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Anyone But Detroit - A Colorado Avalanche Blog
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Written by Sean Payton
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 00:53 |
Well, that was awful - for obvious reasons that I’m not going to restate.
- The Avs simply had no answer for the Sedins / Samuelsson line.
- Stastny had an awful night, no other way to put it. The play of the game for me was his horrible turnover that lead to Samuelsson’s 3rd of the night with less than 2min left in the 3rd. From that point on, Vancouver was clearly back in the game and they dominated from there on out. Stastny was on the ice on all 4 goals the Sedins / Samuelsson line scored. Offensively, he had a couple of golden chances to score and couldn’t bury them. You’d like your highest paid player to come through a little better in such an important game. Disappointing.
- Kyle Quincey wasn’t much better.
- I couldn’t believe Vancouver didn’t pull Luongo after Duchene made it 3-0 and then again after Mueller made it 4-1. Vancouver plays on Wed, a back to back situation in Phoenix, the last game of the record long 14 game road trip - all signs pointed to "rest Luongo, play him tomorrow". Well, Luongo shut down the Avs from that point on, including a big, big stop on Mueller late in the 3rd. Hats off to Alain Vigneault, he stuck with Luongo and it paid off.
- The Avs looked very panicked in their own zone for the last half of this game. Their overall game had a really panicky feel to it - two guys fighting over the same puck - awkward clears - no attack. It was a slow death that was really tough to watch.
- Chris Stewart has been able to score 5 hole twice on tough angle shots against Howard and Luongo. Luck certainly has to play into it, but you have to start to wonder if there something about his shot that makes it tough a goaltender to stop from that spot.
- If you don’t think the Avs best skater over since the Olympic break is Matt Duchene, you haven’t been paying attention.
- We need to remember how young this team is. This game is a very painful / costly lesson for them to learn, it's probably going to cost them any shot at the NW this season, but they'd better learn from it. Hate to break it to you, fellow Avs fans, but we also need prepare ourselves for a rough 4 games to 0 or 1 playoff beat down at some point. Hopefully it comes this season - this team is not ready to complete in a playoff hockey games - no matter how good Andy is. This has been a suspicion I've had for while, but tonight's performance made that crystal clear.
Next game: Thursday home against Florida, 7PM MST |
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Written by Sean Payton
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Monday, 08 March 2010 19:17 |
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Which player did not play NCAA hockey?
- Paul Stastny
- Chris Stewart
- TJ Hensick
- Brandon Yip
(click 'read more' for the answer)
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Written by Sean Payton
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Sunday, 07 March 2010 23:55 |
The Lake Erie Monsters, the Avs AHL affiliate, were on NHL Network (thanks to Jori for the heads up) playing against the (sorta) Atlanta Thrashers affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. The Monsters fell behind 1-4 in the 2nd, but were able to charge back and tie the game up and sent it to OT, only to lose in an 8 round shootout.
In full disclosure, I missed nearly the entire 2nd period, choosing instead to watch the Predators blow a 3rd period lead to the Canucks. (thanks for continuing to screw us, Nashville.)
- I also did this last year - "eerily" enough on March 7th. Man, how things can change in a year.
- The Chicago Wolves feature an interesting roster: Chris “I’m telling you, I really was a Norris Trophy winner” Chelios, Anthony Stewart (who is Chris Stewart’s older brother), Michael “remember me?” Vernace, and in goal, DU alum Peter Mannino.
- Justin Mercier had a great back check turned the puck over in the Wolves zone to setup Haydar for the Monsters’ first goal. I personally think Mercier has a brighter future for the Avs than Stoa. I’m not sure Stoa’s game fits the uptempo game Sacco coaches and the Avs want to play.
- Kevin “the other part of the Wolski deal” Porter showed off a little skill. Porter made a really nice move to walk around Vernace and went 5 hole, scoring on Mannino. Porter also scored in the SO.
