Takeaways from Avalanche media day: Battle for second-line right wing begins

I’ve got a whole bunch of video and audio for you guys to look at and listen to, but first let’s get to my written takeaways from today’s media day, of sorts, down at the Pepsi Center. Everybody showed up on time, looking fit and trim, and Friday morning, they’ll put the skates on and get to it for Day 1 of training camp.

My takes from today:

• There will definitely be a battle in camp at the goaltending position, with Jared Bednar saying, essentially, he wouldn’t name a starting goalie for opening night just yet. BUT, Bednar did say he’d lean toward Semyon Varlamov. Phillip Grubauer said he “wants to play every game”, in a kind of “This is what I’m supposed to say” kind of way.
• Varly said he gives no thought at all to this being the final year of his contract. Only focused on playing as best he can right now. Very Zen of him. He said he feels stronger and healthier than last year at this time.
• Tyson Jost switched trainers this off-season, hiring the renowned Andy O’Brien – the same trainer for Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby and John Tavares, among others. Avs coach Jared Bednar said Jost is the presumed second-line center, and also said Alexander Kerfoot (who got stronger over the summer) is the likely second-line left wing. Who would be the right winger on that line? Well, that is to be determined. It figures to be a real camp battle for that job, between guys like Sven Andrighetto, J.T. Compher, Colin Wilson, maybe even a Vladislav Kamenev.
• Tyson Barrie looked like he’d shed a bunch of weight, but in a good way. He definitely looks leaner, which fit his summer M.O. of getting quicker on his skates.
• MacKinnon looked fit, and talked about what it will take to get to the next level as a team (video below).
• Nikita Zadorov said he feels great and ready to go, though he did say he still needs to be cleared by doctors to take full contact. He had off-season shoulder surgery, remember.

Let’s get to all the video and audio:

Coach Bednar (audio a bit quiet):

https://t.co/kZ4ujk7iDS

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

Phillip Grubauer:

https://t.co/Kl8xtIVbZT

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

Nikita Zadorov: 

https://t.co/4mDrRJw90Y

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

Gabe Landeskog:

https://t.co/bhAYwbozQt

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

Nathan MacKinnon:

https://t.co/CCdCdm8ek6

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

Tyson Barrie: 

https://t.co/lVfChQHzeZ

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

Ian Cole:

https://t.co/wKOWStfITB

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

Matt Calvert:

https://t.co/x8vKYcEsxr

— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 13, 2018

A talk with Erik Johnson:

 

A talk with Semyon Varlamov: