The game was a downhill slide then trip then face-plant into the dirt for the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avs had a decent start, nothing spectacular, in the first period. The San Jose Sharks had some good energy. It was very fast-paced, even with the four penalties in that period.

Samuel Girard scored the first goal of the game just after a power play expired, so it counted as an even-strength tally, and the Avalanche went into the second period up 1–0.

Early in the second, Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog scored on the actual power play, which was quite impressive even with the Sharks’ dismal defense and goaltending. Any time the top line of Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen were out on the ice, the Sharks managed to hem them into their own zone. When the top line was out, it was very hard for them to get offense. 

Then in the third, the Sharks came out swinging and the Avalanche looked listless. The momentum shifted to the Sharks and stayed there after their go-ahead goal was an unfortunate bounce off Nazem Kadri’s stick. Then, the Sharks scored three more times unanswered, leading to their 6–2 victory over the Avalanche.

Offense was going to be a key facet going into this game. The Avs were out three defensemen in Erik Johnson, who is out long term with an upper-body injury, Cale Makar, who is out day-to-day and Bowen Byram, who was revealed injured just a couple hours before the game started. 

This left Colorado with a d-core of Girard, Ryan Graves, Jacob MacDonald, Dan Renouf, Conor Timmins and Devon Toews. MacDonald, Renouf and Timmins largely play in the AHL and had a cumulative 28 NHL games between them.

Plus, the Sharks’ defense was pretty abysmal, at least in comparison. Martin Jones had a goals against average of 3.70, and in San Jose’s previous game against the Blues, they let in seven goals. But, they also scored six in that same game, so their offense was not to be discounted. 

This game, there were bursts of offensive energy from the Avalanche, but it largely seemed like they were not ready to play. All the players the fans wanted to step up unfortunately did not. Girard, while he scored, had a bad turnover that almost cost a goal, MacKinnon and Rantanen were largely quiet and the depth of Andre Burakovsky and J.T. Compher just puck-watched on the game-tying goal. It was frustrating to watch. 

Afterwards, the players interviewed said that they had a poor effort. Toews pointed out that they did not play well in front of Philipp Grubauer, who was not pulled. Landeskog agreed in a separate interview and said the team left Grubauer out to dry.

So, what was Colorado’s response?

Game two: March 3

The Avalanche knew they needed to come back big in this game. The offense was not really there in the Monday night game, and the defense was left to flounder. 

And while this game was an excellent victory for the Avs, it is a bit bittersweet due to the ensuing injury.

The first period was scoreless, which was surprising considering the Sharks’ penchant for scoring six goals recently and the Avs’ desire to make an impactful response. The energy was a bit all over the place, opportunities generating in sudden bursts for both the Avalanche and the Sharks, but the goalies stood strong. 

Scoring opened up in the second when Rantanen scored on a beautiful one-timer that would end up being the game-winning goal (spoilers) in the last six minutes of the period. 

Anyone else singing the “Mikko Rantanen” song during intermission? …no? Just me?

— The Rink — Colorado Avalanche (@TheRinkColorado) March 4, 2021

The Avs got some good opportunities at the start of the third, and Girard capitalized to make it 2–0 with a beautiful slap shot. 

Then the bittersweet injury happened.

Sharks rookie Joachim Blichfeld put a high hit on MacKinnon, sending the Avalanche star to the ice where he did not get up until he was helped to the locker room. A scrum ensued in front of the Sharks’ bench, led by young fourth-liners Tyson Jost and Logan O’Connor. 

https://twitter.com/Emily_Wade/status/1367349022348906499

Referees assessed the hit to be a shot to the head and received a match misconduct and got ejected from the game. The Avalanche went on a five-minute major power play, and Landeskog scored less than 15 seconds into it. The score became 3–0, and MacKinnon did not return for the rest of the game. 

“Not going to comment on that hit. … We’ll let the trainers take care of that,” Landeskog said after the game. “Happy to cash in on the power play.”

Colorado continued to get chances, but it turned into a 4-on-4 for almost a minute when Brandon Saad slid into the Sharks’ goalie. The Avs only scored once on their major, but managed to kill off the Sharks’ power play. 

