Avs Game 16 Grades: Duck Hunted

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – B

His forechecking presence still is not what it was when he was at his best in Philadelphia but he has genuinely fit in nicely on a line next to Jost and Newhook. His goal tonight showcased a little of the finishing ability we’ve seen previously in his career. A decent night for him.

Andre Burakovsky – B-

The guy drives me crazy because he makes some incredibly soft and lazy plays and when he’s not going right he misses the net on everything because he’s trying to be too fine. That precision is also what makes him so lethal when he’s playing well, so you live with it. It can drive me crazy all night but he was on the ice for a 9-2 shot advantage, 6-0 scoring chance advantage, and 4-0 high-danger chance advantage. The only reason his grade is this low was the lazy turnover and turned into a lazy penalty, otherwise he hummed right along.

Samuel Girard – B-

I’m never quite sure what to do with Girard when I don’t notice him much defensively and his play offensively has some good and some frustrating. He can be a tough grade on nights like this. What I liked: His puck moving. What I didn’t like: His absolute refusal to shoot from the half-wall on the PP. The Ducks didn’t respect him as a shooting threat and he passed up open shooting lanes, reinforcing their decision to take away his passing lanes because that’s the only way he’s a threat until he beats a goalie or two.

Darren Helm – D

I didn’t notice him a lot and when I did, he was chasing guys with the puck. I thought the fourth line was bad once again and Helm just isn’t good enough on his own to stem that tide. If the Avs ever get healthy at forward and he gets a little better supporting cast around him, he’s going to need to level up his game a bit.

Jonas Johansson – A

Wasn’t tested much and only saw 19 shots in relief of Kuemper’s weird skate problems. Gave up a meaningless goal late but made the few saves asked of him when he got into things. He’s always so nice and likable and lovable. Impossible to root against this kid.

Erik Johnson – C+

He does a little of everything for the Avs. Some nights, he does it pretty well and other nights he really struggles. Tonight felt like one of the forgettable nights in the middle where he snagged an assist but was too soft in front of his own net on the PK twice.

Jack Johnson – C+

He’s making league minimum and has been without much issue at all most nights. Tonight was one of those as he was fine. Not great, not terrible, just doing what was asked of him and moving on. A dramaless night from this Johnson is almost always going to be an acceptable evening.

Tyson Jost – C

He grabbed another assist but I really struggled with him tonight. He was working plenty hard and found his way to production, which is usually his biggest problem. Tonight, though, it just felt very disconnected from the rest of his group. He was one of just three Avs to not record a shot on goal tonight, which is unacceptable for a player who played four minutes on the power play.

Nazem Kadri – A

Just two points? What a bum. Kadri extended his point streak with an assist in the first period but his deflection goal to open the third period really sealed the victory for the Avs. He just keeps dominating.

Darcy Kuemper – F

This isn’t a grade for Kuemper as much as it is his equipment. What a bizarre story with him having his skate blade break twice tonight after it broke two nights ago against Ottawa (different skates, too). This isn’t a Kuemper grade as much as it is a “Kuemper situation grade” and there’s no way to give this anything other than a failing mark.

Gabriel Landeskog – B

Landeskog is very, very quietly rolling along above a point-per-game pace and he added two assists tonight to keep that up. He’s been very effective, very workmanlike. He gets a ding on his grade for taking an offensive zone penalty in the dying minutes of the third period. That’s the kind of messing around that could lead to a major comeback one of these days. Unnecessary, but wasn’t super meaningful tonight.

Kurtis MacDermid -INC

While the game was competitive, he played under four minutes. His late surge in ice time was entirely meaningless. There just isn’t enough for a guy to do in that time to deserve a real grade. His fight was nice, though, as it kept Kadri from having to risk his hands in another tilt with Deslauriers.

Cale Makar – A+

At his best, he’s a video game. He is simply capable of things other human beings in the world’s best hockey league just are not. A special talent.

Jayson Megna – D+

Fourth lines can’t get eaten up like that. Missed an open net for his first goal of the year. Got an assist (thus the +!) at least. Jayson was a busy man, mostly watching Ducks players with the puck.

Ryan Murray – C-

His box score stat line looks great and his fancystats are pretty much even across the board? Why am I so down then? I didn’t love his decision-making with the puck and that has to be his strength. He continues to get outplayed by Jack Johnson for the sixth D spot and tonight was more of the same despite his assist. I want to see crisper plays with the puck and more confidence. He’s capable of a lot more than Avs fans have seen.

Alex Newhook – B

He’s playing with the kind of pace he needs to and is figuring out how to be successful in the muck-and-grind style that a third-line center is going to see a lot of. Still some ups and downs in his game, but scoring points every night is the kind of thing that keeps you earning opportunities to fail more in the future.

Valeri Nichushkin – A

A train. Loved his game tonight, capped with a goal that didn’t mean anything in reality but was another nice finish from Nichushkin, who has previously been a little too comfortable putting pucks into a goaltender’s chest. He’s finishing with some real style right now.

Logan O’Connor – A

I love his work ethic. He just keeps working. He keeps creating scoring chances. He keeps generating opportunities for teammates, which keep him high in the lineup and seeing a multitude of looks as the coaching staff tries to find a more permanent role for him upon the alleged end of Colorado’s injury woes.

Mikko Rantanen – A-

Dominated in shot metrics, got on the scoreboard again with a slick no-look play to Kadri to open the third. He’s more comfortable at center than I expected.

Devon Toews – A

He rules. An incredibly smart player who is producing points every night while playing dominant defense and putting up eye-popping shot share numbers. You hear me, Team Canada? EYE. POPPING. NUMBERS.