Jerseys and Hockey Love

And why is he speaking in the third person.

Because Jose Theodore is out the door.

From the Denver Post (which is not the AP, so I can quote the story):

Talks between the Avalanche and Jose Theodore have broken down, and it now appears the veteran goalie will test the NHL open market beginning Tuesday.

Good. Don’t let the door hit you.

Oh, is that mean? Is that harsh? Whatever. He can keep on walking.

I’m embroiled in work this week, so my “analysis” (ie: reasons I ain’t crying) will have to wait until the weekend. But for now, I can not wait to write “Theodore has his usual meltdown,” and he isn’t in an Avalanche uniform.

Mind you, it isn’t July 1st yet, so he could still be signed. Oh, now I am sad.

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, Goalie, Theodore

With the Stanley Cup Finals going on, it’s a slow news month for the Avs right now. Other than the signing of Tony Granato, everything else is speculation and “want to” right now.

In the want to category, Theodore wants to come back to the Avalanche. From the Rocky Mountain News:

Jose Theodore wants to continue his career resurgence in Colorado, and it appears the feeling is mutual.

Theodore’s agent said Wednesday he expects to talk with Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere soon about a new contract for the 31-year- old goalie, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Francois and having discussions with him,” agent Don Meehan said. “Jose’s priority would be to be back in Denver. We’ve expressed that to Francois, and they’ve indicated they would like to have him back.”

Indicated? Perhaps at a serious discount. This sounds like Agent Speak 101 to me. Frankly, I think Jose just wants a job next season, and they are going to be few and far between. Remember Robert Esche, anyone?

Though Theodore and the Avalanche are eager to work out a deal, it might not be that easy. Theodore just completed a three-year, $16 million contract and could test the open market to gauge his value in what could be the final long- term contract of his career.

I would love to see Theo test the open market. If he truly had any off ice value, then the Avs are going to be the on;y ones who know about it, and the only ones who might pay him for it. Other than that, I hope Jose was able to save some of that paycheck from the last few years. He won’t be getting another one that big. Ever.

Before focusing on Theodore, Giguere still wants to find out whether captain Joe Sakic and forward Peter Forsberg will return for another season or retire.

It’s good to have your priorities straight.

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, NHL, Theodore

It was announced today that Tony Granato, brother to women’s hockey star Cammi Granato, and former head coach of the Avalanche, is getting another shot as the head cheese.

And I think that’s fine.

I would imagine that some of the other Avs bloggers are thinking I should have my head examined for that statement, but I believe that the Avs could do much worse. Some are looking at this as past mistakes being made again, but I have a different take on things.

Previous Experience:

Shane from Colorado Avalanche Talk had this to say about Granato’s last stint as head coach:

A dream team involving Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Alex Tanguay, Milan Hejduk, Teemu Selanna, Paul Kariya, Rob Blake, Adam Foote and on and on it goes. With a team like that, fans had high hopes of a birth in the Stanley Cup finals. In fact, expectations were so high that the season was captured on film.

Those are pretty lofty expectations (not just from Shane, but from all over the fan base). How soon we forget that Patrick Roy had just left the team the previous season, or that

Looking at that “dream team” a little closer, Kariya has been a disappointment since leaving the Ducks, Selanne needed knee surgery desperately, Tanguay was soon to be trade bait, and there weren’t many players after that. Liles was unseasoned, a few players were traded away for scraps, and there was plenty of dead weitght to go around (Cummins, Worrell, Gratton, Sauve). I mean, come on, it was a good idea to bring in Tommy Salo as a veteran backup?

I mean, seriously, is it Granato’s fault that Paul freaking Kariya scored only 11 goals that season? He had 36 points in 51 games. Must be Granato’s fault.

Worst Power Play:

This season, the power play was at it’s worst ever, ranking in the bottom of the league. And while the power play may be on Granato’s shoulders, it’s the head coach who holds the ultimate responsibility. I think we saw enough this season to realize that Coach Q had very little in the way of strategy, other than making constant line changes.

Know your Lineup:

It was pretty obvious that Coach Q, in his few years with the team, had little understanding of the players he was lording over. Line combo after line combo, you would rarely go an entire period before things were “mixed up.” I have yet to understand how that is good for a team, but hey, whatever. Granato has been with the team for long enough to have a handle on things. He knows his players, and should know what to expect. And hopefully, where to put them.

Playoffs:

Maybe this is where I can’t figure out why people are so hacked off about Granato. It wasn’t Granato who missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. And when you look at it, with Paul Kariya playing ONE playoff game, and Teemu getting only assists, how much more do you want from your “dream team?” Heck ,even Blake missed two games, and Tanguay missed three. I’m just not seeing the issue here. Making it past the Stars may seem like an easy task, but I beg to differ.

Doing something:

Coach Q never did anything on the bench, except get hacked off at the refs every so often. It was like this mustache had a death grip on his lips. Granato, on the other hand, is a fire plug. Remember his yelling match with Mike Babcock? Sure, it was dumb, but it sure was entertaining. I give him points just for being passionate.