Rantanen scored his second of the night on a wraparound, the fourth and final goal of the game. Shortly after, Joonas Donskoi took a penalty and the Avalanche killed it off as well. The Sharks seemed to lose their steam, a reversal of the game on Monday.

Sneaky lil’ move there, Rants #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/BaFGyQzmAi

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 4, 2021

The Avalanche won the game 4–0, getting two out of four points in San Jose. They outshot the Sharks 38–26 in that game, showing both a stronger offensive and defensive effort. 

While this game was a shutout victory, it was marred by the MacKinnon injury. There is no official update on MacKinnon yet, but there is still some good news to gleam from this game. Grubauer got his third shutout of the season after letting in six goals the previous game. 

Takeaways

The Avs are showing that even if they have a rough game, they know how to respond. The team improved to 12–7–1 on the season, tying the Minnesota Wild. The power play, at least for Landeskog, is figuring it out, and the penalty kill is staying strong. 

Byram and Makar are still out, not to mention the longer term players Johnson and Pavel Francouz.  It is not revealed yet if they are going to be available for the upcoming games against the Anaheim Ducks. It is also up to the Department of Player Safety to see if Blichfield gets any supplemental discipline.

The Colorado Avalanche are not going to win every game, but answering games after losses is important. The Avs have shown that they can respond with a solid effort and win. I am looking forward to what happens next in Ball Arena!

The post RECAP: Avalanche split pair of games with Sharks appeared first on The Rink.

Let’s take a look at what Byram has done so far in his first 30 days in an Avalanche sweater.

Byram’s first games

In the first tilt against against the Kings, Byram took a penalty early against Anze Kopitar, and took one shot in the game. The match was an Avalanche loss, but he posted a good start.

Byram seemed to already get his feet under him by the series against the Anaheim Ducks. He assisted on Mikko Rantanen’s goal, getting his first NHL point and showing his offensive side in the process.

Bowen Byram's first NHL point was a beauty!#BoAvsBo pic.twitter.com/xGYvSudsTh

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 23, 2021

Just as spectacularly, Byram showed a calm head and quick hands, as a puck slid past Philipp Grubauer’s initial stop and the rookie efficiently moved the puck away from the goal line. 

Byram has shown a variety of facets to his game. He has played on both the power play and the penalty kill and is taking shots, laying big hits and making an impact when he is on the ice.

Is that a wall, or is it Bo?#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Y6h3jAINC3

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 31, 2021

He has played with a variety of defensemen, but has yet to find his pairing due to both chemistry juggling and injury issues. He has been listed on a pairing with Samuel Girard, Erik Johnson, Cale Makar, Greg Pateryn and Devon Toews so far this season. Girard looks like the most ideal fit for a defense partner, but it is good to see Byram get a variety of experienced players to share in a pairing.

As of the Feb. 2 game against Minnesota, the Avalanche entered the first year of Byram’s entry-level contract. Eleven games into his NHL career, Byram averages 18:24 per game, showing that the coaching staff already has trust in him. 

The first of four games against the Vegas Golden Knights, Byram had 23:07 of ice time. He topped that in the second game of the series with 25:03. This was largely because the Avalanche were down both Girard and Makar due to COVID-19 protocol and injury, respectively.

In the Feb. 20 Lake Tahoe game, Byram had a tougher showing. He was usually swarmed by Golden Knights players, he had a rough turnover and had bad luck when the puck seemed to go off his stick on the Alex Tuch goal. He went from 25:03 of ice time in the previous game to 14:25, not seeing any power play or penalty kill time. After that goal, he did not skate again.

you spin me right round pic.twitter.com/sPSXd10shg

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 21, 2021

His decreased ice time is not necessarily an omen. This third game in the series against Vegas also saw the return of Girard and Makar, both of them spending over 20 minutes on the slushy ice. They have each spent at least a season with Head Coach Jared Bednar, and already have his trust. And when the game got close, Bednar chose them and Toews in key defensive situations after Vegas made it within one.

What Byram’s peers are saying about him

Due to the shortened season, the staff had only seven games to make the decision on whether or not to burn the first year of Byram’s entry-level contract. 

“He’s clearly an NHL player and can help us win hockey games,” Bednar said in a post-game interview. “I don’t foresee him going anywhere.”

