Speculation: Avs 2020-21 Nostradamus Thread

[Foppa2118]

Make any predictions you feel like making for what will happen next season with the Avs, and we'll see how things play out after. Can be just one or two predictions if you like, doesn't have to be a whole bunch.

Just don't be vague like Nostradamus. Extra points for more specificity.

Here's my guesses.

Prospects

• Byram - makes the Avs after a dominating WJC. He plays solid defensively all season, while starting off slow offensively, but getting better and more comfortable playing his game as the season goes on. Starts having a big impact offensively towards the end of the regular season.
• Timmins - has a good camp but starts in the AHL because of the numbers game. Is brought back up after injuries and after Cole is traded.
• Newhook - has a bit of a coming out party at the WJC. Has another good season at BC and the Avs bring him in before the playoffs, where he immediately has a bigger impact offensively than past 3C’s, but has a couple hiccups defensively as a rookie.
• Barron - plays a smaller role at the WJC but shows his smarts and transition skills, which helps give him confidence and a boost into his Q season where he starts to really shine.
• Kaut - starts in the AHL again but establishes himself as a good bottom six NHLer in the middle to late parts of the season.
• Helleson - continues building a little hype from last season, but that hype is used to trade him for a vet physical D, or solid #3G at the deadline.
• Ambrosio - Has a good season. Continues to show he has a strong mind and the kind of determination needed to overcome his size disadvantage.

Returnees

• MacKinnon - continues his NHL domination and wins the Hart and Conn Smythe.
• Mikko - has a dominant year where he challenges Nate for the Hart trophy, with a neck and neck race ala McDavid and Draisiatl.
• Landy - point totals return to a 60-65 point pace in more of a defensive role, but he has an outstanding playoffs. Gets re-signed next off season to a $7M x 5 deal taking him to 33.
• Kadri - scores at a 30 goal pace again, and forms a more consistent 2nd line than last season which really helps the team, but he also lets his emotions get the better of him a couple times.
• Burakovsky - regresses a bit and becomes a little more streaky. Goes from a 64 point pace to around a 50-55 point pace, but still has a solid season. Scores some big clutch goals in the playoffs.
• Donskoi - has a less streaky regular season and puts up good numbers. Scores some big greasy goals in the playoffs.
• Calvert - continues being a great glue guy but has an injury plagued year, which limits his effectiveness.
• Bellemare - regresses a bit and starts to show his age, but has a solid playoffs.
• Compher - stays at RW and has a better more comfortable season because of it. Has an ok season but not a breakout performance.
• Jost - works hard and has an improved season but is traded either during the season or after.
• Makar - leads all defenseman in scoring and comes in 2nd for the Norris and Conn Smythe.
• Girard - improves his shot and goal totals and gets to a 40 point pace, but he gets 2nd unit PP time all season, so his point totals don’t go up too much.
• Graves - has another solid season but is either traded before 2021-22 or is taken in expansion.
• EJ - has another solid season defensively, but the youngsters finally push him down the depth chart into a lesser role. Which helps him stay healthier. Plays a mentor role for Byram and Timmins who praise him a ton.
• Cole - is traded early in the season with salary retained for futures, so he can play a bigger role in his likely final contract year.
• Goalies - one of the Avs goalies gets injured again. I’ll say Franky. Grubauer has a solid season, giving them what they need to let the rest of the team win games.

New Guys

• Saad - is an outstanding fit on this Avs team, putting up his usual 20+ goals and 50 points, while being a much needed net front presence. Takes a lot of pressure off Landy's role, and the Avs youth and exuberance re-energizes Saad.
• Toews - adds another outstanding PMD which makes the Avs an even bigger transition/off the rush juggernaut. Is used on the PK instead of Girard, and is better than expected.

Team

• MacFarland - Avs either lose Chris MacFarland at the end of the season to another GM job, or he’s made Avs GM while Sakic moves up to President.
• Alittude - doesn’t come to an agreement with Comcast, and the situation continues to play out like it did in 2019-20.
• Avs - not gonna jinx it, but you can figure out what I’m getting at with Nate’s Conn Smythe award.

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[Hasbro]

Lose the Cup Final to the Ning

 

[Cousin Eddie]

- Byram looks like a middle pairing D by season’s end.

- Toews disappoints.

- Jost and Compher both score 30+ points which would pace over 40 in an 82 game season.

- Kadri takes a step back.

- Bellemare starts as the 13th forward.

- Ian Cole gets healthy scratched a bunch but it leaves him very fresh for the playoffs where he plays a big role.

- Avs add Demers and Kuemper at the deadline. Demers fills a big role on our struggling PK. Grubauer starts playing incredible once we acquire Kuemper and there’s a major goalie controversy in the playoffs.

- Mikko outscores Mackinnon.

 

[Foppa2118]

- Mikko outscores Mackinnon.

This wasn't my prediction, but I can easily see this happening. I think Mikko is set for a big year. It just feels like it's time.

 

[HugeMetalFan]

Avs dominate weak division, finish first or second, lose in the second round.

Why isn't there a dislike button?

 

[HugeMetalFan]

The Avs will then lose Saad to Seattle (won't get protected because they won't have room to sign him anyway) which will force them to trade Graves for a middle 6 forward. Jost will get traded to a rebuilding team where he'll be promised a top 6 role. MacKinnon will then announce his role in an upcoming Wayne Gretzky movie and admit his NHL stint was just to prepare for the role and improve his method acting. The Avs then try to acquire a top 6 centre (like Jost) for Byram but no team can offer eqvivalent value (because Byram is priceless) so Joe is forced to come out of retirement. Then I wake up and realize we're still not playing hockey in December!

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Get a ton of injuries and lose in the 2nd round

 

[AvsFanInMichigan]

Finish 50-6 and win the whole damn thing

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

- MacKantanen score at a 90+ point pace.

- One of Cole/Toews/Johnson suffers a season ending injury.

- Landeskog inks a $7.1M X 6 year contract extension mid-season.

- The bottom-6 puts up decent numbers, but not as good as last year.

- The Avs have a strong regular season, but one of their top-6 forwards gets injured right before the playoffs leaving everyone concerned about how for they can go.

- Newhook and Byram are both on the team in the playoffs.

- Colorado loses in the conference final.

 

[Rosy Cheeks]

Rantanen leads the NHL in scoring but then breaks his collarbone while falling.
Timmins retires for post concussion syndrome.
Landeskog becomes a third line grinder.
MacKinnon on pace for 99 points and finishes 2nd for the hart trophy.
Byram shows promise but is afraid to touch the puck and is permanenty on the taxi squad, gets traded for Henrik Lundqvist at the trade deadline.
Makar leads all defensemen in scoring and then tear his ACL after a collision with Corey Perry.
Grubauer and Francouz are streaky and go on hot streaks and cold streaks at the same time several times during the season, both are injured for the playoffs.
Burakovsky plays on MacKinnons wing and is on pace for 40 points but looks like a PPG player.
Kadri gets suspended and Jost becomes the 2C.
Calvert plays on MacKinnons wing and is on pace for 10 goals.
Cole leads all defensemen in icetime.
Bednar is fired after an incident with MacKinnon and is replaced by Mike Keenan.
St Louis or Dallas defeat the Avs in a seven game series in the first or second round of the playoffs.