Joe Sakic did an impromptu press conference tonight, with the few select people who bother to cover the Avalanche on a regular basis.
As I wrote three days ago, the main takeaway from the presser was the fact that the Avs’ GM absolutely will not entertain any offers for any of the team’s top existing young prospects – or for any of their upcoming high draft picks. Things may be going real bad for the Avs right now on the ice, but the solution will not be to trade the future for any quick fix.
“What we’re not doing is moving our high picks or prospects,” Sakic said, just prior to the Avs’ game with Columbus. “Those are just players we are not willing to give up.”
That said, it would be a surprise if some kind of deal doesn’t happen by the Feb. 25 NHL trade deadline. The team is in a major tailspin, and Sakic did say that he has had conversations with other teams about potential deals.
Just what kind of deal happens, and how big, will probably come down to this: What will the Avs’ record be on Feb. 24? If the slide continues, he’ll try to sell off as much as he can in players with expiring contracts and/or who he thinks just don’t quite fit into the near future.
“We’ve been talking with teams for the better part of three, four weeks now, to see how we can make our team better,” Sakic said. “We’ve got three weeks to go, and we’ll see where we are at that time. There’s things that we’re going to continue to look at – hockey trades, to get better.”
If I had to lay money on anything “big” happening, I would bet that Tyson Barrie is the guy most likely to be moved. He’s got some term left on his contract, and the Avs have 2017 fourth overall pick Cale Makar on the way. If the Avs are sellers by deadline day, Barrie is a top candidate to move. Otherwise, it would likely be at the draft.
Sakic wouldn’t mention any names he might be dangling, of course. But Barrie makes the most sense.’
“We’re looking at the big picture here, and we love what’s coming,” Sakic said. “It’s a process, and we’re not going to deviate from that plan. But if there’s a player that can help us, that isn’t going to include one of the top prospects, then we’ll look at that. But for us, it’s got to make sense going forward.”
Sakic said he believes the team’s biggest problem in the slide has been their play away from the puck, with guys trying to do too much individually on offense, partially because of playing from behind all the time. That, and not good enough goaltending.
Yet, Sakic said the team still has “two good goalies” and has faith in Semyon Varlamov and Philipp Grubauer.
Sakic also has faith in coach Jared Bednar. You never know for sure what will happen with coaches in the NHL, but when asked if he is satisfied that coaching is not the problem right now, Sakic said:
“The problem is not coaching at all,” Sakic said. “We have good systems. For me, the biggest thing has been the play away from the puck. We’ve been generating chances, and for the most part I’ve liked the way we’ve played – maybe not the last couple games – but we were in a stretch where we were playing real good hockey, but just couldn’t win games. We’ve just got to be more committed without the puck.”
“But we believe in this group and I know the group believes in themselves. We’ve just got to grab a couple wins any way (we) can, get some confidence back and get back to playing the way we’re capable of.”
Here are audio clips from Sakic’s presser:
0 Comments (7 conversations)
Johnny M
Fuck I hope they trade Barrie.
George in Limbo
I’m scared they’re going to trade Zadorov.
Adrian Dater
AuthorThey might
MaxPrime867
imho – between last year success, compounded by the really good start by the avs had this year.. expectations have been set WAY higher than they reasonably should be..
Regardless of the slump the boys are going through, this is all part of growing as a team.. which a the young avs core NEEDS to go through..
im with Joe on this.., stick with the process and the long term plan, and it will pay HUGE dividends in the next 2-3 years when the AVS are in maturing as a group, and will truly be scary team to watch, and content for the cup.
This year (just like last year, and just like next year as well) should be focused towards growth and development for the Avs.
Playoff experience is great to build throughout the process, but it can’t be done at the the expense of the bigger, long term picture.
Once the avs are back competing for a cup every year, that’s when you can take a bigger risk and try to sell pieces to make the push..
In Joe we trust.
Go avs go
I do like the fact that Super Joe is patient and looking at the big picture to continue to strengthen our team through our upcoming draft picks and younger players in the pipeline. However, the one area I think he is too patient is with our head coach. Joe’s response on the coaching ““The problem is not coaching at all,” Sakic said. “We have good systems…”
Yes, good systems are essential but coaching leadership is another area altogether, and I do not see our head coach directing the team through this downturn in a way that breaks the player’s lack of confidence. Rather, just like the 2nd half of the 2016-17 season, I believe he focuses on the systems rather than leads to instill confidence back into all players, across all positions. In fact, I think he almost does the opposite where if the players make a mistake, there is an immediate reaction by our coach to scratch, bench or lessen their ice time. The best coaches have a way of minimizing slumps and for the second time in three years, I do not think our coach has the capability to bring us out of a downturn until it’s too late (and we miss the playoffs).
