Sunday Brunch: Baby Avs fall in Rookie Showcase opener and a deadline is looming for Matt Duchene

Colorado Avalanche

The baby Avs fell 7-4 to the Sharks in the first game of the Rookie Showcase behind some less than impressive goaltending. Here is coach Eric Veilleux’s post game reaction.

Though the score was ugly, Tyson Jost, J.T. Compher and A.J. Greer all separated themselves from the group of forwards. They were playing at a level that should leave everyone excited about their chances to make the Avs out of camp. Greer, in particular, looks and sounds like someone that wants to take a leadership role with the young group.

Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman spoke about how close the Avs are to trading Matt Duchene and what kind of deadline Joe Sakic is working with [MHH]

Along the same lines, Sakic spoke yesterday about how he expects Duchene to be in camp on Thursday despite rumors of a holdout. [BSN]

“He’s under contract and I expect him to be here on the 14th,” Sakic said. “He doesn’t have to be here till the 14th. Not everybody always come to camp early. It’s not for me to (say), but I assume on the 14th, he’ll be here.”

Around the Hockey World

One bit of news that the NHL dropped late in the week was the date of this year’s trade deadline.

Meet Tucker Poolman, the 24-year old defenseman that went from a NAHL walk-on to a contract with the Winnipeg Jets. [Sportsnet]

While many are ready to anoint Connor McDavid as the best hockey player in the world, Jim Rutherford explains why he thinks it’s still Sidney Crosby. [NHL dot com]

The Philadelphia Flyers are trying to bounce back from a terrible season while integrating some key youngsters into the core of the team. [Philadelphia Inquirer]