You'll find that this writing will touch on everyone that ended this past season as an Av and will also have a few of the young guys coming up in the system as I will be listing them and commenting on each, and then I'll give additional thoughts after that.
I'll begin with the forwards for the team...
- Paul Stastny (2011-12 status : cap hit of $6.6) : Stastny slumped late in the season but he's still a great two-way, near point per game center. Having healthy wingers around him will help keep his production up.
- Matt Duchene ($3.4) : Continues to grow and gives the Avalanche two #1 centers.
- Milan Hejduk (UFA) : Hejduk will be resigned for about what he made last year if he wants to come back again, which I feel he does. He is still productive and is one of the "veterans" on the team.
- Peter Mueller ($2) : Mueller is a great big question mark. Already signed to next season his concussion problems kept him out all year this year and he may never play again.
- Tomas Fleischmann (UFA) : Was great with Duchene, though at times he would disappear but would then come back at the end of the game and make a difference. He should be signed to a 1 or 2 year deal worth about $2.8 a year to see how he plays after missing time at the end of this year.
- Cody McLeod ($1.033) : Will continue to be the agitator but hasn't been what fans fell in love with a couple years ago. Time in Colorado could be nearing an end.
- Dannial Winnick ($.95) : Was a good addition and will again play a big part on the bottom lines next year.
- Ryan O'Reilly ($.880) : Great third line center who picked up his offense at the end of the year. Might be able to do more with more ice time but is a great #3 in the #1,2,3 center lineup for Colorado.
- TJ Galiardi (RFA) : Galiardi had high expectations on him after playing well against San Jose in the playoffs a couple years ago, however injuries hurt him this year. Questions still exist about his true upside but he's worth bringing back and would be great on O'Reilly's line with the ability to fill in on the top 2 if needed.
- David Jones (RFA) : Finally was able to stay healthy last season and produced well. He should get another year contract to show he can do it again and produce on the top lines.
- Brandon Yip ($.725) : Unfairly expected to do much more than he did this year it was still a bit disappointing watching him this year. He'll get time on the bottom lines but could see himself back in Lake Erie or moved at some point as well if a taker is out there.
- Kevin Porter (RFA) : Not a bad guy to have as an injury call-up. Should be re-signed to play in Lake Erie and to be called up when needed.
- David Koci (UFA) : Honestly this was an easy one with a few weeks left in the season ... let him go. However when he moved to Defense he actually played pretty well as a third pairing guy. I would like to see what he could do back there with more time, however with the amount of defenders Colorado has and have coming up, he's likely not got a spot here anyway. I would like to see him get that chance elsewhere though.
- Philippe Dupuis (RFA) : Another good energy guy that can be signed for Lake Erie and for call-ups. However as with Porter he seems to have limited upside.
- Jay McClement ($1.45) : He'll play the bottom lines again next year but was truly just the throw in for the Avs in the EJ trade. He's servicable, but he doesn't bring anything great to the table either.
- Ryan Stoa (RFA) : Stoa's time with the Avs might be nearing an end. He's been given chances on the top lines and just hasn't produced. He may be re-signed to Lake Erie as he is young and power forwards typically take longer to bring along, however he could be gone too. I'd give him one last year in Lake Erie and as a call-up to prove himself.
- Mark Olver ($.850) : Another energy guy that will bounce between Lake Erie and Colorado this year.
- Joey Hishon ($1.2) : He could very well find himself a spot in Colorado with a good training camp. Another year of junior seasoning may be best for him though, but he'll have a shot to make it.
- Justin Mercier (RFA) : The Avs seem to have a plethora of this type of player, energy, limited potential. It could be that one or two of them end up the odd man out and not get signed.
- Brad Malone ($.688) : Just signed recently after finishing his college career he'll likely be in the AHL next year but could work his way into at least a callup spot on the 4th line.
Jones/Stastny/?
Fleischmann/Duchene/Hejduk
Galliardi/O'Reilly/Winnick
McLeod/McClemment/Yip
Yip could see his spot given to one of the many RFAne of the many RFA energy guys I've mentioned, and he could also see it given to Brad Malone. The question mark at the top of the list could be Mueller's spot if he can play, but if he can't then it could go to Hishon if the club feels he's ready or Galliardi may move up. It is also possible that if the Avalanche draft Landeskog this year he could start for the team at wing as well. It could be possible that a free agent is brought in to play there as well but I'd say the odds of that happening are pretty low. While the Avalanche could use a top end winger to play in that top 6, I just don't see them bringing anyone in.Next up we'll move on to the Defensemen...
- J-M Liles ($4.2) : Had a good year last year and needs to continue to be that player for the Avs. There are players in the prospect pool that play that type of game so a down year could make this his last for the team if they impress the coaches.
- Kyle Quincey ($3.125) : Had everyone excited when he started in Colorado, then disappointed everyone before being injured for the majority of this year. Under contract still so he needs to pick up his play or risk being gone as well.
- Eric Johnson ($2.6) : Given what the Avalanche gave up to get EJ he'll need to step up to his potential to win over many fans. However he has another year left on his current contract and likely figures into the team's long term plans.
- Matt Hunwick (RFA) : Why oh why did we give up a solid prospect for this guy? A failed experiment and they need to cut him lose...
- Ryan O'Byrne (RFA) : Came in and played good, solid hockey. Nothing spectacular but he brings size and defense to the blueline and as such will likely see another 1-2 year contract for his work here.
