Even without Cole, the Avalanche have seven very solid defensive players in their lineup, and it is expected that a combination of six from those seven will play from here until the end of the season, barring any major injuries of course.

But how exactly will they look? Right now, that is certainly up in the air, and perhaps the most intriguing element of this Avs roster.

The best lineup?

What we saw from Colorado on Tuesday night against San Jose appears to be their best lineup on paper. This leaves Conor Timmins as the healthy scratch, with a lineup of Byram, Samuel Girard, Ryan Graves, Erik Johnson, Cale Makar and Devon Toews on the ice.

Byram was paired with Girard for much of the game, which was fine given their superiority over the Sharks and the comfortable nature of the game. But if that was on the road against a top team, would the Avalanche be happy trusting Byram at the side of Girard?

This is where we are likely to see changes to the defensive pairings, certainly for specific games but also depending on the situation the Avs are in and what they need at that moment.

Cale Makar (@Cmakar8) is just in sync with everyone… pic.twitter.com/aRq8Ax0ykU

— NHL (@NHL) January 27, 2021

Situational defensive pairings for the full season?

We have seen Colorado use situational pairings with success in the past, so they are certainly not afraid to do this. On countless occasions last season, we saw Girard play with Makar when they have an offensive zone faceoff and wanted to apply some pressure.

With so much talent on the back end this season, do not be surprised if we see more of this, both to apply attacking pressure and also shore up defensively when it is needed.

If the Avalanche need a goal, they could add Byram to the side of Makar to give the youngster a chance to show his skills in the offensive zone, something we have seen a little of already this season. If the Avs need to shore up defensively, we may see Byram move down to play alongside Johnson, who can keep risks and mistakes to a minimum alongside the rookie.

Girard is also likely to get involved here, as he has started the season in excellent form and has worked with Makar in the past. That would leave Toews and Byram without a partner, so we could also see those two put together in specific circumstances.

The positives for Bowen Byram

The long-term expectations for Byram are that he develops into a highly skilled top-four defenseman, but there was no expectation for him to do that this season. It is fair to say he could well be on his way to doing that already just four games into his NHL career.

The biggest positive for Byram is that there is no pressure on him because there is so much talent on this defensive unit. There is no reason for him to shine, and if he does not, then others certainly will.

However, Colorado will give Byram the chance to shine, and put him in favorable situations, which is a real luxury and one that is only going to help the rookie rearguard. Favored positions when the team has an offensive zone faceoff and being a little sheltered in tough games should only equal more points and more chance to impress for Byram.

Byram could very well find himself alongside every other Avalanche defenseman at some point this season, but fear not, if he does, it will only be for the good of the team and for Byram himself.

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

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

The role of Devon Toews

If there is one member of the Avs’ defensive unit that has an intriguing outlook, then it is certainly Toews. The 26-year-old has been a huge addition to the blue line and has impressed throughout the beginning of the season.

Toews is a player who can play in all situations, has a spot on the power play, spends time killing penalties and is the current regular partner to Makar on the No. 1 defensive unit. However, if the Avalanche want to put either Girard or Byram at the side of Makar in certain situations, then it will be Toews that suffers because of that.

Although starting on the power play, do not be surprised to see Toews come off that at some point, allowing him to focus on penalty killing, with few options for that on the Colorado blue line. The team would likely prefer to keep Girard and Makar for the power play, possibly with Byram, while Toews would join Graves and Johnson to form a unit of three penalty killers.

Toews has done absolutely nothing wrong since joining the team, and has been one of the bright spots of the season so far. Even with that, he may have to settle for being displaced from time to time by the more offensive players who currently sit behind him on the depth chart.

What to look out for this season

Colorado has six very good defensemen, seven including Timmins, and as a unit, this is the envy of many in the league. However, the actual pairings for this defense look a little vague, and we may see these pairings change depending on the situation in a game, or the opponents the Avalanche are playing.

This has been used with success in the past, and the hope is that it can be used in the same manner again. Look for Byram to be one of the real winners if this happens—his emergence has given the Avs another weapon—and do not be surprised to see them use him in the best possible way.

The post With so much talent, will the Avs abandon defensive pairings this season? 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.

