That is GREAT to see Chris Stewart was signed for a 2-year deal. I like the chances that this young team will be even better next year and will have at least 2 players score over 30 goals (Stewart and Hejduk). The defense will still blow, but Anderson will finish this coming year with the most saves of any goalie because: 1) he will play too many games, 2) the defense will allow too many shots against him, 3) he will have below a 2.0 GAA. Overall, I think Anderson will easily make the top 10 for wins and GAA. Ok all of you Anderson haters, go ahead and flame away. (Oh, and it's nice to have the Avs site back again.)
The Avalanche are looking pretty lousy in the preseason - hope they don't tank this year - I really want to see the Canucks take them out in the playoffs.
Peter Mueller is out with another concussion - it's unlikely he'll play for the Avs this season! That really stinks for the Avs' offensive production and powerplay. I really like the way he fit the offense late last season. I think a trade at this point would be a good idea. Pick up a productive old winger who can make it through the season. Whatever happens, I hope Mueller recovers quickly and that this isn't a foreshadow of many concussions on the way...
It's hard to imagine a better start - beating the champs on home ice in front of our own champs from the 90s! And I always like to see the Avs beat Turco. Andie was a little shaky at times, but he produced, especially when facing the final flurry of shots. I like the Stastny-Duchene-Hejduk power play unit - I hope they keep trying that combo. Too early to say, but I think these young guns are going to repeat their moderate success from last year. I hope this wasn't a fluke and they get out to a very quick start - rack up the points early!
So nice to have a great start, it has been to long. If we don't have to play catch up, we will be a dangerous team. This young team is going to rock! Go Avs!
I agree. I emailed the website people a complaint. Hopefully, they'll fix it. I understand that mistakes happen, but it seems unprofessional of them to let it go on so long.
Given that Budaj is between the pipes and half the team is injured, this is a pretty strong start for the Avs. They consistently lead the league in GFA (2nd on 18-Nov) but they also lead in GAA. I'm hoping that Anderson's return will change that. His injury may have provided a way to get Budaj more into the game plan so that Anderson doesn't get overused (like last year) when he's back. Any net minder that is expected to make over 40 stops in games (like Budaj did against the Sharks last night) needs some days off. We'll see, but my bet is that when everyone is healthy, this is a playoff team again.
Great post Hank. The only way this Avalanche team isn't a playoff team is if guys get injured for the entire season. All hockey teams have injuries throughout the season that they must overcome and the injuries they're enduring now are getting some of these young players they just called up from the minors valuable ice time. And you might find a player who can stick around and contribute all season like Brandon Yip did when he was called up last season. The Avs will be a force once the postseason begins.
8 of the last 10 games this team has given up 3 or more goals. Thats not gonna get it done. Craig Anderson isnt a #1 goalie and Peter Budaj isnt a #2 goalie. Until this team actually goes out and gets a goalie that has proven he can win and not give up 3 or more goals on most nights the Avalanche are going to be in trouble.
I agree MSU. They are fast, and score a lot of goals, but they need a solid netminder. They should make some trade moves with their excess amount of Forwards.
Yeah they definitely need to upgrade their goaltending, one option i had though if was to see what it would take to get Tomas Vokoun, hes a good goalie in his final season with Florida and probably isnt resigning so they will be willing to deal him. With him and Anderson as our goalies we would be in a very good situation goaltending wise.
Sure glad the Avalanche traded Peter Mueller for Wojtek Wolski. What a deal that was......FOR PHOENIX! This team cannot make a trade worth a crap that works out in their favor. Gave up Wolski who produced for a guy that wont even play this year and didnt play much if at all in the playoffs last year. But Wojtek did for Phoenix.
Wonder who the Avs can trade now and get nothing in return for? If this organization had Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux they would trade either for the likes of Jack Lynch.
It's not like they got anything out of it, he didnt help them win the cup, plus we also got porter out of the deal, and he has more goals this year than wolski, who has been traded for the second time in a year, not 24 year old has that happen unless there are real problems with them.
I love how ignorant hockey fans look at 1 players stats to another and say this guy is having a better season. It sure has nothing to do with other players right? Take for instance the line of Peter Forsberg Milan Hejduk and Alex Tanguay. Sure after Tanguay was traded you can say we traded him at the right time because his numbers dropped off. Well sure they did anyone playing with Forsberg on their line automatically becomes better because of Forsberg.
So Stros88 to say the Avs got the better end of the stick because Wolski didnt help the Coyotes win the cup means nothing and same goes for the fact Porter has more goals. Did Mueller help the Avs win the cup last year? NO. Hmmm. Fact is the Avs gave up a guy that had some great stats with the line he was on for someone who got hurt before the playoffs started and wont play this year. Wolski is playing this year doesnt matter what team hes playing for at least phoenix got someone for him. Can the Avalanche get anything more than a low draft pick for Mueller right now? No. And would you trade Wojtek Wolski for Porter straight up? No you wouldnt. But until Mueller returns all they basically got for Wolski is Porter.
Again the Avalanche made another bad trade.
Denver&Gators the Tomas Fleischmann Scott Hannan trade is one you can debate as being bad or good depends on what you want to look at. You gave you a really good defender in Hannan for a goal scorer in Fleischmann.
Well here is where the debate comes in. The Avs need defense because their goalies both suck and cant seem to stop a shot to save their life. Sure its good to have a guy that can score goals, but the odds of scoring 4 goals every single game is slim and no chance that 1 guy is going to score 4 a game every game. The odds of Colorado giving up 3 goals a game is reality because they do that game in and game out.
So do the Avs need a guy that can score goals (Flesichmann) or someone that can help stop them (Hannan)?
You're calling me an ignorant hockey fan, you of all people should talk. First the Avs didn't want Wolski anymore, he would play hard for like 10 games a year, they had given up on him, so anything they could get was worth getting rid of him. And Mueller played great before Blake took him out with a dirty hit. So at the time it was a very good deal for us. Injuries happen, you can't predict them when making a trade. And also if you hate everything the Avs do, and all of their players, cause all you do it whine that they all are terrible then just follow another team, no one needs ignorant whiney fans like you.
