
by niwotsblessing on Jan 27, 2011 4:36 PM MST up reply actions
Brandon Maxwell!!
This kid should already be up here getting a shot!! He looked great in the pre-season and deserves a look, especially while the two current are in comas.
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