How the Avalanche Improved their Core
by Avs_Man on Jun 27, 2011 6:29 PM MDT
Email
PrintMost people liked the Johnson trade, but some didn't (most notably Peter Stastny). I thought it was a great trade for both the Avalanche and the Blues. Comparing the team now to the day before the trade I think the core of players is a lot better now then it was back then. They replaced Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk with Eric Johnson and Gabriel Landeskog. This is a lot better of a pair if you ask me for many reasons. Shattenkirk was a good offensive defenseman, but he was bad defensively. Johnson is a more complete defenseman. He can play on the powerplay, he is physical, and he is effective on both sides of the puck. I see Landeskog as a similar player to Stewart. He might not be as good as Stewart next year, but Landeskog has potential to have a better career. Something that really sets them apart is that Landeskog is known to be a hardworking, good character player and always give a great effort (he was compared to Mike Richards). Stewart did not show this. After he got back from his injury he showed a complete lack of effort and when the team fell he stopped playing with heart and just didn't look like he cared. I don't know if it is true that he was involved with teammates wives, but it seemed like the team got dragged down when he came back. A very important factor with these two players is that they are leaders (Adam Foote was a good captain, but the team did lack leadership). This is something they did not get out of Shattenkirk and Stewart. I know Landeskog was not part of the trade, but I think overall the team is better after the moves they made. The Blues got two great players, but I'm talking from the Avs perspective. When you talk about the trade itself I think it is a win for both sides. In the long run I think that the Avs are a lot closer to being a contender than they were the year before.
MileHighHockey.com is a fan community, allowing members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Colorado Avalanche and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editors of MileHighHockey.com.
34 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think Shattenkirk has been getting a bad rap around here of late. The kid was a ROOKIE last year, he played more games last season than he did in any 2+ seasons at BU. He defense wasn’t so good, when paired with Matt Hunwick? Ryan Wilson? Of course not, he had to cover for their ineptitude. After Quincey went down Shattenkirk’s play went downhill, coincidence?
Y’all are making him out to have no defensive skill during his rookie season in the NHL. Get a grip!
Well Languished.
Shatty will be a great PMD one day. He’ll probably be even better than Liles. He was a loss for this team without a doubt.
But I’d still take Johnson over him any day.
Shatty could move the puck really well and was creative with it. He also had a fast shot from the point (that will now terrorize the Avs for years). But even though EJ may be less creative with the puck, his shot is even better than Shatty’s. On top of that, he brings size and a strong shut-down presence to our defense, something the 5’11 Shattenkirk just couldn’t do. And even though Shatty was a pretty good presence (at least from what we could see) on and off the ice, EJ was an Alternate Captain in the NHL at 22 and has the chance to be an NHL Captain at 23 (we’ll see what training camp brings). Plus, I don’t think Shattenkirk will ever be a top 2 defenseman on a Cup-caliber team. A strong #3-4, yes, but a #1-2? EJ will be. Both still have lakes of untapped potential, but IMO, EJ has a much higher ceiling because of his size and defensive abilities.
I wish Shatty the best. He was one of my favorite players when he was here, and I still root for him when he’s not playing the Avs. But no matter how good he turns out, he’s going to have a VERY hard time competing with EJ.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
I’m not saying he’s better than EJ, just that folks are getting down on his defensive zone skills. Shatty has mad on-ice vision and will be a better player than JML.
EJ is on a whole other level, in 2 – 3 years St. Louis fans are going to be ripping their management for trading him away for Chris “I don’t work nearly as hard as The Kog” Stewart.
Well Languished.
by niwotsblessing on Jun 27, 2011 8:44 PM MDT up reply actions
Well said andi
MHH and the 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: 'Getting Hammered for Nail'.
by MalachiConstant on Jun 28, 2011 7:50 AM MDT up reply actions
To each his own.
2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Hugging the cap floor and waiting on their revenue share, because hey, billionaires need welfare too!
Yes, but the T Core actually improves your core. Get it? It’s a play on the title of this thread!
Get it?
=================== 21 ===================
by BraxtanFILM on Jun 27, 2011 11:36 PM MDT up reply actions
So does Yoga.
