“I feel like this team this year is the best team I have ever played for”: Avalanche hype train starts in their own locker room

When I went on the podcast this week and said I wasn’t worried about any of the teams out west being able to beat Colorado, I figured I was just getting the hype train prepped for what will surely be a fun playoff experience regardless of the outcome.

What I wasn’t expecting was the hype train to be just as, well, hyped inside the Avalanche locker room.

“We have so much depth in our lineup,” Andre Burakovsky said. “To be able to win the Stanley Cup you’re going to have four lines that can play against any line and I think we definitely do have that. We have four lines that can defend and can score at the same time so I think we are looking pretty good and we proved that last year when we went through a lot of injuries. Guys are stepping up, everyone can play with everyone so that’s a huge upside coming into the playoff here.”

You might remember Burakovsky has a little experience in this area having won a Stanley Cup two years ago as a member of the Washington Capitals, a team he sees a lot of in this current Avalanche group.

“When we won with Washington we had so much chemistry on the ice and off the ice,” Burakovsky said. “Everyone was really helping each other, stepping up for each other, being there for each other outside the ice. Everyone was super close to each other, I feel like we have the same chemistry in this team. When I look back I think we have more depth in this team in Colorado then we did when we won the Stanley Cup with Washington. I think, just what I said about having chemistry on and off the ice is a big key if everyone comes together as one unit that’s going to take us a long way. We’ve seen teams that have been struggling with that and not going so far, that was one of the keys that we all came together working for each other and had each other’s backs and I think we have the same feeling in this team and that’s huge.”

Another Avalanche “newcomer” is happy he landed in Colorado and likes this team’s chances to do what his former club couldn’t.

“I’ m happy with my decision,” Joonas Donskoi said. “We played against the Avs last year in the playoffs when I was playing with the Sharks so it was a familiar team to me and I felt like it would be a good fit for my game style. I’m such extremely happy I was able to make the deal and come here and play with the guys like Cale and MacKinnon, Mikko, Landy, Naz, there’s tons of those guys that can play good hockey. I’m happy with my decision and extremely excited to get into the playoffs.”

While Donskoi made a Stanley Cup Finals with the Sharks, he couldn’t get over the hump and lift the Stanley Cup as Burakovsky did in Washington.

“I think we have more depth here now,” Donsko said. “I think I said this before already but, I feel like this team this year is the best team I have ever played for. Tons and tons of offensive skill like I said four even five good lines who can all play offensive hockey so I would say that’s the one difference.”

That depth, which Donskoi is part of as a member of what would be the third line if the playoffs began tomorrow, is key in his eyes to get across the finish line.

“In my opinion [depth is] everything,” Donskoi said. “That’s what you need to win the Stanley Cup. Also obviously, you need three good D pairings and good goalies but I think running four good lines you can keep the possession in the offensive zone and create penalties, create scoring chances shift after shift. If somebody gets hurt we get a new guy coming in and we know that we are going to have guys out of the lineup who also can play at this level so I think that’s really important.”

News and Notes

• How quickly the intensity ramped up was one of the stories coming into training camp and it appears day three was when Nathan MacKinnon couldn’t handle keeping it cool anymore. He morphed into Mount MacKinnon where he could blow his top at any second at anyone. He barked at everyone today, most notably Nikita Zadorov. Even when it looked like he was just having regular “you go here, I go there” conversations with teammates, he did it at higher volume and with more intensity than everyone else. His saltiness was contagious, however, as the rest of the group stepped up their competitiveness.
• The groups were split into the likely NHL squad and I guess what you’d consider the black aces. No surprises in the lineup as Group 1 had 13 forwards with Tyson Jost and Matt Nieto trading off for the final spot. Mark Barberio and Kevin Connauton were the two extra defensemen.
• A question coming into this restart was the play of Val Nichushkin, whose slow start following a disastrous year in Dallas eventually gave way to an impressive showing that will certainly lead to him getting another contract in Colorado. In my two days of camp, he’s been as explosive as ever and really clicking next to Kadri. If his offense takes another step forward, watch out.
• Conor Timmins was strong again today as he participated with the other Eagles regulars and Bowen Byram. If they’re leaning heavily on the quality of play during this training camp to decide who goes to Edmonton, Timmins has to make it. He’s just been too good.

Post-Practice Audio

Nikita Zadorov:

Andre Burakovsky:

Joonas Donskoi: