Some of your comments at end caused me to go look at the BC stats,

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/stats/team/Boston-College/9

Man, Matt Boldy sure is having a slow start compared to Newhook.

One more comment that has nothing to do with the pod. Makar’s performance in the game at Minnesota gave me a feeling of calmness that no loss ever has and it carried through Toronto. No I don’t like losing but it just now feels like this team has so many special type players with more on the way that it’s very unlikely championships won’t be in their future. Teams with players like MacKinnon, Makar and Rantanen (with perhaps Burakovsky, Byram and perhaps Landy also in that category) usually figure out a way to get it done.

When talking about the generational differences between players today and from 20 years ago it is absolutely true. When I was working in high level hockey 90’s – early 00’s, coaches were more able to get by with more of a “because I said so” type of style. These days the players have access to so much information so easily available, they are more interested in the “why” behind what the coach is saying. I don’t want to say that it’s all because of this “information age” we live in, but it is a big part of it. From all the reporting that I’ve seen about the way Bednar handles the team he gets this. He may not be all up in the latest games or trends that the 20 something kids he’s coaching are into, but he’s embraced the fact that it is best to include the players in important decisions. I’ve seen numerous stories about how he has his “leadership core” of players that seem to have a great deal of input into decisions on how the team is handled on a day to day basis. “The kids” these days (as they’re often derogatorily referred to) really do perform better when they know the “why” behind the instruction to try something new. When they’re involved in those decisions and hear the coach’s reasoning behind a decision they’re going to be more open to giving that change 100% effort to make it successful. Put it this way, 20 years ago Bednar would just walk in and say, “today we’re going to put MacK with Calvert and Burakovsky. Landy you’re on Kadri’s wing with Donskoi, and Mikko you’re with Jost and Compher today.” 20 years ago, that would have been the end of the discussion and those big three players would have either accepted it and tried to make it work or moped about it until the coach put them back together again. Today if Bednar calls those three into his office and explains why he wants to try it, and what do they think, that group will discuss the options, maybe tweak a thing or two, then get excited about it, and go back into the room ready to lead their new linemates in this experiment. It may work, it may not, but doing it this way you know you’re going to get an honest evaluation of those options, and nobody is getting caught off guard or thrown under the bus. Anyway, that’s my two cents for what it’s worth which probably isn’t worth the penny for my thoughts.

Question for the pod. Why don’t analytics minded people pound the table more about going offsides? Going offsides is essentially a failed zone entry, and we do pound the table about how important successful zone entries are. I get that offsides is going to happen now and again even in the best of circumstances, but it seems like several times a game I see the Avs do a lazy offsides, that is, one that could and should have been prevented, and everyone just goes “ope the Avs are offsides again” while I’m losing my mind with frustration.

I started thinking about this after hearing an Adam Oates interview on another podcast, I think it was Spittin’ Chiclets. He has a consulting business where he provides individual coaching to a lot of guys around the league, and apparently staying onsides is something that he places a big emphasis on; it’s a small thing that players can do to have a significant impact on the game.

Question for the POD. In your opinion. How would the duchene trade look, 2017 draft look and ultimately the Avs Blue line look if Will Butcher signed with the Avs. Could we have Elias Petterson and never traded TB4.

Not a question but a shirt idea. “Our Turn” horizontal in the shape of the Cup being raised up.

Love the Pod, love you fellas, love DNVR. Go Colorado sports!

Looking ahead to the 2020 draft, assuming we keep our 1st rd pick, and it’s in the mid to late/early 30s… who would you like the avs to select? Have you heard of anyone they are keeping a closer eye on?

Have an awesome Thanksgiving!!

Zadorov’s value isn’t in being able to beat up people for hurting Avs players, though that can be nice once in a while. Z’s value is in changing the flow of the opposing teams offense by giving their forwards something to fear entering the zone.

Good afternoon, DNVR

I have all the questions!
1. When can we expect Landy on the pod discussing how he always has perfect hair.
2. Avs fans, though divided, had quite the emotional reaction to the Barrie trade and the Varly departure. Personally, I never prepared myself enough. My question is this: Who is a current player that is loved that might be on the move or not brought back that we should brace ourselves for?
3. How would you define/describe the leadership in the locker room? Structure, roles, etc. It seems that everyone is a “leader” but what does it look like.
4. We know that the Avs have won the trades that they have made*. Was there ever a trade offer in the past that the Avs passed on that they (or y’all) wish they had agreed to?

(*trade deadline deals not included.)

I don’t know much about the specifics of what has come out about the coaches treatment of players, but I do think they are possible negativye impacts to players making things public. Eventually we will have something where a player calls out a coach for something that is borderline and that will only create overreaction and people picking sides and division. I do think players should have a channel for this stuff, but it shouldn’t be twitter or journalists.

And yes the knock on millenials often times is how they only want positive reinforcement and anything negative they consider abusive. Thick skin and not needing constant at-a-boys is a good thing. And being respectful of authority and the order of things and doing what is asked without knowing why is sometimes required in any environment. It obviously isn’t i ideal but when necessary we have to be careful encouraging people to whine about it.

I say this not because I disagree. I actually have always hated how in our nation we’ll put too much priority on sports over school and just being a good human being. And I have always hated the dads and coaches that think they need to make a kid feel worthless if they don’t perform up to their potential in sports, especially if they have a lot of potential, but when it comes to anything else they simply don’t even spend the time. I just think it’s dangerous to say there is nothing bad that can happen from kids trying to cancel their coaches because “he’s rude”.

I do not like cancel culture. If the worst things everyone did in private became public then all of us would be cancelled. I’m just saying pump the breaks a bit (just a bit) on how positive this all is.