Avalanche Roundtable - Early surprises, disappointments, and future expectations

This week we bring back the Avalanche roundtable, something you can expect to see every Friday here at BSN Denver. We welcome a new voice to the Avalanche staff as J.D. Killian makes his BSN debut today! Look for lots of great stuff to come from J.D. as well as the usual smorgasbord of coverage from the rest of the crew here. Let’s get to the conversation!

Given the events of the first couple of games, what are your biggest surprises/disappointments so far this season?

Cheryl: I wouldn’t necessarily call it a surprise as I expected him to be much better than the pundits suggested, but Beauchemin has killed it so far. He’s been solid in every situation, and his five points have impressed. However, it’s his passing that has me most excited. The Avalanche haven’t seen such consistent, crisp passes on the blueline since John-Michael Liles. I’d have to say Varlamov’s rough start to the season has been another surprise (and doubles as a disappointment). I absolutely don’t expect that to continue; it’s just been a head-scratcher.

J.D.: I am stunned Stuart was scratched the first two games, definitely a surprise. The Avalanche’s scoring in the first two games was encouraging. As for disappointments, Varlamov hasn’t seemed ready to play with the intensity I have grown to expect.  Based on his history, I am optimistic frustration will drive him to greater focus.  And yikes!  The Bruins game was a huge disappointment all the way around but hopefully it’s stirred a fire to rise to the challenge.

Austin: I echo Cheryl’s thoughts on Beauchemin. His leadership coupled with a repertoire of tantalizing hockey attributes have been an early bright spot this season. Every player on the Avalanche should make an effort to mirror Beauchemin’s passing—always with zest, and he never takes a pass off, so to speak. As Beauchemin and Erik Johnson spend more time on the ice together, that pairing should only get stronger.

My biggest disappointment has been the mental fortitude of the Avs so far. After missing the playoffs last season, I expected the Avs to be focused and ready to go this season. I’m not seeing a talent problem, but rather, a problem where too many players are making mental mistakes and not focusing on what they should be doing at any given time.

Andi: My biggest disappointment has probably been the play of Varlamov. It’s almost unfair to single him out because the defense is clearly going through some growing pains and has left him out to dry on a number of goals, but he hasn’t looked as sharp as normal. If the Avs are going to make the playoffs, it’ll be on his back, and a 5.07 GAA and .841 sv% just isn’t going to cut it. It’s still extremely early, but the sooner he clicks back into Varlamov form, the better off the team will be.

As far as pleasant surprises, Beauchemin is definitely on the list, but Iginla’s start is there too. He has a reputation for starting slow – it took him nine games to get a goal last year – but he already has two tallies in three games (Ed. note: the theory of Iginla as a slow starter is more myth than reality). For someone north of his 38th birthday, that’s a very encouraging sign.  The Avs 4th line is also surprising competent as well, and John Mitchell has three goals.  I expected the Avs depth to contribute more this season, but they’ve already gone above and beyond. I just hope that trio remain an asset – and not a liability – as the season goes on.

Casey: I was disappointed to see Zach Redmond reassigned to San Antonio as last year he was measurably better than Guenin much of the time and Holden some of the time. However, his contract does the least damage in the AHL and folks who saw training camp in person said Holden and Guenin had an edge.

As far as a good surprise goes, I was surprised as all get-out by the acquisition of Jack Skille. His work ethic and intensity in our training camp coverage really won me over and I was glad to see him get a spot on the roster.

And another good surprise unrelated to the roster? I am so glad Colorado finally got a new goal song. I know Rock and Roll Part 2 has a storied history in Denver sports, but since Gary Glitter was convicted of child sex crimes again in February 2015, the song has just not sat right with me. I’m glad it’s gone.

What have the Avalanche done this season that you have liked the most?

Cheryl: Scoring power play goals.

J.D.: I was thrilled management incorporated so many new, young players and pleased they are giving Rantanen a chance to play. MacKinnon brings a lot of dynamic energy at center.  The fourth line has really kicked it up a notch.  Considering the Avs struggled last year to fill out two competent lines, the rise of Mitchell & Co. brings a lot of excitement. Zadorov is not only physically big, he is going to be big on defense for years to come. I am also pleasantly surprised by the play of Skille and Comeau.

Austin: Clearly, I would have been well suited to get to this roundtable before Cheryl, as I keep agreeing with her thoughts and it’s making me look unoriginal. The Avalanche power play has been firing on all cylinders this season, and the subtle adaptations made, such as having Tanguay present himself as an extra quick passing option for the defenders in the high slot, has really given the PP an extra dimension.

If the power play can continue to play with confidence early in the season, it might just help the Avs sneak out a few victories while they tighten up other aspects of their game.

Andi: I’m just enjoying seeing the team scoring goals, power play or otherwise. The offense seems to be clicking, which wasn’t the case at the beginning of last season.  I’ll also echo J.D. about MacKinnon at center. It’s what’s best for the franchise long term, but it’s great to see it paying immediate dividends as well.

