MHH's 2013-14 Avalanche Season Analysis: Part 9 - Individual Performance Predictions

Now we get down to the nitty gritty to see who has the powers of prediction. Today's prognostication centers around individual performances.

Let's talk numbers. Who's going to be the leading scorer? Who's going to scrape the bottom of the barrel in goals? Which defenseman will top the blueline in points? Who gets the most PIMs? Which player is going to be the game-changer for the Avalanche, finding ways to will wins that would otherwise be sure-fire losses?

Andi:

Leading Scorer: Duchene, 30 G / 50 A / 80pts

Fewest Goals (Top 9 forwards): Downie, 10G

Fewest Goals (Team, 20+ GP): Sarich, 1G

Top Blueliner: Johnson, 5G / 20A / 25pts

Most PIMs: McLeod, 150 PIM

Game-changer: Varlamov (I hope)

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Cole:

Leading Scorer: Matt Duchene 60-70 points and finally, FINALLY 30 goals

Lowest Scorer: Cory Sarich and Patrick Bordeleau with 1 each

Top D: Erik Johnson with 28-35 points

PIM’s: Cody McLeod, as always

Game Changer: Matt Duchene

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Mike: I see Duchene as the leader in the goalz category with Pappy holding down the points lead. If Stastny is used like it looks like he's gonna be used, he'll be the "big name" at the bottom of the points/goals heap. Other than him, Mitchell will lead the team in lack of points. Barrie should command the most offensive output on the blueline and Cody Mac will lead in PIMs. I think the team will lean on Duchene heavily to be the game changer, but my hope is Varly gets the opportunity to steal some significant games as well.

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Steve: No surprises in my picks.

Who's going to be the leading scorer? P.A. Parenteau but the whole top line will be close
Who's going to scrape the bottom of the barrel in goals? Cory Sarich for obvious reasons; hopefully Jamie McGinn stops scraping the paint off the pipes
Which defenseman will top the blueline in points? Tyson Barrie for obvious reasons
Who gets the most PIMs? Cody McLeod for being Cody McLeod
Which player is going to be the game-changer for the Avalanche, finding ways to will wins that would otherwise be sure-fire losses? Ryan O'Reilly. pls.

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Earl:

Scoring: Duchene
Goals: PA, Landy
Fewest Goals: Sarich, Olver
PIMs: Bordy
Game-changer: The whole team

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AJ: Leading scorer will be Dutchy. Least goals will be Sgarbossa, who again won't score in another call up opportunity. Top blueline point scorer will be EJ. Most PIMs goes to Cody Mac simply because he's going to earn his spot in the lineup more consistently than Bordy. Game-changer had better be Landy, damnit.

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Cheryl:

Leading Scorer: Matt Duchene
Lowest Scorer: Patrick Bordeleau
Top D: Erik Johnson although Tyson Barrie won't be far behind
PIM’s: Patrick Bordeleau, even without the fighting majors. Still won't ever get the benefit of the doubt.
Game Changer: Gabe Landeskog and Ryan O'Reilly will share that honor on the ice, but the bigger difference will be behind the bench with Patrick Roy