Avalanche Training Camp Observations: Kadri the key

The final day of training camp for the Colorado Avalanche wrapped up today as the Avs took to the ice to work predominantly on special teams work.

Each session was broken into PP/PK units and boy were there some interesting looks. Colorado has more intriguing PP QBs than at any other time that I could recall. Today they had Bowen Byram, Calle Rosen, Conor Timmins, Cale Makar, and Sam Girard all running units today.

That’s a pretty deep and intriguing group, especially when you consider Erik Johnson is still on the NHL team and he’s spent a lot of his career on the PP.

But as intriguing as those defensemen were, it was a variety of forwards who stood out the most.

Nazem Kadri, game-changing center?

Once again I use this space to be impressed with Kadri. The center was acquired over the summer to bring stability to a second line that had very little the last few years and early returns are positive.

Kadri took the ice with the big guns today and dropped right into the middle, a spot last year where J.T. Compher and Colin Wilson frequently rotated in and out. While no Mikko Rantanen meant this unit wasn’t operating at full strength, Kadri’s addition will clearly have an impact here.

Compher and Wilson were used primarily to fight for rebounds, screen goalies, and pass the puck right back to whichever player passed it to them. Kadri showed today that he brings a significantly more dynamic element to that spot.

When there was space, Kadri shot. When there wasn’t, Kadri passed. When he shouldn’t have gotten the puck in the first place because he was being hounded by penalty killers, he still made something happen with the puck. The skill level was impressive and Colorado has to feel encouraged by what it saw today. If they ever get Rantanen back, this unit should easily be in the top 10 again, if not much higher.

Second unit struggles

The second unit consisting of Compher, Tyson Jost, Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, and Joonas Donskoi certainly didn’t have the same juice as the top unit. The lack of a true triggerman on that unit was a glaring issue as they could move the puck around but none of them were comfortable letting it rip.

When each of them did try to shoot, it was an adventure. Jost’s one-timer looks totally unnatural to him, much as it did Compher last year when he tried to let it fly. Girard still doesn’t look comfortable getting pucks through traffic but he looks great as a distributor.

This whole issue is probably temporary, however, because the second unit will likely get Andre Burakovsky once Rantanen does join the Avs. Until that happens, though, it’s fair to wonder what all the puck movement on the second unit is even building towards.

Injured guys make their mark

Two prominent young players have missed significant time due to injuries but had impressive days today and are looking to make their mark this preseason.

Conor Timmins finally flashed today as he efficiently ran a power play and was able to get pucks through traffic and on net. He was strong today as he continues to work himself back into shape after missing last season with the concussion.

Vladislav Kamenev continued his strong training camp with another good day as he aggressively fired pucks when it came his way. He was set up as a triggerman on the half-wall so his willingness to shoot was a welcome sight to those who remember Colorado’s PP being extremely passive last year as they looked for the perfect pass.

Kamenev also made several nice passes through traffic that were tape to tape and on point. The more he can play like that, the harder it will be to keep him off the final roster.

Other notes

• Nikita Zadorov left the ice yesterday during the scrimmage and did not return. His update came today as he tweaked something in his lower body and is considered day to day.
• Cuts began today as the Avs sent Trent Miner back to the WHL and Brandon Saigeon, Josh Dickinson, Igor Shvyrev, Josh Anderson, Travis Barron to the Colorado Eagles. The roster sits at 51 players with the preseason beginning tomorrow. They have to get to 23 players before opening night on October 3.
• I wasn’t a fan of his signing but it’s been hard to evaluate Valeri Nichushkin so far as he’s been two days behind the team in their camp work. He’s clearly struggling with conditioning and you can bet he’s been dealing with jetlag after flying in late Friday. Hopefully, the preseason games give him an opportunity to really show what he can do.
• Avalanche goaltending prospect Justus Annunen signed a two-year extension with Karpat of the Liiga today. While Annunen is getting ready for his first season in Finland’s top pro league, that security means he likely won’t be making his leap to North America until that deal expires in 2022. His rights with the Avalanche expire June 1, 2022, so he has the next few years to prove himself before Colorado has to make a decision whether or not to give him an ELC. If he really lights it up, most of these European contracts do contain out-clauses regarding NHL opportunities.