- Even though I missed it live, I did see a replay of Tom “$2.5 Million Dollars” Preissing and his horrific turnover behind his own net, which directly lead to a Wolves goal. How this guy ever went +40 in the NHL is total mystery to me.
- I can hear you asking “the sorta Atlanta Thrashers affiliate, the Chicago Wolves?!”
"The Wolves are not owned by the Thrashers, but are an independent entity. Their focus is not on developing players for the Thrashers, but in putting a winning team on the ice for their fans. Wolves coach John Anderson is not evaluated by how players perform in the NHL when they're called up, but by how the Wolves perform in the AHL. Sources close to the Thrashers told ESPN.com that players who are called up regularly ask to see tape of the Thrashers' system so they can figure out what they're supposed to do."
Also, there is no acknowledgment of the Thrashers on Chicago’s jerseys (as in a logo on the shoulder.) |
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Written by Sean Payton
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Sunday, 07 March 2010 10:48 |
Let's get the obvious stuff out of the way, Stewart was a total beast in this game. With his penalty shot goal, Stewey killed two streaks that had gone one way too long. The Avs hadn’t scored a penalty shot goal since Jordan Leopold scored against Osgood in Dec 2008 and the Avs hadn’t had a hat trick since Dec 2007.
- Really glad to have #23 back in the lineup. God bless Ryan Stoa, but he isn’t ready to play with Duchene and Mueller.
- Yelle was a difference maker - particularly early. It’s pretty clear Yelle was brought in primarily for penalty killing - he was fantastic on the 4-3 kill in the first with the score at 2-1 Avs. It was fitting he got an assist on Hendricks empty netter.
- With the trade deadline having come and gone, isn’t in great that Svatos doesn’t have to eat up a spot in the lineup?
- *Uniform nerd update* The 8’s were in fact fixed on Mueller and Yelle’s jerseys.
- Over 18K at Pepsi Center last night. Despite Avalanche marketing's best effort, the casual Denver sports fans might be staring to figure out who these young Avs are.
Next game: Big one for 1st place in the NW (hopefully) at home against Vancouver, 7PM MST
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Written by Sean Payton
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Saturday, 06 March 2010 09:58 |
A sincere “thanks” for all who entered the “Rip the Wings” contest, which was in celebration of the 1 year anniversary of this blog. I know it took some real effort to enter, much appreciated on this side. The winning entry was selected at random via the popular “iPod shuffle method.”
Here is the winning entry from Kristin Chapman:
- Cartoon Dick Tracy, the last good thing to come from Detroit, first appeared in a local newspaper in 1931, which is the year right before the Red Wings got there. Coincidence? I think not.
- The Octopus thing. One, it's creepy, slimy and weird. Two, it's mean for the cephalopod to endure such a treatment at the hands of dirty Wings fans. Last, if they treat animals this way, imagine how they'd treat their pets. Someone call PETA.
- Most of their team is from Sweden. Fuck the Swedish. They remained neutral during World War Two, and you can't support Nazis.
- Their sweaters are unimaginative and monochromatic. Red and white? Really? It's not very pretty and women like pretty things. It's horrible. Give up and get nice sweaters like the Avs.
- The date was March 26, 1997. The fighters: Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon. Roy got in so many good punches it wasn't even ruled a fight. Vernon loses, and by default the Wings lose.
Here is my list:
- The Detroit Fans. I’ll explain this one with a quick story. In Jan 2006, I went to an Avs / Wings regular season game on Saturday and the AFC Championship Game on Sunday which featured the Steelers and the Broncos. Unfortunately for me, both the Avs and Broncos lost. Guess which fans were more obnoxious about the win? You guessed it, Wings fans (about a regular season win) vs. a fans of a team who just won the right to go to the Super Bowl.
- Todd Bertuzzi. I don’t really have to explain this one, do I?
- The Octopus thing. I understand the tradition, but please keep it in Detroit. It gross, egotistical and ridiculous to throw an octopus onto the ice in an opponent’s building.
