The Colorado Avalanche season ended with a 5-0 loss to the Nashville Predators. Below are the final player grades of the season.
Sven Andrighetto (C-) – Have to finish those scoring chances, Sven. One of the few players with good underlying numbers but they needed real offense tonight, not just chances.
Mark Barberio (F) – While the high-profile turnovers from game one weren’t there, he simply got crushed at even strength. Just crushed. Shots were 21-7 in favor of Nashville with him on the ice.
Tyson Barrie (C) – His shot share was respectable but like with Andrighetto, Barrie needed to finish. The lack of juice from Barrie all series long was a real problem.
Gabriel Bourque (C-) – Following a hot start to the series, Bourque slowly got worse and worse as the series went on. He was a total non-factor tonight.
Blake Comeau (F) – His blind back pass led directly to a Nashville goal, even if it was a soft goal given up by Hammond. That’s a play Comeau can’t make. Per usual for this series, this line got destroyed at even strength.
J.T. Compher (C) – I just didn’t notice Compher much tonight until the postgame locker room when he sat by himself just staring off into the distance. Certainly can’t accuse him of not caring.
Samuel Girard (C-) – I really didn’t think he was very good tonight. He got blown by on the outside and those plays concern you given his skating ability. He tried to make a few things happen offensively but nothing was doing.
Andrew Hammond (F) – This was a really unfortunate way for the fairy tale story from game five to end. The defense in front of him was atrocious, especially early, but two of those goals found their way through him. A true bummer.
Tyson Jost (C-) – Being harsher on the grades today just because of the importance of the situation so despite being part of Colorado’s best scoring chances of the day, Jost is getting the same grade as Andrighetto. Have to finish, especially against a great defensive team that is playing well.
Alexander Kerfoot (C) – Like Compher, he wasn’t a player that stood out to me positively or negatively.
Gabriel Landeskog (F) – By far his worst game of the series, Landeskog brought the thunder physically but was not a factor beyond that.
Nathan MacKinnon (D-) – It looked like the huge minutes he’s played this series finally caught up to him at times. He was lazy on changes and after the first period seemed disengaged entirely.
Patrik Nemeth (F) – Turnovers were abundant and Nashville feasted on him when he was on the ice. Following one of his better performances in an Avs uniform, this was an unmitigated disaster.
Matt Nieto (C-) – Too much is being asked of Nieto and he was very quiet in this series. Tonight was more of the same.
Mikko Rantanen (F) – There’s been rampant speculation about Rantanen fighting off an injury in this series and while he didn’t completely confirm it following the game, he left breadcrumbs that indicated he was definitely hurt. Obviously.
Duncan Siemens (INC) – Just seven minutes of ice time…that’s not enough to try and give a defenseman a grade.
Carl Soderberg (D+) – If he’s going to be your defensive stopper, he needs linemates that are appropriate for that role. Comeau and Nieto are miscast in that role and while Soderberg was admirable in his bounce-back season, he just isn’t the guy Colorado is asking him to be.
Colin Wilson (C-) – His first season in Colorado was nothing short of a mess. Colorado needs to clearly define his role next season to give him a better chance to be successful.
Nikita Zadorov (B-) – He had strong shot metrics and scored a goal that was ultimately called back because of Soderberg goaltender interference. I don’t have much of an opinion on the call but it was a great finish from Zadorov. His defense of Rantanen, who took a reckless knee from Ryan Ellis, was indicative of how tightly knit this group was this season. It might have been over the top but even in a blowout loss, he wasn’t about to let Ellis take liberties with one of his teammates.
On a personal note, thank you to all of you who have read and commented on the grades throughout the season. They will return next season!

0 Comments (21 conversations)
SparkleTindi
Glad to see the grades will be coming back next season! Thanks for doing them, AJ! I know I’ve given you a hard time about the silly letters, but I appreciate how much thought you put into these.
gthurner55
AJ. One more please….Season grades
Jakeerton
I like Greer on that line next year.
Jakeerton
3rd line that is
Speedlimit9
Agreed would be happy to read a season grades column.
100% we will be doing individual postseason grade pieces.
Spartan
Hooray! Was going to ask for the same thing. Can’t leave Landy on an F as his last grade. Nothing but mad respect for how he led the team this year.
Dan G
As part of the post season grades, I would love to see you explain what we need to see out of each player next season for the Avs to continue their current growth.
Great work this year. Thanks.
GL_avfan
Thanks AJ. It’s been a fun ride and I’ve enjoyed every word.
Looking forward to more A’s and B’s next season, Love the BSN commentary…see you next season.
BigDee
Thanks for the effort in your coverage and your twitter engagement, which is like a part time job in itself. I am proud of the team and I look forward to watching them get better.
YetiRoar
Really appreciated and enjoyed your diligence and hard work on these and all your game coverage throughout this season AJ. Best money I’ve spent in 2017/18 by a mile!
Avs425
Thanks for the content all year. Looking forward to your offseason work to help us get through until next season. Go Avs Go!
Favorite column after every game.
Cerveau
And season grades for coaches too – including defensive coach and goalie coach.
Thanks AJ
bherrington
Pretty sure I read the grades for ever single game after I subscribed this season. Many thanks to you, AD, and Jesse. Looking forward to staying tuned for the offseason coverage.
hockeyhacker5
Without the grades, I probably wouldn’t have coughed up the subscription money for BSN! Coaching grades would be great for every game, too. Keep up the good work.
The hockey grades are the best, A.J. Thanks for turning them around so quickly after each game and definitely look forward to next season.
Jose
Thanks AJ-I’ll give you a B+ for the grades this season. I would give you all an A, but I want you to continue the great job. As for the series, you were right on with Barrie. “The lack of juice from Barrie all series long was a real problem.” I am sure a lot of guys played with nagging injuries, but Barrie didn’t really show up for the playoffs. Thanks again to the entire BSN staff. Y’all Rock.
Unit5
I add my voice to the chorus of appreciation for the grades and all the
Avs content here. It helps greatly in appreciating such a fun season.
gstpulldn
Let me chime on how good this feature was. The grades were the first thing I read after the games.
Chris DeMott
I think maybe one of the most unsung lines in the entire league was the Avs de facto 2nd line of Soderberg, Nieto and Comeau. Heck, most of the local media calls them the “third line” although all three players rank top 6 in ice time per game. I don’t think this team would have made the playoffs without them. Yes, the Avs need to go get a top 6 RW and build a bona fide second line. But, if that trio was actually able to match as a third line I think they would be very effective. Other than that, great season AJ, keep up the good work!
Nels
I thought Compher was the only forward that stood out as entirely engaged the whole game. Hammond was WAY better than an F. It was his 3rd game of the season against the Preds with the Avs playing the way they did and we can only lay 2 goals to his account? F? That’s messed up AJ.
ThePhotoGorilla
Glad to see you’ll be doing season grades. It was my first thought.
Eve
Appreciate the grades. It’s fun to see another opinion of what I thought of the players. A much more educated opinion than mine. Thanks again.
jashleman
I always enjoy reading these. You’ve put a lot of good information on this site this year. What a great first year for you and AD as well as the Avs! Looking forward to more in the off season and next year.