Final Grade: Ryan Stoa
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 7:00 AM MDT
in Final Grades 2011
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PrintThis report card is a joint effort by Beachie, Sandie, Paul, SlamDunktheFunk and DDC. Stats courtesy of hockey-reference.com and NHL.com
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Final Grade |
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Final Grade: D+
Midseason Grade: N/A
Last Year: INC
Position: LW (25gp)
Lines:
- 1st 12gp 1g 1a 2pt -3
- 3rd 6gp 0g 1a 1pt Even
- 2nd 4gp 1g 0a 1pt -1
- 4th 3gp 0g 0a 0pt -2
Vitals: 6'3" / 200 / 24 / Shoots L
Drafted by the Avalanche in the 2nd round (34th) in the 2005 Entry Draft
Joined Avalanche: Made his NHL debut with the Avs on December 13, 2009 vs. Calgary.
MHH Nicknames: ...
Linemates:
C:
- Stastny 12gp 2g 1a 3pt -1
- McClement 5gp 0g 1a 1pt -1
- O'Reilly 4gp 0g 0a 0pt -1
- Duchene 2gp 0g 0a 0pt -2
- Dupuis 1gp 0g 0a 0pt +1
- Galiardi 1gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
RW:
- Jones 8gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
- Porter 7gp 0g 1a 1pt -2
- Stewart 3gp 1g 0a 1pt -2
- Hejduk 2gp 0g 1a 1pt Even
- Yip 2gp 1g 0a 0pt -1
- McClement 1gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
- McCleod 1gp 0g 0a 0pt +1
- Winnik 1gp 0g 0a 0pt Even
Avs with Stoa in the lineup: 6-18-1 (.260 pt %) 2.28 GF 3.68 GA
Ice Time:
- TTOI 13:20 (14th)
- EV 11:46 (13th)
- PK 0:00 (19th)
- PP 1:33 (10th)
Career Highlights: Scored the game-winning goal in his first career shootout attempt on March 19th in Edmonton.
Report: I've sat here for a while trying to come up with amusing and clever things to say about Stoa's season but it seems I won't be coming up with anything. Ironically, that seems to be more fitting than anything I could have mustered up. Avalanche fans have been teased by the potential of Ryan Stoa since the day he was drafted in the second round by his impressive size and soft hands (hawhawhaw) and keep waiting on the kid to breakout. This past season, a lost season for so many players, would have been the golden opportunity to shine at the Avs thinnest position. Sadly, Stoa took the opportunity and essentially reminded me of Darcy Tucker night in and night out. While improvements were made as his season wore on and the team as a whole played a bit better (from unwatchable to ghastly...yay), ultimately this season served only to raise more red flags than anything else for this Avs prospect. A lack of production is only ever forgiven (and even then, it's pretty rare) if fans have the impression the player is exerting enormous effort but with Stoa you always get the feeling he's only playing hockey because it's what he's always done. There's never a sense of urgency and about as spirited as he got was jumping a guy from behind and then getting punched in the face while laying on the ice late in the season. When that's my most lucid memory of Stoa (that and the 3 or 4 disallowed goals he had...), there's no way his season could be considered a success in anyway.
Fun Fact: Stoa graduated from the same Minnesota high school as Kent Hrbek.
The Ryan Stoa Drinking Game: Drink when Stoa uses his large frame to punish the other team Drunk potential: *crickets*
What We Said Last Year: 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.
2010 Cap Hit: $850,000
2011 Status: RFA ($765,000 QO)
Outlook for Next Season: On one hand, Stoa is just 24 and has just 37 games (plus one playoff game) under his belt, so there's certainly plenty of time for him to start showing the promise that had him drafted 34th overall in 2005, 10 spots ahead of Paul Stastny. On the other, he hasn't really exhibited enough drive, determination or consistency to warrant a longer look. And the clock is ticking: he becomes waiver eligible after 33 more games. Bottom line: the Avs are embarrassingly thin at left wing...yet Stoa would still be considered a long shot to make the roster out of camp next fall.
Next Up: Brian Elliott
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Comments
Trade Bait
He does have promise and I know of lot of fans have a soft spot for him but he just hasn’t shown he an NHL player.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
I never did understand this logic. If he shows promise, why trade him? We have an AHL team for players like him. Detroit has been great at bringing players up very slowly into their system like this. I know several of us have said, “we need to start doing that”. But now, because someone is taking too long, let’s trade them, like some other team is willing to wait but we are not.