But, Bednar also acknowledged that the decision was left up to General Manager Joe Sakic and the rest of the management staff. 

“Bowen Byram, you can tell he’s here to stay,” said Marc Moser during an Avalanche broadcast. “That’s all there is to it.” 

“(Byram’s) a really important piece of our lineup right now,” Johnson said of his rookie teammate. “I think this is the deepest (defensive) core we’ve had since I’ve been here, and he’s a big part of it.”

Conclusions thus far

Byram is young and he is green, and he is showing steady development. This truncated season is weird, and there is no need to rush him into a top-pairing role when he is not ready for it. Injuries may have forced the coaching staff’s hand there to push him more. With a healthier backend, Avs fans might see Byram’s role be decreased anyway. 

It has been a month of Bowen Byram, but due to the COVID-19 protocol pause, he has only played 11 games. There has not been a lot of offensive production so far, only tallying two points. The second assist was on the game-winning goal in the Feb. 16 game, but Byram has yet to score a goal of his own. That is not egregious since he is a defenseman, but it would certainly be nice to see. 

That game winner by Kadri was exactly what the doctor ordered.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Acu4BCMS6v

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 17, 2021

There are some elements to his game that he needs to improve upon, but it is still early in the season and certainly early in his career. Byram is showing flashes of greatness, and it is going to be a blast to watch.

What do you think of Byram’s performance so far? Let us know down below or tweet us @TheRinkColorado.

The post A month of rookie Bowen Byram appeared first on The Rink.

C + A + A = Top Line #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/D0q0yzXSiK

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 16, 2021

They have played together for years and they have an undeniable chemistry. They are also an offensive powerhouse together and apart, with a collective 1,212 points across the three of them. 

Instead of going with that top line, Head Coach Jared Bednar chose the combination he had been testing throughout training camp with Andre Burakovsky taking Landeskog’s spot and Landeskog added to the second line with Nazem Kadri and newcomer Brandon Saad. 

Burakovsky had a decent showing in an otherwise dismal game. He scored the only Avalanche goal of the contest on the second unit’s power play, but was a -1. 

Burky with first goal of the season! *tips cap*

Now let's see a few more!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/ewH4HZTUYL

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 14, 2021

In the first game against the Blues, the line of Landeskog-Kadri-Saad was a collective -10, and did not tally a single point. 

Saad is currently a -4 and has not yet registered a point. This is not a reason to panic just two games into the season. Saad missed the first part of training camp, and is adjusting to a new team. If 10 games pass and he is still pointless? Maybe cause for concern, but, he might just need time to acclimated. It is still early. 

Landeskog’s performance in the first game against the Blues was the interesting showing. The Avalanche captain was -3, took a tripping penalty against Tyler Bozak and looked a bit sloppy. Like Saad, he was also out of training camp early on, but Landeskog has been with the Avalanche organization for his 10th year. 

After that game, Bednar was quick to say during practice on Thursday that he would be reuniting the famous top line to the collective “THANK YOU” of Avalanche fans. 

A couple changes on the top two lines for the #Avs, per coach Jared Bednar:

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Saad-Kadri-Burakovsky

Bednar said he wanted to move Saad to the left so he's using his forehand more, and Landeskog moved back to the MacKinnon line.

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) January 14, 2021

In the second game, Landeskog scored two goals, one being his 200th, and Kadri scored a goal. But they were not on a line together. The top line of Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen was reunited, and each of them scored at least a goal in that blowout 8–0 victory. 

It absolutely made sense to break up the Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen line ahead of the season—it allows depth scoring down the front and gives that second line a bit more toughness. 

Plus, back in November of 2019, there was a month-long stretch where both Landeskog and Rantanen were out with injuries. In a shortened season in such a hectic time, there is a need for flexibility when you have to factor injuries and COVID-19 protocol. If those three can only score together, that is going to be a problem.

With new players, it takes time to get adjusted to a new system. So as those players get adjusted and the chemistry grows, then it might be time to switch things up. More line changes and different combinations are likely to be tested as the season continues, as different lines might work against different teams. 

“I’m certainly going to stick with (Landeskog, MacKinnon and Rantanen on the top line) here for a few games,” Bednar said after practice on Sunday. “Sometimes, I think we’re better with them apart and sometimes we’re better with them together.”

