Training Camp Notebook Day 1: A short summer ends, Evan Rodrigues has arrived

“Most teams have a long summer,” said defenseman Devon Toews. “[We had a] short, perfect summer. We’re super excited to have this team back.” It was an apt way to tie off the offseason after a short time away. Players have been taking optional skates for weeks, but today marked the beginning of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 training camp.

Injury Updates:

• Darren Helm reportedly had off-season surgery. He skated today in a no-contact jersey. There is no timetable for his return. He is close to being ready, but may not play in the preseason.
• Gabriel Landeskog is rehabilitating his lower-body injury from last season. He’s not ready to go and will not be ready by opening night.
• Josh Manson missed camp to see the birth of his baby. He may return tomorrow but is able to take another day as needed.
• Val Nichushkin is on a similar track as Helm’s. He is expected to skate tomorrow on his own.

Group 1

Bednar intentionally ran the first group similar to a practice to recreate the urgency of game day preparation. He still did an audit of some of the systems with drills focused on forechecking, rush coverage, and arrivals. We also saw previews of offensive zone plays and d-zone coverage.

“I wanted it to feel like we were getting right back into practicing [as if] getting prepared to play tomorrow,” he said.

The first group was a close look at an opening night lineup with guaranteed starters like Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Devon Toews and essentially every returning player. Among them was PTO invite Alex Galchenyuk, new arrival Evan Rodrigues, and the debuts of Lukas Sedlak and Anton Blidh on the fourth line.

The second line made a splashy introduction with Newhook at center and Galchenyuk and Rodrigues on his wings. Newhook appeared to take a step forward in his weight training this offseason. Practice was light on contact, but it was an encouraging sight after the rookie appeared worn out at points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He looked strong and capable. Play did not die on his stick and he was a natural fit at center.

Some of the natural fit was complemented by the polish of Rodrigues. The 29-year-old forward signed with Colorado on September 12th after a career-high 43-point season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He demonstrated he could handle top 6 minutes with the support of high-caliber talents around him, so the makeup of today’s line was intriguing and had potential.

Bednar thought Rodrigues was an immediate stylistic fit.

“I liked him a lot today,” he said. “Poise and patience, [and a] smart player. [His] ability to pass and shoot, I thought he made some nice plays out there – even in the small area game. Elusive guy [who has] good deception to his game. He’s gonna be a real nice addition, especially when you’re looking at some of the guys that we may not have to start the season.”

Not absent in the conversation was Galchenyuk, a left-shot forward of high pedigree whose game has been on the decline since 2019. The once-third overall pick has landed on Colorado’s doorsteps seeking reclamation to the tune of Val Nichushkin. Even Lehkonen’s water turned to celebratory champagne and top-line minutes here, but not everyone gets that chance on a defending title team. He put up 21 points through 60 games with Arizona last year, but there was that 30-goal 2016-17 season. He also played the second line LW in this summer’s IIHF World Championship for Team USA (10 GP: 1G, 4A) – Ben Meyers centered the third line.

Bednar was understandably vague on the possibilities, but Galchenyuk’s going to get an extended look.

“I don’t know what he can bring,” he said. “[We’ll have him] playing with good players and getting an opportunity in some of the exhibition games and see. Can he find the scoring touch again [and] does he have the skill to make plays in our top six?”

Galchenyuk had fast chemistry with Newhook and Rodrigues, but especially Rodrigues – he’s a great setup guy and Galchenyuk was unafraid to take the shot. When the first group broke for the day, players went off to do individual work and Bednar had a good chat with him.

Group 2

For Bednar, there was a little less familiarity with group two and it was even larger. The flow of this session was more educational with whiteboard work and feedback in between drills. The skate test at the end to gauge their conditioning made the session a little bit longer than the first group too.

The biggest takeaway from this group was the top line comprised of newcomer Charles Hudon, Mikhail Maltsev, and Oskar Olausson. Olausson looked right at home alongside highly-skilled pros who share a handful of NHL experience between them – Maltsev and Hudon even earned shoutouts from Bednar in the media availability.

Olausson along with Sampo Ranta were two who were getting hands-on insights along the way to button up their game and make themselves even harder to play against by paying attention to details of their footwork.

Ranta’s line with Shane Bowers at center and Spencer Smallman on wing was an inspired combination. Bowers’ speed and instinct at center paired so well with Ranta’s doggedness – they moved the puck well between one another.

The second line of Jean-Luc Foudy, Jayson Megna, and Martin Kaut struggled with visibility. They didn’t make glaring mistakes, but Foudy and Kaut struggled to create meaningful chances and Megna was left attempting to bring the line back to life.

Bednar liked the pace of group two and confirmed that the groups will get mixed up over the next couple of days.

“You can tell some guys are young, some guys are a little bit nervous, but [there are some] guys I need to keep an eye on that would maybe work themselves into roster spots,” he said. “They did a nice job for the first session.”

With an offseason spent waiting on news of Nazem Kadri and subsequently a hole at 2C, it was nice to finally see the beginnings of an answer. Learning Landeskog will not be ready by opening night is disappointing but not surprising. It also means that this camp holds the answers to more than just a solution at 2C.

With Nichushkin and Helm out for a bit as well, new questions have to be answered at least temporarily. And for that, we’ll get to deviate from the status quo and give guys like Galchenyuk, Rodrigues, and Newhook – and maybe even Maltsev, Ranta, and Olausson, a lesser but closer look at elevated roles. If Olausson ends up in a top 6 role with the Eagles at the end of this, it’s a fast-tracked promotion from the chances he was last given that can be brought about through camp.

Observations:

• Nathan MacKinnon is frozen in time and every day is game day. He was dekeing guys left and right. He dropped a pass to Girard from behind and Girard ripped a one-timer from the knee and bested Georgiev glove side. It was impressive and Girard looked 100%.
• Ben Meyers looked like he was getting reacquainted with the speed at which the Avs play. It didn’t concern me especially after seeing how quickly he adjusted to his games with them at the end of last season. He had some of the most one-on-one conversations with both Bednar and Greg Cronin. His line (affectionally dubbed the college try-hard line) didn’t have much impact, and it’s one I’d like to see each guy get different looks on.
• The fourth line from Group 1 was wholly a beautiful disaster. I’d see a nifty defensive play out of the corner of my eye, and it was Andrew Cogliano. Blidh’s shot did not pose a threat and Sedlak showed promise but looked a bit lost.