Training camp for the Colorado Avalanche finished up today as the team prepares for its preseason opener tomorrow night at Ball Arena against the visiting Dallas Stars. No word on the lineups yet, but we will be there for all of it.
For now, we’re sitting down with our Avs beat to talk about our strongest impressions from training camp over the weekend.
An easy one to start. Which player were you most impressed with throughout training camp?
AJ: Josh Manson. He had a healthy-ish season as he played lots of games but was consistently banged up throughout the year last year. It started with him rehabbing last summer going into last preseason.
This year, Manson was healthy after a summer of training and looked great. I thought the mobility was excellent and when he got a chance to, he flashed some of that snarl that defines his game.
Manson is a critical part of the defense as he brings the sandpaper element many of his peers lack and I’m hoping he stays healthy and we get to see his best season yet as an Av.
Gismo: For me it was Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. He self-proclaimed that he is trending on the older side in regards to his age, but he didn’t show an ounce of that this week. He was zipping around and confident. His skating, fitness, IQ, and presence haven’t aged a day, and he never took a second of this past week for granted.
In fact, the overwhelming sentiment was gratefulness, even going so far as to tell me today following the final practice that, “You never know how long this will last, or how many chances you’ll have to play in this league.”
Bellemare also took the time to offer some education to the future of the team. On Day 2, he spent nearly 15 minutes working with Cal Ritchie on draws after the skate had concluded. Not only can Bellemare be a positive contributor to this year’s lineup, but he should be…and most importantly, he wants to be.
Rudo: Casey Mittlestadt. Drills and camp activities are always going to favor high-skill players but Mittlestadt came into this as his first Avalanche camp and looks ready to set the world on fire. As a guy whose role couldn’t be more locked in at 2C, he looks like he came ready to earn every minute of ice time he can. A quality number two behind MacKinnon is set to be one of the biggest differences in this regular season compared to last.
Which roster battle is the most intriguing to you following camp?
AJ: Well it WAS the fourth-line center spot for me, but Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was so good that he should have that locked up already. Now it becomes who the second winger alongside Casey Mittelstadt will be when Artturi Lehkonen returns.
Cal Ritchie, Oskar Olausson, Jere Innala, and Nikolai Kovalenko all had looks on his wing. I imagine they will use the preseason to try those guys out, too, but all four of those players are so different that it will be a fun battle to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.
Gismo: It’s the battle for the defensive positions. With Jack Johnson gone, the door was open to fill that role, and the Avs have incredible options and parody at their disposal to accommodate the opening.
Calvin de Haan, Oliver Kylington, and Erik Brannstrom all bring NHL resumes to the table. Their attributes are vast whether it be skating or penalty-killing ability. With a fast-paced defensive style that encourages a more offensively-minded approach, all of these players are fits. It certainly is a pleasant problem for the Avs and will be interesting to see how this plays out early in the season.
Rudo: The defense. There aren’t as many bodies to sift through as the forward battle but that bottom pairing is going to be significantly more experienced. You have three guys all with over 200 NHL games battling for two spots.
Brannstrom and Kylington seem to play a similar style of game while de Haan has the defensive veteran presence on look, and if anyone slips, Malinski is waiting right behind them. Even more intriguing is the fact that someone is going to have to play on their off side, which all of them have done before in the past. It’s hard to say who has anything locked down after camp, this battle could come down to the very last preseason game and beyond.
How has your perception of the Avalanche changed over the last week?
AJ: I knew the defense was going to be deep on paper, but this is one of the deepest groups I can remember coming to training camp for the Avalanche. Even Calle Rosen, who should be solidly in the AHL conversation, was strong throughout and did well for himself.
Even Sean Behrens looked rock solid at times. Add Jacob MacDonald into this mix and it could be a great Eagles defense to go along with a strong group for the Avalanche. Hell, Devante Stephens is on an AHL contract and I noticed him several times.
I know that I always skew towards watching the defensemen first, but I love this group. It’s fun to watch. I’m not sold it’s going to be tough enough to play against, but there is a ton of skill here.
I feel much better about the team’s defense than I did at this time last week.
Gismo: For me, as the new guy who is getting a peak behind the curtain for the first time, I am impressed. The culture of this organization oozes class and a dedication to Stanley Cup or bust! From the staff to the players in the room, it’s easy to tell the Avalanche are an organization hungry and not anywhere near a team that is content with settling.
There are many pleasant problems for them to solve in terms of the personnel they put on the ice this year, but it’s a benefit, not a detriment. I’m excited for the season and to see how these puzzle pieces fit together, but I am confident they will and excited for the fan base.
Rudo: For a team that entered the offseason with a bunch of unknowns, the only real one they’ll face to start the season is wing depth and that concern may only last about a month if things break Colorado’s way.
A third line that looks extremely secure with the return of Logan O’Connor and a Lehkonen that should be healthy shortly after the season begins leaves the Avs as one of the more well-rounded teams in the NHL. If either Landeskog or Nichushkin can return and play in top-six form, the team is a legit contender. If both return the team might be the favorite, but as always health can be a fickle beast.
