What is the most pressing issue which needs resolved this off-season?

[Ceremony]

The last time the Avalanche went to the playoffs unexpectedly, all hell subsequently broke loose. I'm sure we don't want this to happen again and I'd hope the man in charge has learned from his previous mistakes, so what is most important?

- The goalie situation. If you believe Varlamov's age, contract status and injury history, Bernier's general inconsistency and Spencer Martin's pads making him look much better than he is are unsustainable long-term, what suggestion do you have going forward?

- Forward depth. The top line is fine. The most consistent next line was great, but Soderberg is going further into his thirties and Nieto (RFA) and Comeau (UFA, also a dick) are both out of contract. The 4th line was Tommy Tomatoes and gork and... other stuff, probably, while the college boys aren't yet a proven commodity. Neither really is Andrighetto, since his injury kept him from being a consistent scorer. Do we need to have a more consistent 4th line? If retained, will the Soderberg line still be as good? Would you like to acquire someone who can win more faceoffs than they lose?

- Defensive depth. The Avalanche defence, right now, is arguably the best it's been in years. Girard/Johnson, Zadorov/Barrie, Barberio/Nemeth. That's pretty reasonable. It also rarely happened this year for various reasons. The back-ups didn't really prove to be NHL quality. What happens now? Can Johnson still play 26 minutes a night? Can Barrie convince people he's worthy of a place on the team?

- Prospect depth. The organisational structure for the Avalanche should be much better now we have our own AHL affiliate in the same state. Off the top of my head, the only NHL-possible prospects for next year we have are Kamenev (exploded three shifts into his debut) and Martin (he's played NHL games, but that's it). Is our prospect depth better than I think it is? And even if it is, are there areas we need to try and focus on at the draft?

- Young player development. I'd like to see Jost put up more points, Compher and Kerfoot be more consistent, MacKinnon to remain hundred point pace and for Zadorov continue on his path of becoming the next Zdeno Chara. Do they need special consideration or focus to become more effective NHL players?

- Contract management. Zadorov, Rantanen, Kerfoot and Compher are a year away from new contracts. We can make a reasonable guess at what sort of player they're going to be - should we sign them now, with the possibility of making it cheaper long-term?

I would add "player acquisition" but I think those are covered in their respective positions. Which do we need to get right the most?

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[McMetal]

A consistent scoring threat second line would do wonders for the team. I actually think Soderberg will post some better numbers next year if you put a bit more skill on his wings and take some of the defensive load off of him, but he's not really a great choice for an actual 2nd line pivot. IMO, you have to look to free agency to fill that impact top sixer hole, because we're not going to win the lottery and grab Svechnikov. Preference for me would be:

1: Tavares
2: Stastny
3: JVR
4: Neal

If all of those fall through, look to a trade, but one way or another that has to be upgraded, we can't run another year with a top line and a loose bottom 9.

 

[5280]

Yeah a second line center is my wish

 

[hooverdam]

2C is the most pressing need and would make everything else seem a lot easier. It would likely solve the issue of Jost/Compher/Kerfoot finding consistent production because we wouldn't have to play that game of "who is finally gonna step up and be that 2C tonight?" anymore. That's why I want a center more than a winger, because a winger will still present that problem even if he's really good, unless someone like Jost really blows the doors off.

I'd say defensive depth is another issue just because of how injury-prone the defense is, but it's very hard to plan for that. The issue is that if you bring in more 5/6/7 defensemen and then your number one goes down, as he invariably does, then you're asking those guys to play over their heads. Now, bring in a 4D or a 5D who has comfortably played in a top 4 before and that problem isn't as bad, because then the Johnson stand-in has more support. But it's obviously harder to bring in those guys than just going shopping at Waivermart.

The goalies...I don't trust any of the starting options to be either good or healthy for consistent stretches, but every other external option is a gamble too. I'd rather gamble on something new, like a Grubauer, then gamble with our known problems, but there's no easy answer there. They're perilously close to goalie hell. I don't believe in a magical Varlamov renaissance and I still think they should look to move on from him as soon as they can, just because they can have the same unhealthy inconsistency for much cheaper.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

At this point Varly is just too injury prone to be trusted as a starter. We need to look for new long-term option. Bernier and Varly as a tandem is okay.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Toss up between a 2C who can take some of the load off Mackinnon, and a young NHL quality Goalie who can take on a 1B role right now and move towards being a 1A in the near future.



