Bender
Registered User
- Sep 25, 2002
- 17,321
- 8,579
This is the way I see the Avs current lineup prior to the TDL :
Burakovsky - MacKinnon - Rantanen - OK
Landeskog - Kadri - Nichushkin - OK
Newhook - HOLE#2 - HOLE#3 - NOT OK
O'Connor - Maltsev - NAK - Not ideal but OK
MacDermid - Helm
Bad fit - Compher, Jost
Toews - Makar - OK
Girard - HOLE#1 - NOT OK
JMFJ - EJ - OK
Byram - MacDonald
Helleson?
Bad fit - Murray
Hole #1 - I think this is the Avs most glaring and obvious need. If there was any certainty that Byram could come back and stay healthy then maybe you'd focus on other areas but since that's not the case, the Avs need to acquire a pretty good player in this spot. Ideally, they'd get a guy who plays a physical game, can skate and move the puck pretty well. I'm far from convinced that a d-man who's been steadily playing 15 - 17 minutes per game as a bottom pairing guy would fit the bill here - I think we need a better player than that.
Hole #2 - This would have been my number 1 need if we hadn't seen Rantanen used as a center while MacKinnon was injured. Rants looked engaged and while he wasn't perfect he showed the ability to produce and look dangerous while anchoring his own line. If a major injury should occur, one would hope that Bednar would look at that option. I think it makes the need to acquire a true center less of an absolute necessity but at the same time I'm sure they are also thinking beyond this season as Kadri will almost assuredly sign elsewhere. I'd like to see the Avs acquire a player who can also slot in to that Top-6 if needed and still be able to produce as opposed to a guy who's only known to be a solid 3rd liner won't cut it or at least it shouldn't. (For example - Chris Tierney is generally regarded as a solid #3C but I don't think you want him in your Top-6)
It's going to cost more but the days of acquiring players like Brassard and Soderberg on the cheap thinking they can fill some kind of hole should be over - that's not what this team needs.
Hole #3 - If Logan O'Connor had been able to maintain the play he showed for the first 30 game of the season, I think this would be a 4th line hole instead but sadly, he hasn't looked the same the past 15-20 games or so. I think NAK was a good addition off of waivers but I think he's probably more of a 4th line player than a true 3rd liner at this time. I'd like to see the Avs add a physical forward as we don't have much of a presence in that regard. I feel like the interest in Clutterbuck was the right idea especially if he can be a pretty good penalty killer.
I would hope that Avs management sees things close to the same way because it's pretty damn obvious. I think 90-95% of Avs fans would agree about the bad fits on this team and the need to get better players in those spots to solidify the bottom-6.
My expectations are that the Avs will fill 2 of these holes with one trade and then make another trade for the last need. Sakic cannot balk at the prices this time around and has to go for it because you just know that Tampa Bay and Vegas are going to trade for Weber's contract so they can cheat some more.
Burakovsky - MacKinnon - Rantanen - OK
Landeskog - Kadri - Nichushkin - OK
Newhook - HOLE#2 - HOLE#3 - NOT OK
O'Connor - Maltsev - NAK - Not ideal but OK
MacDermid - Helm
Bad fit - Compher, Jost
Toews - Makar - OK
Girard - HOLE#1 - NOT OK
JMFJ - EJ - OK
Byram - MacDonald
Helleson?
Bad fit - Murray
Hole #1 - I think this is the Avs most glaring and obvious need. If there was any certainty that Byram could come back and stay healthy then maybe you'd focus on other areas but since that's not the case, the Avs need to acquire a pretty good player in this spot. Ideally, they'd get a guy who plays a physical game, can skate and move the puck pretty well. I'm far from convinced that a d-man who's been steadily playing 15 - 17 minutes per game as a bottom pairing guy would fit the bill here - I think we need a better player than that.
Hole #2 - This would have been my number 1 need if we hadn't seen Rantanen used as a center while MacKinnon was injured. Rants looked engaged and while he wasn't perfect he showed the ability to produce and look dangerous while anchoring his own line. If a major injury should occur, one would hope that Bednar would look at that option. I think it makes the need to acquire a true center less of an absolute necessity but at the same time I'm sure they are also thinking beyond this season as Kadri will almost assuredly sign elsewhere. I'd like to see the Avs acquire a player who can also slot in to that Top-6 if needed and still be able to produce as opposed to a guy who's only known to be a solid 3rd liner won't cut it or at least it shouldn't. (For example - Chris Tierney is generally regarded as a solid #3C but I don't think you want him in your Top-6)
It's going to cost more but the days of acquiring players like Brassard and Soderberg on the cheap thinking they can fill some kind of hole should be over - that's not what this team needs.
Hole #3 - If Logan O'Connor had been able to maintain the play he showed for the first 30 game of the season, I think this would be a 4th line hole instead but sadly, he hasn't looked the same the past 15-20 games or so. I think NAK was a good addition off of waivers but I think he's probably more of a 4th line player than a true 3rd liner at this time. I'd like to see the Avs add a physical forward as we don't have much of a presence in that regard. I feel like the interest in Clutterbuck was the right idea especially if he can be a pretty good penalty killer.
I would hope that Avs management sees things close to the same way because it's pretty damn obvious. I think 90-95% of Avs fans would agree about the bad fits on this team and the need to get better players in those spots to solidify the bottom-6.
My expectations are that the Avs will fill 2 of these holes with one trade and then make another trade for the last need. Sakic cannot balk at the prices this time around and has to go for it because you just know that Tampa Bay and Vegas are going to trade for Weber's contract so they can cheat some more.