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.
Yoga does it with athletic females.
MHH and the 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: 'Getting Hammered for Nail'.
by MalachiConstant on Jun 28, 2011 7:48 AM MDT up reply actions
Yoga is for pussies! T-Core is for huge buff manly men who aren’t afraid of anything!
=================== 21 ===================
by BraxtanFILM on Jun 28, 2011 12:01 PM MDT up reply actions
If there is a slightly amusing unrelated option in the poll, I will always vote for it. But I would rather have Lando and EJ
I Came, I Languished, I Conquered. Welcome to the Avs Gabriel Landeskog!
by patrit19 on Jun 27, 2011 7:42 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
So it was you that voted for the evil. Noted.
MHH and the 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: 'Getting Hammered for Nail'.
by MalachiConstant on Jun 28, 2011 7:49 AM MDT up reply actions
There’s nothing wrong with Kurt Sauer
I Came, I Languished, I Conquered. Welcome to the Avs Gabriel Landeskog!
Little ball of hate.
MHH and the 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: 'Getting Hammered for Nail'.
by MalachiConstant on Jun 28, 2011 10:04 PM MDT up reply actions
I would argue
that we traded Chris Steward and Shatty for Johnson and Seimens, not Johnson and Landeskog. Call me a stickler but the trade was for St. Louis’ first round pick, not our own.
by RyanO'Reilly FanClub on Jun 28, 2011 1:35 PM MDT reply actions
lots of factors went into those trades. it’s more:
Landeskog + EJ + Siemens + McClement + UFA Goalie Starter for Stewie + Shattenkirk + Rattie + Andy + whoever our pick would have been (let’s say Couturier for arguments sake)
There’s still data to be collected, but I think I’d take the Avs side IF we land Vokoun.
My point is they are in a much better position now then they were before. I still think the trade itself is a good one. I’d rather have Johnson, Seimens and McClement than Stewart, Shattenkirk, and whoever the Blues used the second rounder on.
Funny quote about Dunc.
“Duncan is very outgoing, very engaging, and he has a clear idea of the type of player that he is,” Pracey said. “We were joking when we were in the hallway today looking at all the (NHL) awards on our walls that our players have won. He was looking at the Lady Byng Award (won by Sakic in 2001) and he said, ’That’s one I’m never going to get.’”
Good to see that attitude out of Dunc this early.
by ExiledAmongYou on Jun 28, 2011 10:24 PM MDT reply actions
Giving up Shattenkirk
WAS A MISTAKE… I am stoked to have EJ on board and Siemens in the pipeline, but Shatty had 43 points in 72 games last season. His on ice vision is exceptional, he grows a filthy stache, and is a player teams will have to gameplan around. Outside Duchene, I think he had the most unique skillset on the team last season. Plus you don’t just throw away the potential for a shat trick. Having Elliott and Barrie makes the loss sting a little less, but we gave up a helluva hockey player in Shattenkirk.
Sports don't build character, they reveal it
Stewart is a great player, but it doesn’t matter how much skill a player has if they don’t play with heart. Just look at Alexander Daigle or for a more resent example, Wotjek Wolski. Daigle was seen as a future superstar, but he gave such a poor effort he is now only remembered as a giant bust. Wolski’s career since leaving the Avs has taken a nosedive because of his lack of motivation and effort. Stewart has been good for the Blues, but he gave up on the Avalanche and stopped giving his all (just like Anderson), so it only made sense to move him.
I think the deal was focused around Shattenkirk. Without him EJ doesn’t become an Av.
[Insert witty line here]
by Cheryl Bradley on Jun 29, 2011 12:04 PM MDT up reply actions
Ty Rattie is on the Blues' side, as well.
by ExiledAmongYou on Jun 29, 2011 6:05 PM MDT up reply actions
Any wagers on which piece of this trade gets moved next? Probably Stewart on the StL side or Mc on the avs. Right?
Available for a 3rd round pick.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jun 29, 2011 6:54 PM MDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Mile High Hockey
Related FanShots on Mile High Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