If his development has stalled, a decision the Avs would make, he serves no purpose being in the AHL taking up a payroll spot of a player who might develop into an NHL player. If you trade him for another prospect that prospect might develop better.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
I guess my question wasn’t very clear. I actually get your logic, but I don’t get why you think another team would be willing to take him. I mean, if he has promise, then he has promise for us as well.
I don’t think the Avs would get much for Stoa at this point either.
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 9:11 AM MDT up reply actions
It’s magical thinking- he sucks, but he’s easily worth 2nd-3rd round pick because of his upside.
Draft Larsson + Sign Bryzgalov = Kick ass.
by niwotsblessing on Jun 1, 2011 9:11 AM MDT up reply actions
I like the magical thinking argument. I had my own comment but I will go with that.
No, but teams take chances on prospects. I bet some team might take him or swap him for their own prospect who isn’t working out. It’s not really a a risky chance but what if the San Jose farm team coach saw Stoa and saw potential.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
Holy shit! We just turned into Leaf fans!
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
by andidee15 on Jun 1, 2011 9:41 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
mcarson01- Don’t bring logic and reason into all this, some people’s heads might explode.
Draft Larsson + Sign Bryzgalov = Kick ass.
by niwotsblessing on Jun 1, 2011 8:58 AM MDT up reply actions
He has value as a throw in to a trade or more likely a change of scenery trade like the montreal/minnesota trade last year.
Available for a 3rd round pick.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jun 1, 2011 9:32 AM MDT up reply actions
Two ?'s
What’s the random http address at the bottom?
Is he another Svatos? What I mean is, when you look at his career progression, he was a 0.5-ish PPG guy for two years at Minnesota but blossomed (1.2 PPG) when he was a featured player in his last year. Last year, he was OK in the limited time he had in the show but put up pretty damn good AHL numbers for being a first year pro on a not-very-good Monsters team. Look at his PP numbers especially. His AHL numbers this year are pretty good too, again leading the way on the power play. This year, in 25 games with the Avs he had basically the same production he had in 12 games last year. Half of this year’s games were on the top line. Looking at his game log, he got maybe a half-dozen game with regular shifts before going to the Sacco doghouse and then repeating the cycle. Maybe he NEEDS some consistent line (good line) time over a stretch of 15-20 games before we can tell if he can translate to the NHL. I’d like to see him assume the power forward mantle.
Also, I believe his AHL production and relative age was why management felt Hensick wasn’t a necessary piece of the puzzle.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
Well to answer your last question first: he’s not Hensick because Thomas doesn’t like him.
I don’t see the raw skill in him that Svatos had. He seems more of a power forwards.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
but without the power.
I do like how he went to the net on a consistent basis. everything besides that? not so much.
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 7:55 AM MDT up reply actions
not sure what’s causing the funky stuff at the bottom.
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 7:54 AM MDT up reply actions
Maybe if I click “LIKE” enough times it will go away.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
by c6hor8 on Jun 1, 2011 7:57 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
we’ve tried that with your comments and it doesn’t work. trust me.
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 8:01 AM MDT up reply actions 4 recs
BOOM Roasted
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 8:02 AM MDT up reply actions
I am upset and entertained at the same time. It’s an odd feeling.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
That’s what she said. While laughing. And crying.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
by Mike @ MHH on Jun 1, 2011 8:10 AM MDT up reply actions 4 recs
(would have been funnier if I rec’d his comment first)
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 8:44 AM MDT up reply actions
Maybe he NEEDS some consistent line (good line) time over a stretch of 15-20 games before we can tell if he can translate to the NHL.
I think that’s probably what he needs. At least, I would like to see him get the chance. If he can’t show some improvement this year, for the big club, then I’m all for cutting him lose. But he needs some consistent time in the NHL, with some consistent line-mates, in order to show us what he really has.
Geez, he spent quite a few nights on Stastny’s wing… not sure he’s going to get much better than that.
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 9:21 AM MDT up reply actions
Jibbles, come on, everyone knows Stastny is only a 40 point center and is so overpaid that the Avs would be LUCKY to get anything for him in a trade. He is not good and he is worth no more than a 2nd round pick and maybe Bozak.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
I forgot, we should trade Stastny for Bozak and go into next season with a Stoa-Bozak-Hejduk top line….
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions
Hejduk is still playing? Despicable.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
Why would you keep old man Hedjuk around?