- Mickey Redmond (Color Analyst for Fox Sports Detroit). There is the “hometown bias” you have to expect watching any NHL game, and then there is there Mickey Redmond. Just google “Mickey Redmond homer”. PS - This is hilarious:
- Chris Osgood. I’ve discussed ol' Chris before.
Go Avs - Red Wings Suck.
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Written by Sean Payton
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Friday, 05 March 2010 08:22 |
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How many points did Paul Stastny have during the 2010 Olympics?
(click "read more" for the answer)
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Written by Sean Payton
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Thursday, 04 March 2010 23:50 |
Wow, you couldn’t write a worse ending to a game for the Avs. Wolski scores in the last minute in a tied game. Really? Seriously? That really happened? Wotjek “2 goals in 21 games (and one of them was an empty netter)” Wolski? And to top it off, it was a stoppable shot that Andy let in? Really? (Expletive!)
- A really wasted opportunity when the Avs couldn’t score on the 2 min 4-3 PP in the last 10 min of the 3rd. Yes, they hit the post, but that was about it. Not nearly enough pressure / desperation for that kind of a situation.
- Can you imagine how good the Duchene / Mueller line would be if Yip was on the line instead of Stoa?
- If benching Quincey was supposed to send a message, then he didn’t get it. It looks like he has no confidence. Not good.
- *Uniform nerd alert* Anyone else notice that the 8’s on Mueller and Yelle’s jerseys are too skinny (like the ones they sell at the Altitude Authentics store at the Pepsi Center.) I’m guessing they’ll get fixed on Sat.
- That’s all I got tonight - I’m pissed.
Next game: Sat at home against St Louis, 7PM MST |
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Written by Sean Payton
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Thursday, 04 March 2010 08:17 |
In their eternal quest to prove that a 2 goal lead really is the worst lead in hockey, the Colorado Avalanche stormed back in a game they were down 2-0 and severely outplayed. They scored 4 unanswered goals and won 4-3.
- Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way. The Avs were horrific in the 1st period - outshot 14 - 2. Andy was stellar and somehow managed to only give up 1 goal over that stretch.
- Sacco put Mueller and Liles on the points on the 1st PP group and that group scored 3 PP goals.
- I’d love to see a comparison of Avs PP % with Liles in the lineup and without Liles in the lineup. I’d be willing to bet the numbers say the Avs is 5-10% better with Liles.
- Andy nearly single-handedly killed the 6 PIM late in the 3rd. In fact, only Scott Hannan could score on him.
- Altitude did a great job showing how badly the lineman missed that Selanne and Koivu were a WAY offside on the Ducks 2nd goal. It looked like the Women’s Gold Metal game out there.
- Anaheim takes some really dumb penalties. The one Brown took by hitting Salei on an icing play that directly lead to the Avs tying goal was pretty unforgivable.
- You know that “Rookie wall” that Duchene hasn't hit? Well, I think its safe to say that O’Reilly has.
- Speaking of Duchene - I’m going with “Matty“, not “Dutchy“.
- Kyle Quincey was a healthy scratch. He was pretty awful in the game against Detroit and his play has been a notch below where it should be for a little while now. I fully expect him to be back tonight.
- Stephane Yelle will wear #18. Brian Willsie just got his number stolen - the curse lives!
Next game: Thursday, at Phoenix, 7PM MST. |
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Written by Sean Payton
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 20:44 |
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The Wolski trade reminds me a lot of the Alex Tanguay deal. With Tanguay's contract up, he was poised to make around $5M (through arbitration), starting in 2007-08. The Avs felt (rightly, history proves) that Tanguay wasn't worth that and so they sent him to Calgary for Jordan Leopold and two 2nd round picks (Codey Burki and Trevor Cann). Tanguay signed a 3 yr / $5+M deal that also included a no-trade clause.