The post Colorado Avalanche top line reunited after dismal start appeared first on The Rink.

If anyone just heard the answers from Gabriel Landeskog you will immediately know why he was a 19-year-old captain. This kid is a pro. Forget how good he is on the ice ,,the excepting of responsibility and patting the linesman on the back was awesome.@Avalanche @GabeLandeskog92

— Kelly Chase (@Chasenpucks39) May 9, 2019

But, he is on schedule to hit free agency after next season. The Avalanche front office is already in talks with him for an extension, but a lot could change due to COVID-19, cap struggles and an abbreviated NHL 2020–21 season.

For the purposes of this article, let’s assume that Landeskog and the Avs do not reach a deal. 

So who would then be captain in his absence? 

The Avalanche roster is deep and there are several options, both obvious and unapparent, that could take over the position from Landeskog. 

Let’s examine some of the potential candidates.

Nathan MacKinnon

Could Nathan MacKinnon be the next Colorado Avalanche captain? (Photograph courtesy of Debora Robinson)

There is certainly a history of having a team’s star player be their captain, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, to name a few. Landeskog was in that running before the Avs drafted MacKinnon the year after he was named captain.

As a current alternate captain, MacKinnon leads the team in scoring the past four seasons, and also leads by example in the locker room. And in the 2020 postseason, he broke a Wayne Gretzky record by scoring 25 points in 15 games. Not only is he a fan favorite; he is also on a very team-friendly deal. And, it does not seem like he is interested in leaving, nor is the team interested in moving on from him. 

Joe Sakic asked about Nathan MacKinnon and said he would not move him for anyone in the world.

Says he loves everything MacKinnon did and how he is always working to get better. #Avs

— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) September 10, 2020

MacKinnon is not only the best player on the Avalanche, but he is considered to be one of the best players in the league. He won the Lady Byng Trophy and was also a finalist for the Hart and Ted Lindsay this past year. 

To list a detriment, there could be the issues of MacKinnon’s past anger management struggles that would hinder him on the ice while dealing with calls. He made headlines in the hockey world after barking at head coach Jared Bednar on the bench during a game against the Calgary Flames over a year ago.

But recently, fans have seen that anger be has used in more productive ways. His rage led to an overtime winner against the Vancouver Canucks after the referees did not blow a play dead when Matt Calvert took a puck to the head. It seems he has grown to utilize his anger to make him a better hockey player. 

Cale Makar

Should Gabriel Landeskog leave Colorado, would Cale Makar have a chance at being the team’s next captain? (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

The Avalanche front office has no apparent qualms about making children (okay, Makar is currently 22) the captain. Landeskog was only 19 when he was given the “C”, so Makar would not be the youngest in team history to receive it. 

Makar is certainly a great player and has impressive credentials. He scored the second most points on the team, won the Calder Trophy and is on his way to being in the Norris conversation. He dictates the pace on the ice and often dominates opponents. 

Calder Cale Makar, you already know the name. @Cmakar8 | @Avalanche pic.twitter.com/4plNYoxYxf

— NHL (@NHL) November 10, 2020

But, the responsibility of being the captain of a Stanley Cup-contending team could be overwhelming for him as he gets his footing in the league. He has so much talent and so much drive, but he does not seem to have leadership qualities yet.

Mikko Rantanen

Mikko Rantanen poses another option for a future Colorado captain. (Photograph courtesy of Matthew Stockman)

The Avalanche front office has invested a lot into Rantanen. He is currently the highest-paid player on the roster with his AAV of $9.25 million per year and that was not a mistake.

Even with missing almost 30 games of the regular season due to injury, he still finished in the top five of scoring on the Avs with 41 points. In the postseason, he earned 21 points, second only to MacKinnon on the team. He is an offensive force, and the Avalanche have him under contract until the 2025–26 season. 

But one does not often see him in a leadership role. In the playoffs last season, he wore the “A” against the Dallas Stars since Landeskog and Erik Johnson were out with injuries. He is definitely well known across the league and also a fan-favorite, going to the All Star Game in 2019.