They fell to the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3, in what wasn’t the most encouraging return. However, the fundamentals of that game were there, and it can be an easy write-off to rust from the break. I went into that game anticipating a loss, as the Flyers had played the night before. They had the advantage of an extra game to get back into playing and were likely hungry for a home-ice win after falling to the Penguins on the road.

The next four games on the trip were a showcase of skill and of the intelligence of the off-season acquisitions for the Avs. Each game played out differently, but they came out on top in all of them – which is exactly what a playoff-contending team needs to do. There aren’t going to be any easy wins down this next stretch.

The game in Buffalo was, in a word, a blowout. The Avalanche won 6-1, with the second line deciding it was their night to show off what they’re capable of. The theme for this season has been depth scoring, but this road trip proved yet again that the key components in a team aren’t always the top line. That storyline followed through to the 4-1 win over the Senators, with the top line only contributing one assist.

The 2-1 win against the Blue Jackets marked an exciting development for the club, as it was the first time this season that the Avs managed to win after trailing going into the third period. The level of determination and push they showed late in the third period is encouraging going into the playoff push and beyond. And, finally, the 3-2 win against the Wild had the team fighting for a messy victory through a chippy game, plagued by minor injuries to André Burakovsky, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, and Nazem Kadri.

Standouts and takeaways

Let’s talk goaltending, first, as it’s been on my mind for these last four games. The Flyers game was not Philipp Grubauer’s best, as he allowed six past him. The guys on the ice in front of him weren’t playing a defensive game whatsoever, but you do rely on the goalie to make those crucial stops. The goaltender questions from before the break were coming back – Was Grubauer going to be enough going into the playoffs?

He answered back. In his next three starts, he only allowed one goal per game. While one of those may have been soft, it’s hard to complain when he was locked in for the rest of the game. We saw him tighten things up in the playoffs run last season and can only hope he continues to do the same now.

What a night for Grubi.

31 Saves
.969 Save Percentage#GoAvsGo https://t.co/vFAwtFjSDQ

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 9, 2020

Pavel Francouz allowed two goals in the game he started, but he also made the high-pressure stops that he needed to. If Grubauer continues this stretch of play, I don’t expect to see the two playing tandem, but Francouz remains a solid backup. With the number of games the Avs are playing these next two months, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more of him.

Now, onto the aforementioned depth scoring. With the exception of Nathan MacKinnon, the top line wasn’t at its best during this stretch and the rest of the team stepped up. The second line stands out especially, seeing as they combined for three of the six goals against the Sabres and assisted on a fourth. After a stretch of iffy games from Burakovsky, he had a four-point night against Buffalo and broke his personal scoring record. He now sits at 40 points, with his previous record falling at 38. Valeri Nichushkin and Kadri both netted two goals during the trip.

Aside from Burakovsky setting a new career-high, Cale Makar also had a successful road trip. He became the first rookie to hit the 40 point mark this season during the game against the Senators. Things remain tight between him and Quinn Hughes in the race for the Calder. Regardless of the eventual outcome of that, the Avalanche are still lucky to have his talent on the team.

Cale Makar (12-28—40) of the @Avalanche is the first rookie to collect 40 points this season. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/yZNadK0tbZ

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 7, 2020

So what’s next?

The Avalanche have a five-game home stretch coming up, which is then followed by an insane schedule in March, with a game every two days. There isn’t a lot of time for rest, but there also isn’t a lot of time for the guys to get rusty. Barring any meltdown, playoffs seem to be a sure bet. The race now is for the top of the Central Division, as the Avalanche are three points behind the Blues with two games in-hand.

In basic terms, the Avalanche need to keep winning. They need to keep winning the way that they did over this road-trip – Fighting through any type of game thrown their way.

The post Avalanche battling for first in the Central Division appeared first on The Rink.

The past four years have been difficult for a fan base that has come to expect so much in the last decade.  The Chicago Blackhawks took the sport by storm and created a frenzy in the city of Chicago.  We all know about the championships, the parades, and the rings.  But just like that, those moments seem so far away.  Two first round exists, missing the playoffs, and now the possibility of missing the playoffs again is imminent.

The Blackhawks have tried everything to keep this train moving, but nothing has worked.  They have tried bringing in new players and coaches, and have parted ways with people that were the heart and soul of the team.  What’s left is what the front office talked about for years, the core and nothing more.