Think Goaltending is what trumps everything for me right now. Love me some Varly especially when he's healthy but it's clear he will never be healthy for a full season or even really half a season, any more.

 

[Foppberg]

Young goalie would be nice, pretty much a tie between that and a 2C though.

 

[Foppa2118]

It's kind of a cop out but they don't really have a pressing need to address this summer. They have long term needs like figuring out the long term goalie situation, and whether they need to go outside the organization for a #2C, but they don't need to be addressed this summer unless a deal makes sense.

Strictly in terms of being more competitive next season, adding more proven secondary scoring is probably the easiest and most likely area to be addressed. Most likely in the form of a winger.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

There aren't many (realistic) options for a 2c unless we give up assets to acquire one, otherwise we just have to hope for an in-house option to step up.

Soda could be a temporary fix, and would be a good option for a 2nd line that could take on harder matchups with Jost and maybe Kerfoot on his wing. Or snag someone like Perron in free agency if he makes it there and run Jost-Soda-Perron.

Then stick Kamanev between Compher and Ghetto as a 3rd or 4th line and hope the chemistry we saw between JT and Ghetto in the playoffs continues and that Kamanev finds his game in the NHL. Which would be nice because he's touted as a faceoff guy.

Then mash together a 4th line with guys like Nieto and Toni and Como and Bork if they keep them, or look for a 4C via free agency. Would love Beagle and Calvert to be added. Calvert-Beagle-Nieto would be a really good 4th line, they're fast and can PK and play with lots of energy. Also Beagle can win draws too.

Goaltending is the biggest issue for me though, with no real options to fix it via FA either.
Khudobin would be my first choice, and maybe I see them take a chance on a Hutchinson or a Niemi. Can't really see us going after older guys like Lethonen or Ward or Halak either. And the rest of the crop is junk. A bleak situation overall.

The D works for now but I'd be okay with adding someone like Emelin or Moore or Folin to the bottom pair, whether they decide to keep Barbs or not. de Haan is iffy, he either looks bad because of how bad the Islanders are and had to play above his head, or he's a reason they looked so bad back there. The truth might lie somewhere in the middle.

 

[CobraAcesS]

It's kind of a cop out but they don't really have a pressing need to address this summer. They have long term needs like figuring out the long term goalie situation, and whether they need to go outside the organization for a #2C, but they don't need to be addressed this summer unless a deal makes sense.

Strictly in terms of being more competitive next season, adding more proven secondary scoring is probably the easiest and most likely area to be addressed. Most likely in the form of a winger.

Almost liked this, until you said winger. Yeah I guess it's most likely, but the need is at center IMO. If they do end up with a winger. They need to go find a face off specialist at least. Even if he works on the coaching staff, anything to make that better lol.

I think they need a top six forward, and a top four defender. Exactly that IMO, and of course go looking for the future in goal-tending.

 

[Balthazar]

Pretty sure Sakic sees Jost as the future 2C and isn't actively looking for a C.

What we need is a 2nd line that's not made entirely of Jost/Kerfoot/Compher/Ghetto

 

[McMetal]

I'm not as ready to throw Varly on the trash heap as a lot here are. That season ending injury could have happened to anybody. And given that the goalie market isn't exactly overflowing with options that are as good as a healthy Varly, I'd rather take the chance that we can get him going again over next season before we have to make a difficult gamble on a young goalie that has a 50% chance of going Pickard on us.

 

[AvsWraith]

Goalie. Can't win if your #1 is injured all the time.

 

[Avs71]

Veteran presence, size, and leadership.

 

[McMetal]

Goalie. Can't win if your #1 is injured all the time.

Varlamov played in 51 games this year, just saying, including something like 22 in row. I don't 100% buy the durability argument with him. 22 in a row is inhuman, even Freddie Andersen wasn't asked to carry that kind of load at any point in the season, and he played 66 games.

 

[McMetal]

Veteran presence, size, and leadership.

