Too early for this sort of thing? Sure! But, you know, the news isn’t coming in hard and fast, so you got to do something. Also, with the Pepsi Center surrounded by fencing and barricades for the Denver Grand Prix, focus has shifted quite a bit around here.
So here are things the Avs need to do next season. No particular order, some may expire:
1) Svatos signs and plays 70 games minimum
Let’s be honest. We don’t need another Forsberg right now, we need another Sakic. Missing the last 21 games of the season and all of the playoffs didn’t help his cause, nor the Avs’. He’s good, but he has his downside. Right now, he has to show a little longevity. (Or how about missing 78 games in 2003-04 with a shoulder injury?)
2) Hejduk needs to step up.
Bad season last year, get back to normal this year. Nuff said.
3) Build on what you have.
Don’t look to who you need next trade deadline. The money is spent, the room isn’t there. Work with what you have opening night, make that a contender.
4) Who’s your third goalie?
Vitaly Kolesnik came in to stop the bleeding at the right time. But he’s gone (quietly signing in Russia for next year), so who’s it going to be?
5) Get ready to take your farm system seriously.
The Avs share an AHL affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes. Why? Who knows. It doesn’t really speak to the teams depth. They dropped the Hershey Bears before last season (who Washington picked up. Oh, yeah, and won the Calder Cup), and signed on with the Canes in Lowell. That arangement moves to Albany next season, and it’s still a bad deal. Why? There’s only so many games to go around. How do you squeeze enough game time in for your goalies, much less anybody else? Colorado needs to figure out that the farm system is important in the post cap era. We can’t just buy a player when we need them anymore. And renting one at the trade deadline isn’t going to be easy, either.
6) Turgeon and Brisebois, just retire or something.
Look, guys, it’s been fun, and hey, nobody expected you to be Forsberg or Foote last year, but we didn’t expect you to be that… whatever that was last season. Just face it. We need you to step up, or step out. Nobody, and I mean nobody, cares which. You are very replaceable. Don’t do us any favors.
7) Jose Hilton….Jeez, where to start?
I swear, if he’s out partying in LoDo, I will call The Mountain daily, and ask where the commitment is. He’s got some serious work to do. He better do it. Strengthen that glove hand, and not just 12 OZ. at a time.
8) Lower ticket prices.
This won’t help the Avs get to the playoffs, but it will help me get there. I’m frickin broke right now, I can’t afford you guys. I don’t want to turn this into a Rocky Mountain Rage (CHL) blog. Looks like the TV will be my friend this year. I’d rather get center ice, and be able to see a replay once in a while. This would also help the “sellout streak.” (why could I always get a single seat ticket the day of the game?)
This list is incomplete. Help me fill it in. Comments section is open.
6 responses to “Things the Avs have to do to make the playoffs”
Hmm, nothing in here about injuring Lupul’s ability to shoot, eh?
He’s now an 8-time-a-year guy, and if you prorate what he did in the playoffs against the Avs, that means he should put about 12 pucks past Theodore?
He’s an Oil-boy now; injure away.
Ehhh. He’s a good hockey player (which is the set up before the blow), but I don’t see him being the same this comming season. He was on a great team, moving to a team that isn’t remotely the same as last year. The Oilers will do more to curb his ability to shoot.
To add to that:
Probably about the same as you felt when you had to face Joe Thornton 8 times a year. Only less so.
Yeah, you’re right on Lupul. I still would worry a bit about Jose.
If I were an Avs fan, I would heartily second the “Turgeon and Brisebois” point. However, being a Ducks fan, I think GM Giguere should be talking about extending the contracts.
Tapeleg, what are your thoughts of Pierre Lacroix’s departure and his replacement? Concerns?
Yeah, Turgeon and Brisebois should probably just ‘go away!’
Lacroix, unfortunately, didn’t leave completely. Sure, he left a mess (bonuses from 2001 counting against the cap, overpaid Jose Hilton), but he still has his hand in the mix. I wouldn’t be suprised if GM Giguere still has to call him for approval.
I don’t know much about Giguere, so I’m not sold. Mostly because he was a Lacroix guy from before.
I shoud probably do a post about it one day, before I get proven wrong.