Grooming:

What do you think Granato has been doing for the past few years? Being moved up again makes me believe that he has earned the position. At least, that’s what I want to believe, and I will until proven otherwise.

In a nutshell, I’m going to give Granato the benifit of the doubt here. I know I’m not going to change any minds on this one, and frankly, that isn’t my job. That’s up to Coach G.

But just to be clear on my stance here, in the past few seasons, under Coach Q, the Avs:

• Missed the playoffs for the first time
• Got seriously owned by the Red Wings
• Lacked stability in every department
• Needed last minute band aids at the trade deadline just to make it into the playoffs

Frankly, I’m ready to look towards the past for a little bit here. That’s what the playoffs were about, why not next seasoon?

Welcome back, Coach G.

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, Granato

And as they said in forth grade, don’t let the door hit you.

Coach Q got the axe listened to the fans grew a brain and the Avalanche mutually agreed that it was freaking obvious was past time to be losing wasn’t a damn stand up comedy special was just best if we all moved on and started winning games maybe had a shot in hell could maybe get a clue sell a few tickets start to score goals on the power play have a strategy when star players are injured adapt to the new NHL stop trying to play arena football parted ways.

Can you tell how I feel about this?

I don’t feel the need to recount how little I liked Coach Q, but I will say that I am not surprised. Missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history was enough for me, but then to continue down the same path, expecting different results, was the perfect indicator that things were never going to be a good fit.

I wonder if this is part of what is factoring into Joe Sakic’s decision to return to the team. Would you want to just go through more of the same? I always felt that this was a team with the elements to do well, to succeed, but was always in search of an identity on the ice. FG gave the players all the confidence in the world, but losing a few obvious choices, signing a few free agents, but leaving the team mostly intact. I think that is still a good idea (minus one body in net), and the right person behind the bench could bring that out in the team.

Who’s it going to be?

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, NHL

At two points in the game, the Avs had a chance to pull ahead and survive for one more day. Those were before either team scored, and when Tyler Arnason (playoff hero? please) made the game 1-1. Aside from that, you can see what happened.

And it pains me to put that up.

Remember what Jose Theodore was playing for? Pride? Not so much.

What would have happened if Budaj had gotten the start. Would he have let in five goals, had he not gone into the game down by two goals, and coming off the bench cold?
If there is any good thing to come out of getting swept, it’s that the Red Wings did not get to celebrate at home. And as far as I can see, that’s the only thing. Perhaps this will make the people who like Joel Quenneville realize that he took this team into the ground. Missed the playoffs last season, swept in round two this season, backed a horse in Theodore that turned out to be a donkey. There is only so much I can take the injury argument, and getting swept is about that far.

Tonight, I was able to take in the game with Greg from the Post Pessimist, and every so often, we would look at each other, with the idea of saying something interesting and pithy, something that would make it all make sense, something that would be worth saying as the Avs melted down in front of the team that we both loathe, and all that came out was heavy sighs. Hanging out with Greg was one of the best parts of being in Atlantastan, and makes me a little sad that I am going to be leaving Monday (for Tampa, FL). But it is Atlanta, so only a little.

It’s the perfect time to load out the show, pack it up, and move it to Tampa. I can throw myself into the gig for a few days, and then get back to the Avs for a little postmortem, and look ahead to whoever knocks out the Red Wings. I truly do not believe that they are going to win the Cup.

Until then, a picture, from last season…

I don’t want to use it again next year.

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, Hockey, NHL, Playoffs

In the “Oh, Ya Think?” category, we get this info from the Rocky Mountain News:

Forwards Peter Forsberg and Ryan Smyth will not play tonight when the Avalanche tries to avoid being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in Game 4 of the teams’ Western Conference semifinal series at the Pepsi Center.

Not really surprising, but this, at the end of the article, is telling:

Quenneville said the team likely will go with Jeff Finger as a seventh defenseman for tonight’s game.

What does that say about the defense? Is Hannan still hurting? Are they as worn out as the Minnesota Wild were at the end of round 1?

It’s going to either be a great game tonight, or a bloodbath.

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, Forsberg, NHL, Playoffs, Red Wings

If there wasn’t concern for Avs fans before, there should be now. At least, if you read the papers. First off, from the Denver Post, Paul Stastny is done for the series:

Stastny will miss the rest of the series and possibly beyond with a knee injury suffered in the first period of Game 3. It is just the latest in the torrent of bad news to hit the Avs since their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series with the Red Wings started last Thursday.

If I’m reading that correctly, you can count him out if the Avs pull of a miracle and advance beyond this round. There are so few mainstay Avs available right now, even Wyatt Smith is getting the look. Ouch.

Further down, the scary part:

The Avs, down 3-0 to the Wings in the series, practiced Wednesday without several regulars, including Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Hejduk.

No matter how you read that, it doesn’t look good. Whether or not it’s injuries, or a damn tired squad, having your big three forwards out of practice is a sure sign that things are bad in Avs land, and perhaps a sign that the team is giving up for the season.