Available for a 3rd round pick.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jun 1, 2011 9:37 AM MDT up reply actions
But was he on his wing night in and night out for a significant stretch or did he bounce from top line to 3rd/4th line back to top line (with somebody new on the RW), then back to the 4th or did his 12 games on SoS’ wing come in one chunk for which he failed? I couldn’t tell from the game log, but he got 5 games at 16+ minutes (suggesting he had a constant role) and then he had a 4 minute night, then three games with 13 min, then an 8 minute game, then 4 games at 14 minutes, then an 11 minute game, then vacillated between 8 and 16+ minutes over his last 10 games. That doesn’t exactly smell like a consistent role and linemates approach to me. That’s all I’m saying.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
I think the fans and possibly Sacco as well are expecting a 2009 Stewart like resurgence after being the AHL. He never had that, at least not yet.
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
But he wasn’t sent to the A to get his shit together, he was sent to the A because he didn’t crack the wonders and thunders lineup that started the season scoring goals by the bushel. He produced in the A, why didn’t he produce AT ALL in the NHL? I’m not trying to make excuses for the guy, but given the concussion-go-round he was flung into in January and the death spiral of a lockerroom he walked into, could there be a reason for his lackluster play other than he’s a bust? Seriously, I’m just asking. My pet theory is that he didn’t have much to work with during his time in Denver this season. If he’d been an empty shirt during the first half of the season we’d have much more definitive proof.
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
For next season
Assumption 1: MorF plays.
Assumption 2: The Avs draft a forward whether Landy or Herpaderp
Assumption 3: There are no serious season ending injuries to top 9 forwards, like Gali or Mueller or Flash this year.
Where does he fit? Does he help or hurt the team?
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
keep waiting on the kid to breakout
I think I saw some little red spots on his face last season.
Otherwise, I’m with DDC. He goes to the net great but he doesn’t do anything while he’s there. And he never picks up any of the rebounds. It’s just sad really. I want him to work out but he has a lot of pulling it together to do.
I think he has the pure skating ability of Brunette combined with the hands of Scott Parker and the toughness of TJ Hensick.
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
Sir, how dare you insult Brunette like that!
Mr. Fuji, the devious ways that you put in my mind will come to use.
by Dan Winkler on Jun 1, 2011 9:43 AM MDT up reply actions
Didn’t we trade Ryan “The Animal” Stoa and a 4th round pick to the Leafs for Luke Schenn, TYLER BOZAK, and the 29th overall pick?
Mile High Hockey: Command and Control for the 1st Avs Tank Battalion...
I demand we trade the 11th overall pick!!!
Gotta toss in Stastny to get Bozak
A man who stole my whisky used the defense that no one could resist a bottle of Scotch. I had no choice but to testify on his behalf.
Daily bitching about grades - Consistency edition
Player A
333 minutes of ice time
439 shifts
18 games on one of the top two lines
4 points
$850,000 salary
Player B
143 minutes of ice time
232 shifts (more than 25% of those on defense, where he was flawless)
0 games on one of the top two lines
1 point
$575,000 salary
Both players receive a D+. I thought the grading criteria was on a curve, comparing one player’s performance to that of his teammates. If that’s the case, how do these two players receive the same grade? You may not think that Player B deserves more than a D+, but doesn’t that mean Player A gets an F?
Mr. Fuji, the devious ways that you put in my mind will come to use.
by Dan Winkler on Jun 1, 2011 10:07 AM MDT reply actions
Except a part of the expectation for Player B is that he can fight. He can’t. His bouts at best were a momentary distraction and at worse a momentum shift …for the other team.
Oh, and Detroit? You can stop believin' now.
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 1, 2011 11:04 AM MDT up reply actions
Though, for what it’s worth, I agree with you. I gave Koci a C and Stoa a D.
Oh, and Detroit? You can stop believin' now.
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 1, 2011 11:08 AM MDT up reply actions
Dan, you think a guy who played 18 games on the top 2 lines and got 4 points is worth more than, well, anyone?
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 11:21 AM MDT up reply actions
ah, wait, I misread your argument.
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 11:26 AM MDT up reply actions
His bouts at best were a momentary distraction and at worse a momentum shift …for the other team.
Looking for concrete examples when this actually happened.
Agree 100% that the expectation for Koci is that he can fight. And he does – have you ever seen him turn someone down, unless it was a clear situation where he shouldn’t (Avs ahead by 3, the other player clearly trying to turn the tide)? He doesn’t win most of his fights, true, but he fights. He stands up for his team, which is incredibly soft.