The Chicago Blackhawks franchise has an opportunity right now to recreate what they had in 2008.  They had a young, energetic team who was fun to watch and on the verge of NHL history.  But on the tail end of a dynasty, do the Hawks have the guts to announce a true rebuild, starting with trading Patrick Kane?

Kane is 30 years old and is on pace to score over 100 points this season.  With no signs of slowing down and a clean bill of health, Kane is a valuable asset to every NHL team in the league.  The question is if any of those teams could put together a package large enough to persuade Chicago to deal their franchise player.

Here’s something that could work.

Colorado Avalanche

The first thing you’re probably thinking is “why would the Blackhawks trade Kane in the division?”  The answer is that Colorado could offer the best package.  The Avs currently have Ottawa’s first round pick that is unprotected.  Ottawa is one of the worst teams in the league so there is a chance they could be in the running for a lottery pick at the end of the season.  They also have a premier defensive prospect in Cale Makar, the 4th overall pick in the 2017 Draft.

To Avalanche fans, a trade involving the Ottawa pick and Makar may seem like a lot, but they would be getting a top 5 player in return.  The Pepsi Center would be sold out every night to watch Patrick Kane in the mile high city for the next four years.  But are the Avs ready to contend for a cup?  With Nathan MacKinnon cost-controlled at six million the next four years and a blossoming Mikko Rantanen, Kane would catapult the Avs past the first round of the playoffs.  Will losing out on a generational talent like Hughes and a future top defenseman like Makar hurt?  Absolutely.  But at what point do you stop building and simply go for it?

Here’s what I propose could be a deal that wows the Blackhawks:

Colorado receives:

Patrick Kane, Erik Gustafsson, & 2019 4th

Chicago receives:  OTT 2019 1st (only #1 or #2), Cale Makar, & Tyson Barrie

Now, the only way Chicago moves Kane is if they get elite, blue chip prospects back.  The deal starts with the Ottawa pick and the Hawks need to know that they have landed either Jack Hughes or Kappo Kakko.  The addition of Cale Makar further bolsters the Hawks blue line, giving them the ability to deal one of their top defensive prospects for a top forward.  Taking on Tyson Barrie for one year helps make the money work in exchange for Erik Gustafsson who could be just as effective on the powerplay and just as effective on defense…

Is it an overpay for Colorado?  Probably, but doesn’t it have to be?  It’s not often that you have the opportunity to trade for the best American born hockey player who is a lock for the Hall of Fame with three cups under his belt at 30 years old.

And for the Blackhawks, you hopefully get the next Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith.  You have players like Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome to build around too.  By the time some of these top prospects are ready, they will be in their mid-twenties ready to win.  Sure it will be a hard couple of years, but Chicago fans have seen this kind of rebuild work.  The Bears just made a huge trade for a franchise player and it has turned their franchise around.  The Cubs won a world series by building their team from the ground up.  The White Sox are on their way to trying the same thing.

And if you trade Patrick Kane, you might as well sell off Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Brandon Saad.  If Chicago can accumulate top draft picks and prospects, they will have one of the best farm systems in the league almost overnight.  They will continue to be bad for a couple more seasons and pick in the top 5 or top 10.  Those players will be developed by Jeremy Colliton, a very young coach with a knack of getting the most out of young players.

Many of you will believe that the Hawks will never go through with trading their star player which may be true.  It’s hard to imagine the United Center full of Kane jerseys with #88 playing 1,000 miles away for another team.  It’s also difficult to imagine the team that stuck with Kane through difficult times part with the star that has given them so much.  But where are the Blackhawks really going?  Can they squeeze one more Stanley Cup out of this core?  With every year that passes, it gets harder and harder to say yes.

It just feels like one of those corny moments where if you love something, you should set it free.  Let’s let Patrick Kane ride off into the sunset and watch him thrive in the playoffs where he deserves to be, not playing golf.  Let’s go to sleep at night knowing that in two years, we’ll have Jack Hughes playing first line center.  These difficult decisions differentiate the franchises that sustain success and the ones that are a flash in the pan.  And I’m pretty sure Chicago doesn’t want to wait another 50 years to hoist Lord Stanley’s cup again.

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