 

[DanishAvsfan]

Yeah lets not throw Varly in the bin just yet. I mean he just turned 30 yesterday. I would have been more inclined to give up on him if his last injury was not a freak accident. When he came back from his last groin injury in early February he really looked good until the Jurco accident. To be sure it would be good to have a good young netminder as back-up, and I definately think they should pursue one, but not at all cost.

 

[McMetal]

Yeah lets not throw Varly in the bin just yet. I mean he just turned 30 yesterday. I would have been more inclined to give up on him if his last injury was not a freak accident. When he came back from his last groin injury in early February he really looked good until the Jurco accident. To be sure it would be good to have a good young netminder as back-up, and I definately think they should pursue one, but not at all cost.

Goalies take a while to mature, and I think we should be looking at the post-Varlamov era now, but it shouldn't be something we break our backs over this summer IMO.

Run with Varly as the #1 next year. If it works, great, re-sign him and we'll be set for the next few years. If not, let him go in UFA and THEN break our backs over a goaltender.

 

[Foppa2118]

Almost liked this, until you said winger. Yeah I guess it's most likely, but the need is at center IMO. If they do end up with a winger. They need to go find a face off specialist at least. Even if he works on the coaching staff, anything to make that better lol.

I think they need a top six forward, and a top four defender. Exactly that IMO, and of course go looking for the future in goal-tending.

I think the need for a #2C is more important, but that could be a big deal. I don't think they want to rush that kind of move, and they probably don't mind seeing what Jost looks like there next year. They were looking at wingers around the deadline, and I think they could revisit that this summer.

I think a faceoff guy would help, but I also think it can be addressed somewhat through practice. I have a feeling Bednar doesn't spend a lot of time on this. Just like 4 on 4, 3 on 3, 6 on 5, and 5 on 6. They weren't very good at any of these. He spends most of his time drilling their 5 on 5 system so it's second nature. Nate has all the tools to be at least average at face-offs, and I'd like to see him dedicate himself to improving.

 

[Ivan13]

If you can get Paulie of JT you go and get them. With either of them, the forward corps looks much improved.

 

[Vaslof]

Pretty sure Sakic sees Jost as the future 2C and isn't actively looking for a C.

What we need is a 2nd line that's not made entirely of Jost/Kerfoot/Compher/Ghetto

I agree with this. Jost progressed nicely this year. I'm not sure what HF'ers were expecting from him if he is already thrown aside after 1 year. Also agreed with your second point. I'm hoping for Tavares or Stone offer sheet, though both might be pipe dreams.

Goalie. Can't win if your #1 is injured all the time.

In the long term we need to acquire a young goalie with starter potential. I wouldn't call it the most pressing issue this off-season though. I don't think we should or will acquire a ready starter this off-season. Varly will still be #1.

 

[Freudian]

Getting a better second line that can both provide offense but also help with taking on defensive responsibility.

While I do think the rookies from this year will improve, I don't think they are ready to take on that role.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I'm not sure if Sakic sees Jost as the future 2C or not, but I do think he's going to wait 1 more year before deciding on that either way. So at least in the draft I dont see us specifically targeting Center as a need, not unless there's a clear BPA Center who they want to take at certain spots.


With Jost, Kamenev, Bowers, Compher, and Kerfoot all as natural Centers in the pipeline I dont think it's a pressing need in terms of the draft. Though I do believe if he can get Stastny or obviously Tavares(But I really am not expecting this to even be a remote possibility), then he would go that route instead.

We have a lot of prospect depth pretty much everywhere right now, except for on the Wing but the good news about the Wing is a lot of Centers are capable of transitioning to the Wing if needed and with our Center depth there's no doubt at least a few of them will move to Wing eventually.


In net however, we dont have any depth at all and we dont even have much quality in the NHL right now, at least not healthy quality

 

[Raucherhusten]

Secondary scoring. Bring in a Nealish winger or a Stastnyesk Center and we should be fine.

I wouldn't touch the D, when healthy our Top6 (assuming they bring back Nemeth & Barbs - with Timmins/Meloche/Makar hopefully coming in soon) is looking good.

Goalie situation is a bit tricky. I would run the Varly/Berns duo one more year while running option B (a good young prospect goalie or a FA 2019) in the background.

Future is looking good atm - i wouldn't change too much to be honest.

 

[Raucherhusten]

Veteran presence, size, and leadership.

Almost crapped myself to be honest - great stuff.