- Kyle Cumiskey (RFA) : The kid has blazing speed, but he also now has an injury history. He also has little else beyond speed and it is my humble opinion that the Avs should try to get something for him, however small, but move him none-the-less or else just not re-sign him.
- Ryan Wilson (RFA) : A solid third pairing guy that isn't great but solid. He also provides some grit and will throw a few hits here and there. He should be brought back for that 3rd pairing.
- Cameron Guance ($.846) : Young but plays with some grit as well. He could play his way into getting some third pairing time next year and deserves a good look.
- Stefan Elliot ($.844) : One of two young guys that have looked very good and made Shattenkirk expendable (to the team, not to many fans). He has an outside shot of making the team out of camp next year but will likely be an early call-up after starting in Lake Erie.
- Jonas Holos ($.785) : Looked solid when he began in Colorado, but inexplicably was sent to Lake Erie where he spent much of his season. He should challenge for a roster spot again and should get a good look to stick.
- Tyson Barrie ($.715) : I could almost re-write what I wrote for Elliot right here. Will likely start in Lake Erie but could surprise with a good camp and should get a call-up at some point or another as well.
- David Liffiton (UFA) : A decent depth guy and a good veteran for Lake Erie. He should be re-signed as just that, though with a great deal of young guys coming in at Lake Erie and moving their way up he could be odd-man out. Still, worth signing for the same role he played this year.
EJ/Quincey
Liles/O'Bryne
Wilson/?
The question mark here is really who makes it out of camp. I could see Holos or Gaunce getting that spot, or one of the two highly thought of guys in Elliot or Barrie could step in. It is also very possible that a Hunwick or Cumiskey gets re-signed and plays that spot. I wouldn't mind seeing the Avalanche take a shot at Pitkanen or Edler or another of the top-flight free agent defensemen though I highly doubt it happens. Given that the defense and goal are the areas of greatest need it should be considered at least. Taking a shot at a Shea Weber or Drew Doughty, despite the 4 1st rounders it would end up costing, could be worthy options as well given that both players are headed to restricted free agency should they not get new contracts prior to July 1st. In the end though I don't see the Avalanche bringing in another top 2/4 man though even though if they bring someone in to play D it should be in those upper pairings as they have plenty of options lower down within the organization already.
- Peter Budaj (UFA) : A good backup but could be nearing his end in Colorado. He's had chances to become the starter but hasn't grabbed it. Likely gone this offseason, however if choosing between he or Elliot I would probably stick with Budaj.
- Brian Elliot (RFA) : Came in the trade of Anderson, Elliot did little to impress. A career backup he didn't seem great at that either. Shouldn't be signed but very well could be given he is younger than Budaj.
- John Grahame (UFA) : A good veteran guy in Lake Erie, likely won't be brought back next year. However, if BCash becomes the Avalanche backup, Grahame could be back in Lake Erie next season.
- Jason Bacashihua (UFA) : An interesting story in that the Avalanche had him in the system, let him go, then brought him back this past season. I could see him resigned pretty easily, however if it is to split time with Pickard in Lake Erie or to be the Avalanche backup I couldn't say right now.
- Calvin Pickard ($.844) : Pickard could just be the future of the Avalanche, however for the time being he'll probably be starting in Lake Erie as either the backup or splitting time with another goalie. That will be a big change for him having played 68 of his team's 70 games last year, so it is possible he could also be given the starting job in Lake Erie depending on who else is there next season.
As for the starter I would love to see them attempt to sign Bryzgalov but he will likely be looking for more years than the team would be willing to sign him for. That also goes for Vokoun, another guy I'd love to see them try to obtain. Either one would be a great starter for the team, however both are likely looking for multi-year contracts and the organization is looking to avoid those until a new CBA is in place. They also both made well over $5 million last year and would likely not take less than that, something that the team could afford under the cap, but something that may also cause them to hesitate. Beyond those options there are guys like Emery who would like a starting shot somewhere I'm sure, Giguere who lost his job this year and would likely want a #1 shot as well, and Josh Harding who is coming off a major injury but showed great potential prior to that.
The stop gaps such as Emery or Harding (who would be my choice of stop gaps) could work out while the team develops Pickard, however I would still rather see them give Bryzgalov or Vokoun a call and get one of them signed. With an addition like that it would greatly strengthen this team and they could be back to playoff contenders again next season, especially with good health and one or two more key additions. Using a stop gap could turn out good, but it could also prove to be the wrong move and result in the team getting a high pick once again. I do think the team will try to get one of these guys, however I'm worried things would stall in contract negotiations and we'll miss out and end up with shaky goaltending again next year.
So in recap I think the team MUST bring in a solid #1 goalie above all else. The team while having some weak points elsewhere won't be going anywhere until they have the goaltending figured out. They also need to figure out their backup situation but having a solid #1 is where they start. At forward they are pretty set, though there is a question or two to be answered there but for the most part I think that can be solved internally. Another top 6 forward (depending on the health of Flash and Mueller) could be a good grab though. The back end also could use a good top 4 added to the group that can move the puck, chip in a bit on offense, but most importantly is sound in their own end and on the PK and that would go a long way to solidifying the defense. I think getting a true #1, and filling in a couple of question marks, is really what the team is going to need to do this offseason.
Team Needs : #1 goalie, backup goalie, top 6 winger, #2-3 defenseman
Team Acquisitions : Well ... we'll see during the draft and through the summer who they sign...
No comments:
Post a Comment