I also liked the Zadorov for Guenin swap that happened on the Avs’ second pairing. Barrie’s had struggles of his own this year, but putting him with the big, smooth, and talented youngster has helped solidify the Avs top four.

Casey: The power play has stunned me in a good way, which I am happy to admit as someone who was a vocal critic the past couple of seasons. While it’s far too early to see if this is a sustained trend, I see a difference in the type of cycle passing that the Avs are performing on the PP. Perhaps this is the result of training with players like the aforementioned Beauchemin who execute neat, clean passes–in the past, the Avs’ power play passing has looked like a desperate game of keep away. Now, it looks like an intentional effort to exhaust the opposition and force penalty killers to tire and make mistakes.

I loved the acquisition of Blake Comeau when it happened and am thrilled to see him making an immediate impact on the roster. I’ve always said that Comeau is the type of player that the Avs’ fourth line always wished it was but didn’t have the skill to actually be. I hope he continues to find success because it’s not only gratifying but incredibly entertaining to watch someone walk the walk rather than just talking the talk.

Lastly, I am glad I get to be the one to bring up that Gabriel Landeskog is playing like an absolute monster. 4G, 2A in the first three games of the year speaks for itself, but beyond that he looks so capable and confident on the ice. Every time he’s out there, he is generating scoring chances or fishing for rebounds or just throwing his body around. While it goes without saying that he won’t maintain his two-points-per-game momentum, it’s possible this is the year that sees him blossom into a truly monstrous power forward.

With the Avalanche 1-2-0 with two bad losses under their belts heading into the always dangerous SoCal Swing, how confident are you the Avalanche will be even be competitive in this weekend’s games?

Cheryl: I think they’ll split the trip, but neither game will be easy. I suspect a close or OT loss to the Ducks and a pissed off team against the Kings for a two-goal type of win. The Kings are having their own problems right now—I mean, they have a worse record than the Oilers—but I haven’t seen in the Kings the type of chip-on-the-shoulder, let-go-of-the-drama play like I’ve seen with the Avs. That’s why I think the Avs can take that game.

J.D.: I am hoping the Bruins debacle has awoken a sleeping giant.  The Avs have the potential, when focused, to skate competitively with any team.  They are incredibly inconsistent, though, which I attribute to a lack of focus. Based on Roy’s post-game comments, he should be busy lighting several fires under their butts.  I’m thinking they will at least get a draw, depending on how energized they come out against Anaheim, who I believe will be the tougher of the two games to win.  It all depends on whether Varly continues to surrender 5 goals a game or if Berra can step up his level of play.

Austin: One thing the Avalanche have going for them on this SoCal trip, is a day off between games, so at least it isn’t the dreaded back-to-back. The Bruins game was a bit of a classic trap game, and I expect the Avalanche to respond and play much better against the Ducks and Kings, who are both having some issues of their own right now. As the road team, look for the Avs to really simplify their game and get pucks deep, in order to minimize the neutral zone turnovers that were their undoing against Minnesota and Boston.

You don’t often see desperate hockey played in October, but I have a feeling these early season games are going to have some extra tension and a bit of a playoff feel to them, as all teams involved look to get their seasons back on the right track.

Andi: Honestly, it depends on which Avs show up. Even three games into this season, we’ve already seen a team that can play with just about anyone, with tons of goals scored and great saves.  We’ve also seen a team that deserves to be at the very bottom of the Central Division.  Which one will show up from period to period is anyone’s guess.

As far as the SoCal trip is concerned, I’m tempering my expectations.  While I’d love to see the Avs get a win or two, I’m more interested in seeing Varlamov return to form, the entire team looking less scrambly in the defensive zone, and more shots on goal.  Puck possession isn’t the be-all-end-all, but it’d still be nice to see the Avs starting to pull themselves out of the basement and out of the league’s punchlines. It should help limit goals against as well.

The team learned the hard way last year that October games matter. After Wednesday’s debacle, I just hope they remember that little nugget of knowledge and come to play.

Casey: I think a positive outcome for the trip–which in my eyes is an even split–will hinge a lot on Reto Berra’s performance. In no way am I suggesting that the team has lost faith in Varlamov, but they have by their own admission been dependent on him in the past. Teams often work a little harder with the backup in net, so Berra starting a game might pay off for completely un-Varlamov-related reasons.

The Kings have had a rough start to their year, but they dominated the Avalanche for huge stretches of play during the Frozen Fury preseason game. Even when the Avs managed to generate some momentum, the Kings were quick to break it up and neutralize it. Given how consistent and thorough that was, I think the Kings will be a real challenge and I don’t think their edge over the Avalanche in the preseason was a fluke. They have a build that can and does frustrate teams built like Colorado.