Unfortunately, the return Colorado got for Tanguay didn't work out well - Leopold was on IR more than he was on the ice and Burki and Cann have never seen an NHL game action, but that doesn't change that the idea that "we shouldn't overpay for Tangs and instead trade him" was a justified one.
With the NHL's arbitration process, Wolski is due to make around $4M next season (he is making $3M this season). That's too much for a guy who only had 9 points / 2 goals over your last 20 games playing every night on your top line.
1. If you don't believe Wolski is worth $4M, then you shouldn't pay him that. That's just common sense. In the salary cap NHL, you have to be smart with your money - decisions you make today and kill you in a year or two. (Just ask Edmonton.)
2. There are very significant RFAs who are due for significant raises during the 2010 off season:
- Kyle Quincey ($550K)
- Chris Stewart ($850K)
- Brandon Yip ($575K)
We would be fools to believe that Quincey / Stewart / Yip's agents won't be working their hardest to make sure these guys get as much as possible. That means these guys aren't going to sign a contract until they see if any rival GMs are able to put in a qualifying offer for their rights. If you're a rival GM, you'd have to look hard offering these guys a deal, especially Stewart, - even with the high price that would come back to the Avs in the form high draft picks. The Avs will either need to pay these guys or let them go to another team and hope they draft well. Less risky to keep the proven NHLers on your team (especially when you're not selling tickets.)
On top of that Duchene, O'Reilly, Galiardi, Anderson, Cumiskey, Wilson and Jones are also are currently underpaid and their contracts will have to be addressed in the next couple of years.
3. There are still plenty of top six forwards on this team. I count 7 forwards (Stastny, Stewart, Hejduk, Duchene, Galiardi, Jones, Yip) that can / have all played effectively in a top 6 forward situation. You certainly hope that Mueller figures it out - he is also talented enough to play on one of the top two lines.
The bottom line is that $4M for the enigma that is Wolski is far from safe money and with so many players that will justifiably need a raise who are much safer bets - Wojtek had to be moved. |
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Written by Sean Payton
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Tuesday, 02 March 2010 08:25 |
Usually, a game like this one rips my heart out, but surprisingly I wasn’t too upset after this one. Maybe it was that I was just happy to have Avalanche hockey back, maybe it was that I was happy to be in a sold out building (even if one third of the fans were in Wings jerseys), or maybe it was that the game was very entertaining. “Let’s go Red Wings” chants were drowned out by thundering “Red Wings Suck” chants. I’ve been to 7 or 8 other games this season and the atmosphere was just completely different.
- No question that Detroit was sharper because they had a lot more player who played in hockey games over the last two weeks. The bigger question is will the rest ultimately pay off in a playoff series.
- I felt the difference in the game was the first period. The Avs were just not sharp in the first. Their defensive zone coverage was horrific, passes were in skates, etc. For those of you how follow the NFL, it reminded me of a football team that just had a bye week, and needs the first quarter to knock the rust off. At the end of the period, the Avs were down 2-0, and it could have been worse if the Wings had a little more luck with point shots / Holmstrom screens.
- The only reason the Avs were even in this game was (1.) A fortunate unintentional goaltender inference call, negating a Wings PP goal and (2.) An incredibly soft goal allowed by Jimmy Howard.
- The Red Wings really got their patented “puck possession” game rolling in the 3rd. Datysuk seemingly cleanly beat Stastny every faceoff in the Avs zone and the Avs were just chasing the Wings around in their own zone the entire period.
- No one was special on the back end. Liles was particularly bad in the 3rd period - I was joking with my friend that he was “putting on a clinic”. It was almost laughable.
- Up front - the 4th line (Durno / Hendricks / Tucker) was the most consistent all night. Tough to win games when your best line is your least talented.
- Andy was great and gave his team a chance to win.
- Really nice applause for Valeri Kemensky on his Alumni night.
Next game: Wed at Anaheim, 8PM MST.
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