Before we get to the games, let’s just address the multitude of trade rumors surrounding this team. First it was Matt Duchene, then Semyon Varlamov and Tyson Barrie, now it’s an alleged interest in Travis Hamonic. Is this all a waste of time or should we be on the lookout for a big shakeup here?
Cheryl: We should always be on the lookout, but none of Duchene, Varlamov, or Barrie make sense to trade right now from the Avs’ perspective. I can’t see Roy and Sakic shopping any of them. That said, why not take phone calls from other GMs and listen to what they have to say? You never know how desperate that GM might be, and if he makes an offer that can’t be refused, I can’t see Roy and Sakic turning it down.
Cole: It should come as no surprise that Joe Sakic and the rest of the Avalanche’s management staff are doing their due diligence and gauging the value of their best players. First, GMs do this all the time and second, why wouldn’t they? The team’s results over the first 10 games were abysmal. That said, the smartest thing for this Avalanche team to do is wait and be patient. They can’t forget that this summer they made an O’Reilly deal which would obviously make them a worse team in the short term and they need to give their core group time for that move to pay off. As for Hamonic? The Avs’ interest isn’t even newsworthy, they’ve called every GM about every available defenseman in the last 5-6 years.
J.D.: I think any quality GM should listen to any offer at any time.Having said that, I think it would be unwise to sacrifice building the long term future of the team for a quick fix and I don’t see the Avalanche making any big moves, particularly with those players.
AJ: It’s been a lot of noise surrounding the Avalanche and frankly not a lot of it has made much sense. The interest in Travis Hamonic, however, makes a ton of sense. He’s a quality middle pairing player who has an excellent contract through the prime of his career that last until 2020. How can the Avs, given their continued state of porous defense, not be interested in him? That said, all this smoke around the Avalanche is sure making it feel like the team is going to do something pretty soon.
The Avs have lost two in a row after an inspiring 3-0 start to their road trip of doom. How have the first five games of the seven game road trip changed your outlook on this Avalanche squad?
Cole: When the Avalanche set out on their 7 game road trip I was of the firm belief that it would solidify their position in the league’s cellar and start looking to blow up major pieces of their core group. Instead the Avalanche have taken a big step forward in regards to their possession numbers, even if the scoreboards in Toronto and Pittsburgh didn’t reflect it. A week ago I was preparing myself for another long and painful season of waiting for the NHL entry draft, but now I think this Avalanche team is starting to figure things out. I’m still expecting them to miss the playoffs, but I think even without any significant trades that the Avalanche will be a playoff calibre team by February.
Cheryl: I wouldn’t say the trip has necessarily changed my outlook. It reminded me that this team can be incredibly fun to watch and that it has talent, but it also reminded me how frustrating the Avalanche can be and that its talent often underperforms. I still firmly believe what I thought in the beginning of the season: this is a season of growth for the team, and it will take time for the players to gel as there are so many new ones on the roster. That cohesion is beginning to form, though, and I expect to see more wins than losses as we close out the calendar year.
J.D.: The last five games have shown glimpses of how good this hockey team can be and is in the process of becoming. They are still evolving and this season will resemble a roller coaster ride as development is almost never a straight line. The season shows promise for an exciting ride though, but not a smooth one
Mikhail Grigorenko is quietly turning himself into a story to follow. Consistently excellent defensive play coupled with a sudden burst of production when put with skill players instead of grinders will raise eyebrows around the Avs. Are we seeing the evolution of Colorado’s 2C of the future?
Cheryl: Grigorenko has become my new favorite storyline on the Avalanche. If he continues to grow as he has been, he will put the Avalanche back in the position of having three top-six centers. If Duchene remains a winger, then we definitely could be seeing Grigorenko evolving into the Avs’ second line center. It’s an exciting development, one I’m looking forward to following all season.
Cole: Mikhail Grigorenko has looked better and better with each passing game in an Avalanche uniform and Patrick Roy deserves a ton of credit for his work with the young center. He’s been brought along very slowly and purposefully this season and it’s obviously working. While the start for Grigorenko, who saw meaningful penalty killing time for the first time last night, is extremely encouraging, it’s important that the Avs stay the course and remain patient with the 21 year old center. If the Avs keep bringing Grigorenko along slowly and allowing him to make mistakes without benching him outright, there’s a very good chance he could become a steady top 6 player (at wing or center) before the season ends.
J.D.: I echo both Cheryl and Cole’s comments. Grigorenko’s growth shows great promise. Personally, I really enjoyed watching him play on the first line so right now I am not convinced second line center is the best place for him. I want the Avs to develop him carefully, giving him quality time with good linemates. I definitely see him consistently on the top six down the road, as either a wing or a center. But I think the key is finding quality linemates who can keep up with him. And, honestly, I think one or two of them may still be developing down in San Antonio.
AJ: I love Grigorenko’s game. He’s been consistently sound on the defensive end and his offensive game has only started to jump off the ice as he’s been given more time with skill players. You can see him making passes and plays when he’s on the ice with Cody McLeod and Andreas Martinsen and they simply don’t have the tools to play the same game as him. Roy has done a great job with him and I trust him to continue easing Grigorenko into leading offensive roles before eventually turning over the reigns full-time to him.
