The right decision or the easy one? Youngsters forcing Avs' hand on defense

Patrick Wiercioch. Eric Gelinas. Fedor Tyutin.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Avalanche, desperate for defensive help, would take a chance on just about anyone with a pulse to step in, hoping that something would click and they would make a difference on their blue line.

If training camp this year is any indication, the Avs won’t be needing to hit up the bargain bin on defense again any time soon.

Once checking the waiver wire every morning for free defensive assets, it may be the Avalanche who now become the team losing depth NHL defensemen for free.

The play of Calle Rosen and Conor Timmins through training camp, both of whom are not subject to waivers, is going to force the Avalanche to have to make some tough decisions before the October 1 roster deadline, where the Avs have to cut down to 23 players.

Guys like Mark Barberio, Kevin Connauton, and Ryan Graves, all eligible for waivers and all capable of playing in the NHL, could be on the chopping block before Tuesday because of the strong NHL depth the Avs now have on defense and the emergence of some youngsters.

No one wants to lose a legitimate NHL defenseman for nothing…but this is a good problem to have, and the type of problem Jared Bednar wants.

The battle for the final defensive spots has been fierce through camp, but the two unproven youngsters in Rosen and Timmins have separated themselves from the pack in terms of their play in the preseason. Both can go freely to the Colorado Eagles in the AHL without any fear of the Avs losing them, but it begs the question:

Will the Avs give the spots to the guys who have earned it through their play, or will the business side of the game play a bigger role in who stays in the NHL?

Timmins, coming off a year and a half where he couldn’t play any games due to concussion issues, has been a revelation, picking up right where he left off to the surprise of almost everyone. He’s picked up one goal in his three preseason games and his quick stick work in the defensive end and smart puck-moving decisions have gotten better with each game.

Highly thought of within the organization, Timmins’ play after such a long lay off likely is a bit of a surprise to everyone, and played a role in the Avs deciding to send prized fourth overall selection Bowen Byram back to the WHL for more seasoning.

Rosen, who was acquired in the blockbuster trade with Toronto this summer, has also gotten better with each game, looking like easily the best defenseman on the ice in the Avs 4-1 victory over Vegas on Wednesday. Unlike Timmins, he’s coming off 46 points in 54 games with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL last year, and at the age of 25, may not have much left to prove in the AHL.

The only thing these two young defensemen don’t have backing them up is the fear of the Avs losing them for nothing on waivers. As they can both go up and down from the AHL due to their contracts and age, the Avs could easily punt any major decisions down the road and start them both in the AHL.

But should they?

Jared Bednar has made it very clear that the Avs wanted training camp to be a competition and that the best players will be rewarded. On defense, it’s been obvious that Timmins and Rosen have stood out among all the defensemen fighting for those final spots. None of Barberio, Connauton, or Graves have stood out in a positive way, and both young defensemen have proven they can step in and help on the specialty units.

If the goal is to ice the best team possible and reward those who have earned it, this should be a no brainer.

By Tuesday, we will find out if the best men for the job come out on top, or if business decisions win out. For the first time in years, the Avs depth on defense is forcing them to make tough choices.

I know which ones I’d make.