The Big Moose lets it LOOSE with the one-timer on the power play!#GoAvsGo https://t.co/S3oXkSoAz8

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 17, 2019

Nazem Kadri

Though relatively new to the Avalanche, Nazem Kadri may just have what it takes to be a captain for the franchise. (Photograph courtesy of Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Kadri came over in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2019 and he has already made a big impact. He anchored the second line, added depth scoring and aggressively defended his teammates. 

In his first season with the team, Kadri has already earned the respect of his teammates in the locker room.

“He’s a great player for us,” MacKinnon said of Kadri. “He’s great on faceoffs. He brings some swagger to our team, too. He’s a fun guy to be around. He’s very confident and a great teammate.”

Kadri wore the “A” sporadically throughout the season, including when they lost Johnson in the series against Dallas in the 2020 postseason. And, with his own bouts with injury issues this season, Kadri’s absence was definitely noticed. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again:

Nazem Kadri is on #GoAvsGo https://t.co/EYH0RJNFGs

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 19, 2020

Off the ice, Kadri is a board member with the Hockey Diversity Alliance, and, if selected, could be the lone current player of color as a captain in the NHL. That representation would be very important to children of color, and provide him with an additional platform to combat racism within the league.  

Like MacKinnon’s downside, he also has some anger issues and they are a lot more obvious. He led the Avalanche with penalty minutes this season with 97, several being game misconducts. While with the Leafs, he had two suspensions in sequential postseasons in 2018 and 2019. But in the 2020 postseason, he took only 10 minutes total, showing tremendous growth and restraint, making him a qualified candidate for captain.

Samuel Girard

Samuel Girard offers another youthful option for a potential Colorado captain. (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

Like Rantanen, the Avalanche inked Girard for the long run. His contract extends through 2027 when he will turn 29. He is only 22 now, young like Makar, and he is also a defensive force. He appeared in all 70 games this regular season, an impressive feat considering how injured the team constantly was, and achieved his career high for assists with 30 in less games. While he understandably does not get as much attention as Makar, he still reserves respect and recognition. 

After a long time of the Avalanche being known for their offense, it looks like the defense will be a highlight of the 2020s. They currently have a young core of Makar, Graves and Girard, and they will soon get players like Bowen Byram, Drew Helleson and Justin Barron down the line.

It could make a lot of sense to get a defenseman in the main leadership role. Currently, the captain and alternates are Landeskog, MacKinnon and Johnson, with Johnson being the only blueliner. As Johnson is over 30, the Avs’ front office might want to let someone more long-term yet young like Girard take on that responsibility.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has the experience needed to serve as a team captain. (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

Bellemare also reaches UFA status at the same time as Landeskog, but he has already stepped up as a leader multiple times in his first year as an Avalanche. When Landeskog was out in November, Bellemare stepped up as an alternate captain. He has maturity and experience with only six years in the NHL. He scored nine goals in the regular season from the fourth line, and was key as a shutdown player for a team with stacked depth. He also showed immense leadership when speaking about racism as the Western Conference protested their own games after the shooting of Jacob Blake. And, like Kadri, he would be the lone captain of color in the league if he were selected.

His first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff Goal!

Well done, Belly #GoAvsGo https://t.co/pIPZIhn2VL

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 27, 2020

To his detriment as a viable option, he is the oldest on the Avalanche roster at 35 years old and is their fourth-line center, not so much a superstar. But, he is solid and dependable, so he would be an interesting choice. 

Should Landeskog ever move on, it is a pretty safe bet that MacKinnon would be next in line to lead the Avalanche. But, thanks to the Avs’ depth, there are definitely a variety of options for leadership. If Landeskog was no longer the captain, who would you want to see get the “C”?

The post Life after Landeskog? An analysis of the Colorado Avalanche leadership depth appeared first on The Rink.

One of the big offseason trades was the Brandon Saad for Nikita Zadorov deal between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche, and people have been quick to bicker over who won the trade. 

Personally, I like to think it takes a while for a trade to be fully evaluated. Sometimes players need time to flourish in their new environments. What seems like an obvious win for one team could potentially never materialize. Team chemistry, despite the name, is not an exact science; who knows what could happen once all the players involved hit the ice? 

