TruePowerSlave
Registered User
- Jun 27, 2015
- 7,046
- 8,537
Yeah Avs are in a predicament since they need to shore up the AHL team with depth AHLers. However, I agree with tigre that the AHL mercenaries are not the way to go. Majority of them get guaranteed money and don't really care about winning or losing since they know they won't ever get a call up over an organization's prospect pool.Reid Petryk seems to be a favourite of the org. so I could see him being back pretty easily.
I think we will see guys like Toni and Greer start in the AHL as well, since it's unlikely they don't sign another Yak or Comeau type, and I can almost guarantee another depth pickup via waivers before the season opener.
Dunc and Lindholm could possibly start in the AHL as well.
What I really hope for are a couple of shrewd college or CHL overagers to fill some spots and bolster the prospect pool. They did a great job last off-season with Kerf, Toni and Lewis. I don't expect another Kerfoot level player but another Toninato and/or Lewis would be great.
I'd love to see another Everberg/Rendulic/Marty added as well but I doubt they go down that road again.
Yeah Avs are in a predicament since they need to shore up the AHL team with depth AHLers. However, I agree with tigre that the AHL mercenaries are not the way to go. Majority of them get guaranteed money and don't really care about winning or losing since they know they won't ever get a call up over an organization's prospect pool.
Not only that, but some of the best teams in the AHL this season are ones where the depth comes from young drafted kids that have something to prove (while AHL veterans lead the scoring race). Since Avs scouting with Pracey sucked and we didn't really sign majority of our draft picks because they weren't worth signing, we had to rely on AHL mercenaries more often than not. And since what they have in the tank is often leaky and half empty it makes perfect sense this team has been in the basement, albeit in one of the best divisions in the AHL. We absolutely need more college and CHL free agents, perhaps bring in some Europeans like Tomas Hyka which could potentially develop into NHL players.
We definitely need a couple of the mercenaries to increase the depth and perhaps lead the team in scoring which we really lack in the Avs cubbard, but as we saw in the parent club, rejuvenate it with youth and players having a desire to play great for a potential call up.
Technically speaking, EV won't be returning to the San Antonio Rampage next season, as he'll be coaching the Colorado Eagles
I like the idea of a completely fresh start so Billington should be next. I'm not even sure exactly what he does but whatever it is, he probably doesn't do it well based on the results.
Wow, is it even possible that the Eagles coaching staff could stay intact? As much as I want to, I can't see them hiring Schneekloth with only 2 years ECHL head coach experience.
Well...I mean, Bednar himself became an AHL head coach after only two years in the ECHL and one year as an AHL assistant, not too different.
Bednar did also have an ECHL title on his resume when he got his AHL gig...
That would be nice, and I want to say don't hold your breath. But the avs have done enough things that are "out of character" that atm I'm even willing to hope that they'll have a genuine house cleaning of the minor league set up to let the Eagles start their AHL tenure without the Billington taint that we saw in San Antonio & Cleveland before that, and wherever the hell they were before that...where I'm sure they sucked to.
I guess I should ask: Does anyone think that would be the right move over someone more experienced?
I have to say it would be huge for the Eagles fan base if the coaching staff was retained.