Welcome to the weekly Avs mailbag, where we answer whatever Avs questions you have on your mind. If you have any questions for the mailbag, leave them for Evan Rawal on twitter or respond in the comments.

Erik Johnson – D Every time EJ would make a strong defensive play, he would put it in someone’s skates, miss a pass completely, or turn it over. He made a brutal turnover up the middle in the second period to Patrik Laine and was bailed out by…checks notes…Adam Werner? Cale Makar – A+ How do you explain it at...

Erik Johnson – A EJ showed tonight he’s still got some offensive goods if he chooses to use them. He gave Watson the old shimmy before going around him and having Donskoi deflect his shot into the net. The first two assists of the season for EJ in this one. Cale Makar – A+ Someone had to set the tone...

The news could have been worse. Much worse.

Jared Bednar announced on Wednesday afternoon that Mikko Rantanen will be "week to week" with a lower body injury. While that's not the news any Avs fan wanted to hear, there did seem to be a sense of optimism around the Avs that it's not as bad as they originally may have feared.

Led by four goals from their Finnish-born players, the Colorado Avalanche started their season on the right foot by taking down the Calgary Flames at home by a score of 5-3. How did each player perform? Let’s find out… Erik Johnson – C+:  The veteran of the Avs blueline led the team in time on ice with 23:14, a good...

Breaking their goose egg this preseason, the Colorado Avalanche were able to get on the board, coming out ahead of the Minnesota Wild by a score of 3-2 in a shootout. How did each player perform? Let’s find out… Dan Renouf – B-: I’m not sure Renouf has much of a shot at making the team, but he’s making an impression...

Playing a more veteran lineup, with many of their NHL regulars dressing up front, the Colorado Avalanche put up 47 shots in regulation but were unable to beat either Dallas goaltender more than once, losing by a score of 2-1. How did each player perform? Let’s find out… Cale Makar – B: Crazy to think this is Makar’s first preseason game...

Like all of the players, Joonas Donskoi found himself huffing and puffing after the annual conditioning testing on Friday morning. Being one of the Avs new additions, and one who has made many trips to the Pepsi Center on the opposing team, I had to ask: Is the altitude effect a real thing? “It’s real,” Donskoi said after the third...