Mr. Fuji, the devious ways that you put in my mind will come to use.
by Dan Winkler on Jun 1, 2011 12:36 PM MDT up reply actions
Perhaps I should have said the expectation is that he fight well. Losing fights, IMO, doesn’t help the team at all. According to hockeyfights.com, he only clearly won one fight. Watching him, I would even question some of those voted as draws, looking to me more like a loss.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m one of Koci’s biggest fans around here. I’m just pointing out what might have affected people’s grades. Lots of people complain about his poor showing in fights.
Oh, and Detroit? You can stop believin' now.
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 1, 2011 12:42 PM MDT up reply actions
I gotta agree with Dan on his general bitching about the grades here:
Right now, the only guys with grades lower than a B (on the 29th place team in the league) are:
Sacco (C-)
Mauldin (B-)
Yip (D-)
McClement (B-)
Porter (C+)
Dupuis (B-)
Cumiskey (C-)
Stoa (D+)
Koci (D+)
Quincey (C-)
Do we, as a collective group, really think the reason the season was so bad (and it really was that bad) was because of the play of Coaching, 3rd/4th liners, enforcers and injured defensemen (who didn’t play when the Avs season really went south) (I’m sure we’ll add goalies in there too).
With the grades what they are it sure seems to me that we, nay YOU (not my grades, ha) are putting the blame of the terrible season on a bunch of guys who aren’t really deserving of all the blame.
Yet Stastny , Duchene & Hejduk were pretty awful during February (when the Avs season tanked) along with regular defensemen like O’Byrne, Shattenkirk. Now there’s quite a few regular defensemen left to be graded (Foote, Hunwick, Wilson) so maybe the blame is going to be laid at their feet as well. And the avs were last in GA/G this season, so Goalies and Defensemen is probably where the blame should be laid…but there still seems to be a bias towards rationalizing away criticism from the top players a bit.
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions
sounds like the makings of a great blog post
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jun 1, 2011 11:39 AM MDT up reply actions
Especially about Duchene.
Oh, and Detroit? You can stop believin' now.
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 1, 2011 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions
As much as I haven’t written about much lately… I don’t want to turn my blog into “Here’s a critique of another Avs blog”
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions
You could always go wild and crazy and do a MHH Fanpost.
2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Hugging the cap floor and waiting on their revenue share, because hey, billionaires need welfare too!
I gotta agree with Dan on his general bitching about the grades here:
Right now, the only guys with grades lower than a B (on the 29th place team in the league) are:
Sacco (C-)
Mauldin (B-)
Yip (D-)
McClement (B-)
Porter (C+)
Dupuis (B-)
Cumiskey (C-)
Stoa (D+)
Koci (D+)
Quincey (C-)
Do we, as a collective group, really think the reason the season was so bad (and it really was that bad) was because of the play of Coaching, 3rd/4th liners, enforcers and injured defensemen (who didn’t play when the Avs season really went south) (I’m sure we’ll add goalies in there too).
With the grades what they are it sure seems to me that we, nay YOU (not my grades, ha) are putting the blame of the terrible season on a bunch of guys who aren’t really deserving of all the blame.
Yet Stastny , Duchene & Hejduk were pretty awful during February (when the Avs season tanked) along with regular defensemen like O’Byrne, Shattenkirk. Now there’s quite a few regular defensemen left to be graded (Foote, Hunwick, Wilson) so maybe the blame is going to be laid at their feet as well. And the avs were last in GA/G this season, so Goalies and Defensemen is probably where the blame should be laid…but there still seems to be a bias towards rationalizing away criticism from the top players a bit.
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 11:33 AM MDT up reply actions
With the grades what they are it sure seems to me that we, nay YOU (not my grades, ha)
Not sure it’s clear, but this part was tongue-in-cheek
Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jun 1, 2011 11:33 AM MDT up reply actions
hahahaha
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
This guy personifies why I would love the Avs to get a guy like Landeskog. When Stoa is chasing the puck and skating blue line to blue line he does nothing else. He doesn’t hit, he doesn’t protect teammates, he doesn’t stay in the crease long enough to get a defenseman pissed off after a whistle, he doesn’t talk on the bench and he doesn’t play a strong defensive game in his own end. If your game is suffering on the score sheet you can and should find other ways to contribute. When Stoa isn’t scoring he’s an Albatross for the team, just. like. Wolski. I fucking hate paying good money to go watch guys like Wolski play hockey.
Mix in a little passion in to your game. If you’re going to be a robot on the ice then you’d better be bringing the heat on the scoresheet like Sakic and Brunnette. Even if Stoa developes in to a 20 goal guy I don’t want to watch him do it.
I'll keep this brief.
by Dario on Jun 1, 2011 10:57 AM MDT reply actions 3 recs
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