The DNVR Avalanche Podcast drops with Nathan Rudolph and AJ Haefele discussing the Avs final 23 man roster and opening night lineup as well as how some of the spots were earned.
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0 Comments (2 conversations)
Hockeyhead
Thanks for running through the final roster. I too am still not sold on the Nichushkin signing. It doesn’t seem like he earned a spot on the roster. So where was the competition for that spot? Like you said, hopefully he will surprise us. If he doesn’t, can the Avs still cut him, or is the only recourse to send him to the AHL? I don’t like the fact that Nichushkin is such a road block to VK, MK, SB, and Greer’s opportunity to develop and prove themselves in the NHL. Along with how it ripples down through the organization. Wilson must still be hampered by an injury, I don’t know how you play Nichushkin over Wilson. We will see and soon!!
briggs1628
Their solutions for Nichuskin if he doesn’t work out would be to waive him. If he gets claimed great, no longer our problem. If not he would either report to the Eagles and play there, or he could refuse the demotion and go back to the KHL in which case the Avs would suspend him and again be done with it.
Your AHL team isn’t a dumping ground for bad NHL decisions
Hockeyhead
So if that is the case, and they don’t send him to the Eagles, and he sucks, is he just a healthy scratch all year and wastes a roster spot. Or will VN read the writing on the wall and gracefully disappear into the KHL? It sounds like there are not too many options if he is bad.
This was the actual downside with his signing. If it didn’t pan out, “what now” was a question that didn’t have a good answer. I hope he works out and this is all an irrelevant discussion. We’ve just seen this play out (a lot!) over the last ten years so my expectations are obviously pretty low.
DoubleD
Obviously Nichushkin has Joe’s version of the peepee tape. He can fit in but not as well as Wilson, Vlad, Greer, Bowers or Kaut. So why burn all these guys who have earned their chops for a 10% chance of something better? Blows up all Bed’s rhetoric about best players make the team etc. Sorry untrue. Sure Timmins but Nichushkin offsets that and more. Eagles will be good.
Dog City Disco
Thanks for the Pod guys. Are you worried about lack of experience from some of our dman during the first 5-10 games of the season? We play some experienced forward groups during this time that can potentially take advantage.
Experience will be a moving target a lot the next few years as young players on ELCs move in and take over jobs
Hockeyhead
Agree! Hopefully he surprises us and our concerns are proven wrong. You are correct in that history is not on our side. I will try to keep the glass half full on this one (even if it is a small one) until this plays out over the next few months.