In another Denver Post article, Theodore was the focus, telling us that he is playing for pride, at this point:

“For myself, it’s all about pride,” Theodore said after practice Wednesday at South Suburban Family Sports Center. “You go out there and you just want to make sure you fight and be able to look at yourself in the mirror and really say, ‘I left everything out there.’ I think for a lot of guys, that’s what we did (in Game 3).”

But what the article focuses on is really money, and if Theo will be picked up after his contract expires this season, either by the Avs, or by another team:

Another issue will be whether Theodore’s play, at least in the first two games of the series when he was battling and recovering from the flu, will cause the Avalanche or any team thinking about pursuing him after July 1 to be less aggressive. He has allowed four goals in each of his three starts against the Wings, gotten yanked in the first two, and has a 6.55 goals-against average in the series — after being the difference-maker in the opening-round series victory over Minnesota.

Yes, he was sick, but he played games one and two, and if he was that bad off, he should have been benched, for his own good, and for the good of the team. 6.55 GAA says everything I need to know. Penicillin doesn’t take care of that. So it’s all about pride now. I don’t know if I should feel good about that or not.

Coach Q is still a dedicated Theo follower, with the blind devotion shown by cult members:

Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville, who showed faith in Theodore by coming back with him in Game 3 after Peter Budaj stopped 39-of-40 shots in relief in Detroit, remains committed to Theodore in this series.

“I thought Jose played well,” Quenneville said of Game 3. “The goaltending was fine. I think he looked sharper. He looked good in practice again (Wednesday). I don’t think the goal-tending is an issue.”

Man, are you sure about this? I’m starting to wonder if this is Quenneville talking, or his mustache. Perhaps the evil lip fur has taken over. At some point, you have to look elsewhere. And there is an elsewhere. He’s sitting down the bench from you.

Finally, there is the obligatory “Will Super Joe Retire” article that seems like clockwork this time of year. And while everyone sees a step taken off Joe’s game, there is plenty of reasons to wait and see. Joe is being coy, and perhaps a little ominous:

Sakic refuses to allow himself to think the Red Wings could sweep him out of the league and into retirement. It’s the lone mind-set a captain concerned first and foremost for his team’s preservation can embrace.

“If we win Game 4, then there will be another one for us all,” Sakic said.

I can’t tell you how sad I would be if this were his last series, and can only hope that his eventual retirement isn’t fodder for more Red Wings fans bragging. I don’t think he is going anywhere. Coming back from hernia surgery is difficult, and you can bet he was rushed back on the ice when he was almost healed. I wouldn’t be looking at a contract announcement right away, but maybe by July 1st. I think there is one more season left in him.

Super Joe ain’t gonna go.

Mark Kiszla weighs the pros and cons:

KEEP ON PLAYING

1. With eight points in nine playoff games, Sakic still has got game.

2. Wearing a Team Canada sweater at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver is a sweet dream.

3. Young Avs Paul Stastny, T.J. Hensick and David Jones can keep the “jump” in an old veteran’s step.

HANG ‘EM UP

1. If there’s any doubt at age 38, it’s probably time to go.

2. The quietly proud Sakic should not wait until he becomes an Average Joe on the ice.

3. Avs have too many question marks to be considered serious Stanley Cup contenders in 2009.

I particularly enjoy that last one. Anyone watching the games this year has questions for the next. Hell, I have questions for the Avs myself. Such as:

Who is going to be Coach next season?

Who is going to be in goal?

Are they going to resign Adam Foote?

I’ve got plenty of questions. I bet Sakic does too. But I think he can wait, and so can we.

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, NHL, Playoffs, Sakic, Theodore

There is this guy at work named Chris, a transplant to Atlantastan from San Jose. And believe it or not, he is a Sharks fan. Not one of those blaze johnny-come-lately fan, but a fan of the team, and a fan of the game. It’s fun, because we can look at the scores, talk hockey, and lately, complain. How else is he going to react to the Sharks losing to the Stars after outshooting them. Of course, shots aren’t everything, unless you lose. You can put 100 weak, slow shots on net, and still lose the game.

I was at work for the first two periods of the game, watching the score tick upwards on the right side of my ipod, while the left side sat firmly at zero. After goal three, I called down to MegMegMeg to find out if Theodore was pulled yet. After goal four, I called again. Eventually the answer was yes. I was able to see the third period at dinner, but I kind of wish I hadn’t. It was bad.

Let me sum up what I saw. Ian Laperriere scored the only Avs goal, on a deflection. The Avs then gave up a short handed goal (on which Budaj tried hard to stop). Then the Avs gave up.

I have not. But the Avs knew when they were done.

I am going to watch the game at some point (in at 11:30 AM tomorrow, long day today, so it ain’t happening tonight), because I am a fan, and I want to see the game, or put myself through the pain. It will come, perhaps Monday, my day off.

Till then, Go Avs!!!

Technorati Tags: Avalanche, Hockey, NHL, Playoffs, Red Wings

An unusually early day at work today is going to limit me to this very brief preview. Theodore may get the s