Saad has fallen off from his previous heights, but if there's anywhere to rehabilitate a player's game, it's Colorado. Having Chicago retain $1M helps though, as does the cheap price. Nikita Zadorov isn't great, but can probably help Chicago's weak team defence. pic.twitter.com/zRVRwy53QP

— dom (@domluszczyszyn) October 10, 2020

So before these two division rivals play each other (whenever that will be), I wanted to delve into the story of this trade—and maybe see if it is possible to crown a winner before we return to play.

As an Avalanche fan, I wanted to be concise and thorough, so I’d like to thank fellow The Rink writer Juliana Nikac for giving me some perspective on the Blackhawks. 

Let’s get into the context, because trades do not happen out of thin air. 

Chicago Blackhawks: A rebuild

Before the new millennium began, the Chicago Blackhawks had won three Stanley Cups, the least of the Original Six teams (that honor now belongs to the New York Rangers). But then, a strong, young core, led by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, gave them another three Stanley Cups in the span of six seasons.

The Blackhawks organization was one of a few that dominated this past decade—but that has not been the case the past few years. Especially with the benefit of hindsight, the organization is on a downward trend.

(Information courtesy of Hockey Reference)

In 2018 and 2019, the Blackhawks did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while this year they were able to beat the Edmonton Oilers in the play-in round. But, their overall regular season record was 32–30–8. They were the last in the Central Division, and lost in the first round to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. 

After the Saad-Zadorov trade, Blackhawks players were vocal in expressing their concerns about the direction the organization is heading.

According to The Athletic, a source close to the team said, “They’re pissed. The core guys have had enough.” 

(Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are among the core players remaining with the Chicago Blackhawks. Photograph courtesy of Gene J. Puskar)

Jonathan Toews, three-time Stanley Cup champion, clarified, “I’ve never been told that we were going through a rebuild. That has never been communicated to me, for that matter. A lot of this comes as a shock because it’s a completely different direction than we expected.” 

You have to wonder why the plan was not discussed with the team’s leaders, and I am sure people have their own conspiracy theories. I am not an NHL player or general manager (probably for the best), but I feel like there needs to be open communication in situations like these—it is hard to blame Toews for being frustrated. 

Once that article came out, the Blackhawks shared an open letter to fans stating, “We’re committed to developing young players and rebuilding our roster. We want more than another window to win; we want to reach the summit again and stay there — an effort that will require a stockpile of emerging talent to complement our top players.” 

A message to Blackhawks fans. pic.twitter.com/7wBXrJPDQ1

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 20, 2020

Even with their veterans, the Blackhawks are one of the youngest teams in the league, with several players under age 25. Their oldest veteran is Duncan Keith at 37, and his future with the team is not written in stone—and Chicago would get even younger should they trade him.

The Blackhawks seem to have a plan, and we still have plenty of time to see if it will pay off for them.

Colorado Avalanche: Post-rebuild

The Colorado Avalanche had a whirlwind of a decade from 2010–2020. They went from being one of the worst teams in 2016 to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in 2020. In fact, according to Sports Betting Dime, the Avalanche are tied with the Vegas Golden Knights with the highest odds to win the Stanley Cup in 2021 at +750.

Now, obviously, betting and statistics do not always dictate Cup runs—but with the moves the Avalanche have made in the past couple of offseasons to bolster their depth and draft quality young players, they are going to be a hard team to beat. 

In the past couple days the Colorado Avalanche..

1. Replaced Nikita Zadorov with Devon Toews

2. Added Brandon Saad

3. Retained Andre Burakovsky, Ryan Graves and Valeri Nichushkin

4. Didn’t use any top prospects, firsts, or future financial flexibility to do so

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) October 12, 2020

Joe Sakic, General Manager of the Avalanche, has made some big trades over the years. He traded former top player Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators in a three-way deal with the Nashville Predators. Sakic also traded veteran defensemen Tyson Barrie, rookie forward Alexander Kerfoot and a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for veteran forward Nazem Kadri, AHL defenseman Calle Rosen and a 2020 third-round pick. And he orchestrated a seemingly quiet trade with the New York Rangers by acquiring Ryan Graves and sending Chris Bigras to the Big Apple.

Initially, his trades generated some criticism and worry from fans, but today, he’s seen as a top NHL GM.

