Just days before the puck drops to commemorate the start to the NHL season, we continue with our team-by-team preview of the Central Division. Let’s take a look at what’s ahead for the reigning Central Division Champions: The Colorado Avalanche.
Last season, the Avalanche shocked the league by finishing 1st in the Central Division one year after finishing with the worst record in the Western Conference. Nathan MacKinnon shined in his rookie season by scoring 24 goals and 39 assists in the regular season and an impressive 2 goals and 8 assists in 7 playoff games. MacKinnon was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s rookie-of-the-year. The shifty Matt Duchene posted a career-high 70 points and captain Gabriel Landeskog followed Duchene’s 70 by tallying 65 of his own. Ryan O’Reilly, who won the Lady Byng trophy, posted 64 points.
Not only did we see the young Avalanche roster tally big points, we also saw a new coach behind the bench for Colorado, Hall of Famer and 4-time Stanley Cup Champion, Patrick Roy. Roy made eyes turn early in his coaching tenure by defeating the Anaheim Ducks 6-1. That wasn’t the real story of the night, however. Roy and Ducks’ coach Bruce Boudreau got into a heated exchange at the end of the game because Roy sent his physical line in the game’s final faceoff; which did not sit well with Boudreau. As Boudreau yelled at Roy from the the Ducks’ bench, Roy walked up to the glass separating the benches and pushed it hard enough that it nearly collapsed on Boudreau. Watch the video here:
2013-2014 by the numbers:
Points: 112 (1st in Central Division, 2nd in Western Conference, 3rd in NHL)
Record: 52-22-8 (52 wins tied the franchise record)
Power Play: 19.8% (tied 5th)
Penalty Kill: 80.7% (tied 23rd)
Corsi Close: 47 (25th)
Fenwick Close: 46.7 (27th)
Right away, the message was sent. The Colorado Avalanche weren’t going to be in the back-burners of the Western Conference. Grit, speed, and strong goaltending were the keys to the Avalanche’s breakout year. Posting 116 goals in the lockout-shortened year in 2012-2013, the Avalanche posted an impressive 250 goals last year which was 4th best in the NHL. Semyon Varlamov also had a career year with a .927 save percentage and led the league with 41 wins, which set a new franchise record previously set by Roy in the 2000-01 season when he posted 40 wins.
So what does the 2014-15 season have in store for the new-age Colorado Avalanche?
Key Additions:
Jarome Iginla, Daniel Briere, Brad Stuart, Bruno Gervais, Zach Redmond, Jesse Winchester
Key Departures:
Paul Stastny, P.A. Parenteau, Matt Hunwick, Brad Malone
The offseason moves made by the Avalanche are puzzling at best. Losing Stastny, who has posted 458 points in 538 career games for the Avalanche, signed a 4-year, $28 million contract with the division rival St. Louis Blues. Bringing in Jarome Iginla will help fill the scoring void left by Stastny as well as a veteran presence who has 81 postseason games under his belt. Iginla may line up with Alex Tanguay which is intriguing as they played together in Calgary from 2006-08 and again from 2010-2013.
Sep 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Jarome Iginla (12) controls the puck in the third period against the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Avalanche traded P.A. Parenteau for Daniel Briere which left many scratching their heads given the season Briere had in his only season with Montreal. Briere suffered a concussion against the Nashville Predators early in the season and missed 10 games. Later in the season, he was a healthy scratch due to a lack of scoring midway through the season.
Typically, I don’t like seeing younger players leaving and older players coming in. Jarome Iginla was targeted by the Avalanche in the scenario that they would lose Paul Stastny, which they ultimately did. It’s obvious Iginla’s best years are far behind him, however, he still tallied 30 goals with the Bruins last year, 5 more than Stastny. Iginla not only provide scoring, he will also provide an experienced veteran presence they lacked in their short playoff run last season. Plus, we all know how much Iginla likes to play against the Minnesota Wild, something to keep in mind.
Brad Stuart and Daniel Briere won’t be much of a factor for the avalanche, in my opinion. Stuart averaged the 5th most time-on-ice for San Jose defensemen and only recorded 3 goals. Briere’s numbers are declining more and more each year, I think he will match the numbers he put up last year (13 goals, 12 assists) while he likely plays on the third or fourth line.
Projected starting lineups for the Avalanche:
Forwards:
Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Jarome Iginla
Alex Tanguay – Matt Duchene – Ryan O’Reilly
Jamie McGinn – John Mitchell – Daniel Briere
Cody McLeod – Marc-Andre Cliche – Maxime Talbot
Defensemen:
Brad Stuart – Tyson Barrie
Goaltenders:
Semyon Varlamov
Projection:
I am projecting the Avalanche to place 4th in the Central Division this season. One of the reasons they will struggle this year is because the Avalanche didn’t get stronger on the offensive side like the Dallas Stars, the Nashville Predators, the St. Louis Blues, and the Minnesota Wild all did. Even the Chicago Blackhawks, who added Brad Richards, improved on the offensive side. Also, losing Paul Stastny was a big loss for the Avalanche and I don’t see Iginla filling in those shoes right away. I think Iginla will be an effective veteran presence, but I don’t think that will be enough. The Partenteau/Briere trade will haunt the Avalanche. I don’t see Briere playing in all 82 games, whether that’s due to injuries or being a healthy scratch.
Historically, rookies who have breakout seasons in their first year tend to struggle in their sophomore year. Will MacKinnon repeat what he did in his rookie season? Or will he struggle to find the back of the net? That will be something to keep an eye on. Finally, I don’t see Semyon Varlamov repeating what he did last year in Colorado. I think the additions that their Central Division rivals made will make life a little harder on Varlamov this year. It’s also worth noting that backup goaltender Reto Berra allowed 88 goals in 31 games last season. Can the Avalanche rely on Berra as an effective backup? Or will the Avalanche try to squeeze another 63 regular season games out of Varlamov this year?
I think the Avalanche will find themselves in the playoffs this season, but as a wild card. As the season winds down, I believe the Stars and the Predators will give the Avalanche a run for their money as they battle for one of the wild card spots.
Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche Game Schedule:
Thursday, 10/9/2014, 7:30 PM at Minnesota (NBCSN)
Saturday, 10/11/2014, 8:00 PM at Colorado
Saturday, 2/7/2015, 7:00 PM at Minnesota
Saturday, 2/28/2014, 9:00 PM at Colorado
Sunday, 3/8/2015, 5:00 PM at Minnesota