This is an area where I believe Super Joe is too patient. We have the 2nd youngest team in the NHL and having a veteran coach that has been through the ups and downs of season after season to help our players overcome these slumps is what is needed now and for our future. My ten cents.
mladen
I can see trading Barrie but not Z. He gives them something no other player does. His FA signings from last summer are all busts. Grub is not a NHL goalie, Ian Cole has quit, and Matt Calvert adds nothing. Neither does Colin Wilson. these guys and “Getto” should be trade bait to see if we can some how get a goalie out of it.
Nels
Preach it I’ll turn the pages.
StormSlab
On the bright side, we’re going to save a bunch of money on contract extensions for Kerf, Rants, Z at this rate and get an extra lottery pick for [Coach Q’s triumphant return] next season. What coach wouldn’t want to join this young core next year with what will be added in top prospects and picks? No need to fire Bednar now – the best coaches don’t want to sit out a lame duck season and screw up their own future draft pick. Let Bednar sink or swim this year, then move on in the off-season to a proven top coach if/when they miss the playoffs.
Nels
Sounds reasonable to me.
MrDucksworth
I think they would have to do absurdly bad the rest of the year for them to fire Bednar (basically continue the slide we’re on haha). This was never thought to be our huge breakout year, that’s next year, and given making the playoffs last year I would say Bednar will get at least another year. This is assuming they sort of right the ship this year, which I think they will to some extent. Q would be sweet, but I don’t think that will happen either (I would love to be wrong!)
In regard to contract extensions, the teams bad year isn’t going to play a huge role in that, it’s players individual performances.
That being said, Z is not going to get offered a contract extension he’ll accept. He has not earned a big pay day, but I think he still wants to get paid. I think he will likely go to arbitration, and be shipped off next year at the deadline.
Kerfoot will most likely get an ok extension, he’s been decent.
But you think we’ll save money on Rantanen because the recent slide, and they’ll just ignore him being one of the top 5 scorers in the league? He is going to get paid big time, and our record probably won’t hinder that much if at all.
xdikkx
It would definitely suck if they missed the playoffs after last year’s run, but the bright side is they’ll have two top-half picks in the entry draft.
Nels
I just wish we knew who exactly Joe views as the “top prospects”. He made it obvious he’s talking about Makar. Who else? Timmins was mentioned but he’s WAAAAAAAAAAAY behind even where he was last season at this point. So who makes that list or falls under the “top prospects” category in Joe’s mind?
Bowers?
Girard?
Kerfoot?
Kamanev?
Jost?
Compher?
Ghetto?
Most importantly Zadorov? AD why would he trade big Z?
At 23, why isn’t Z still a “top prospect”? I honestly can’t think of any reasons why Z would be on the table. I can think of lots of reasons why he shouldn’t even be considered. That’s just me I guess? I’m not Super Joe, but doesn’t he have this team right back were it was 2 years ago, in terms of on-ice results (and Big Z is one of the few bright spots)? He’s made 0 progress at this point and it’s been 2 years, so his plan is to wait longer or trade Z, one of the few not undersized – and the only truly terrifying – physical presence the Avs posses? I’m having a hard time following Super Joe’s Flag right now. Someone please try to convince me that this drunken (or maybe in this case, lazy) beating from my abusive hockey spouse/team is going to be the last one.
At the very least, Joe needs to be BUSTING BALLS to package up any or all of Varly , Grub, and Barrie with some guys not named LAndy, MAck, Rants, or Zadorov, and some picks that don’t start with a 1 this year, and bring in at least one real piece for the future NOW. They can still do that and be the 2nd or 3rd worst team by the end of the season. I just don’t want to see them lose 31 in a row!
Nels
I don’t want to see them trade Z either :/ He was one of the few bright spots in 16-17 as well, come to think of it. And he’s one the most entertaining guys in the NHL.
jpwheels
Very good points.
As I’ve commented before, I like Bednar and believe he’s been really good for this team.
But I do think he’s partly responsible for not getting the Avs back on track.
In his pressers, one of the things he keeps mentioning is ongoing issues with poor execution.
I know he can’t make the plays, but it starting to seem like the coaching isn’t getting through to the players.
I hadn’t thought about him having issues in “coaching leadership” because that’s generally left up to the veterans in the room.
Interesting thoughts you have on that.
jpwheels
From your list, I think Ghetto could be dropped and Kaut added. Plus, I think there are other guys in Lonveland the Avs like…but less so.
And I agree — I see no reason to trade Z either. I think that would be a mistake.