The Saad for Panarin trade

(Artemi Panarin was traded for Brandon Saad in the summer of 2017. Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

This is not the first time Saad has been involved in a controversial trade. After helping the Blackhawks win their 2015 Stanley Cup, Saad was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets that offseason in exchange for Jeremy Morin, Marko Daňo, Artem Anisimov, Corey Tropp and a fourth-round draft pick in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks signed Artemi Panarin from the KHL. In his rookie season, “The Bread Man” won the Calder Trophy and scored over 30 goals, managing the same milestone in his sophomore season while finding great chemistry with MVP Patrick Kane. 

Then, in the 2017 offseason, Saad was reacquired by the Blackhawks in a trade where they also received Anton Forsberg and a 2018 fifth-round draft pick from Columbus. The Blue Jackets received Panarin, Tyler Motte and a 2017 sixth-round pick. 

The salary cap was definitely a factor there, given the fact that Panarin later signed with the New York Rangers with a cap hit of $11.6 million after initially taking a team-friendly deal with the Blackhawks. After the 2017 Columbus trade, Panarin let it be known that the move surprised him, and the trade is arguably one of the least popular deals ever in the eyes of many Blackhawks fans. 

Juliana spoke in defense of the move, saying the Blackhawks were never going to be able to afford Panarin.

“It made a lot more sense just to get Brandon Saad back,” Nikac said. “He was manageable for $6 million per year for the next three or four years. You didn’t have to worry about re-signing him in free agency come 2019. He was just available to you, you knew what he was.”

With all that out of the way, let’s get into the Saad-Zadorov trade.

What the Avalanche get with Saad

(Brandon Saad could prove to be a valuable acquisition for the Colorado Avalanche. Photograph courtesy of the Colorado Avalanche)

Saad has two Stanley Cups under his belt, winning with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015. He is a consistent 20-goal scorer, probably a solid addition to any second or third line for the offense. He has been named to the All Star Game, and was also in the Lady Byng discussions in his career due to only reaching an average of 14 penalty minutes per season. In the shortened 2019–20 season, he scored five game-winning goals, the most on the Blackhawks’ roster.

While talking to Juliana, I found the fans were rather mixed on Saad, which surprised me, as his record on paper speaks to a fairly reliable player. 

“Since that deal, Saad has had really bad luck, just putting it frankly,” Nikac said. “He tries his best, he always does. … (The puck) never seems to go in for him.”

Brandon Saad vs. the breakaway, a rivalry as old as time. pic.twitter.com/Ny4sDcTvKS

— Corey Sznajder (@ShutdownLine) November 4, 2020

When I asked Juliana to clarify, because hitting 21 goals this season is still impressive, she said Saad typically was not scoring those goals when it mattered most.

“People got really frustrated with him because it was never when they wanted it,” Nikac said. “It was never in those special moments with a minute left in the game or on the power play.”

That is understandable. As a fan, you want a player to come through for you and your team. 

Part of the frustration also seems to be that he scored more goals in his two years on the Columbus Blue Jackets, getting 31 one season and 24 the next. Juliana did partially lay the focus on the Blue Jackets being a stronger organization at this point, while the Blackhawks were already pivoting toward a rebuild. But Chicago fans wanted that production again, and there is still a lot of time until we find out what Saad may achieve in Colorado.

Saad only just recently turned 28. I doubt he is going to crumble next season. I am personally really excited to see how he fits into the Colorado organization. He could play on the second line with Andre Burakovsky and Kadri, or maybe even Gabriel Landeskog if he is moved to that line. Saad-Kadri-Landeskog would be very hard to play against.

What the Blackhawks get with Zadorov

(Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman is excited with what the team is getting in Nikita Zadorov. Photograph courtesy of @nhlportrait)

Nikita Zadorov is big and he is young. 

At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, he is 25 years old. In the 2019–20 season, the three biggest players on the Blackhawks were all 6-foot-4 and the heaviest was Corey Crawford at 216 pounds. Zadorov was also the biggest on the Avalanche roster, and he laid the most hits by a large margin (175 to Graves’ 112).

Typically, Zadorov utilizes his ample size—sometimes less so than his brain. His critics will say he has sloppy turnovers (and he does sometimes), but I do not think he is an overall bad player. Not only is he solid in five-on-five situations, he is sort of a throwback to the bigger, heavier style of defenseman who flourished in the league 10–15 years ago. And in that regard, he could be a nice addition to a smallish Chicago blue line.

There are advantages to Zadorov’s game. Avs fans will recall a game between the Avalanche and the Blue Jackets, where he was able to gain puck possession by knocking down Nathan Gerbe, leading to a Kadri goal that tied the game. 

Zadorov is also a great locker room guy: a big personality, willing to chirp and have fun. And he was adored by fans of all ages—a positive to have on your team. 

But there were definitely moments while watching him that a fan could become frustrated. Zadorov takes a lot of penalties, and, as previously mentioned, can be a bit sloppy with the puck. As the Avalanche grew more cohesive with their goals and system under head coach Jared Bednar and Sakic, it became clear that Zadorov’s style no longer gelled with their vision. A trade was inevitable.

As Chicago goes through a rebuild, I do not think Zadorov will be a bad fit there—especially when Chicago is presently a small and soft team.

Like many Avalanche fans, I hope Zadorov fits in well in Chicago. 

We had the guys draw a name of a teammate and tell us what they're thankful for about him.

Except all the names in the basket were Nikita Zadorov.

#HappyThanksgiving #GoAvsGo https://t.co/kx7vVysqj3

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 28, 2019

What the Avalanche get with Gilbert

(Dennis Gilbert was also part of the Brandon Saad-Nikita Zadorov trade. Photograph courtesy of the Colorado Eagles)

When I first heard the Avalanche acquired Dennis Gilbert, I was confused because I recognized the name, but I do not follow the Blackhawks. Then I remembered.

Gilbert fought Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog during one of the division games in December of the regular season.

Juliana said she thought Zadorov and Gilbert were more of the equitable parts in the trade based on their playing styles. However, Zadorov has significantly more experience, with over 350 NHL games under his belt.

Gilbert’s career in the NHL has been sparse. He has played in a total of 22 NHL games with 38 penalty minutes and a -9 rating, but he has shown some offensive skill on top of his abilities as a defender, with the way he jumped into play for his first NHL goal.

With the Avs’ deep blue line, Gilbert is probably going to be a strong player for the organization’s AHL team, the Colorado Eagles. But, if Colorado’s bad injury luck carries over into the 2020–21 season, Gilbert would likely get called up and see some NHL ice time.

What the Blackhawks get with Lindholm

The Chicago Blackhawks were finally able to land Anton Lindholm after having had their eye on him for a few years. (Photograph courtesy of the NHL)

Anton Lindholm, like Gilbert, is typically an AHL player. He started his career in the NHL with the Avalanche with 48 appearances in the 2017–18 season, but he quickly found more time with the Eagles. In 45 appearances this past AHL season, he had one goal and two assists as a defenseman. 

“(Lindholm) doesn’t bring a lot of offense to the table, but he is a strong skater and he is, in my opinion, vastly underrated as a defenseman,” said Marie Sexton, who covers the Eagles for The Rink.

So who won?

Right now, the bulk of opinion on this trade—among both Chicago and Colorado fans—seems to be that the Avalanche won the trade.

Brandon Saad for Artem Anisimov

Artemi Panarin for Brandon Saad

Brandon Saad for Nikita Zadorov

How do you get the worse player 3/3 times?

— BK (@TheBennettK) October 10, 2020

The Avalanche traded a third-pairing defenseman for a second-line winger, with the Blackhawks retaining $1 million of Saad’s salary. In this currently cap-strapped world, it is definitely a tally for the Avalanche.

One noticeably absent aspect of this trade is the lack of draft picks involved. As Juliana explained to me, many fans had expected that a deal of this nature—for a rebuilding team—should have earned Chicago some quality draft picks.

There is a lot up in the air before the teams return to play. Maybe Zadorov will flourish and reach another level in Chicago. Maybe Saad will struggle to score 10 goals this season, showing a dramatic decline. Maybe Gilbert and Lindholm will emerge as great trade pieces, either now or closer to the later trade deadline. Or not.

But for now, with no ice time in the foreseeable future, I still think it is too early to render a final judgement. I want to hear what you all think! Comment down below, or reach out to me on Twitter at @OwynsGrace. An big thanks to Juliana for her help with this piece! 

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