Speculation: Avs biggest holes

[AslanRH]

If he is a 3rd liner by season's end (which I think he will be), I could see retirement for Tanguay.

I don't see him wanting to be in that role regularly going forward

 

[The Kingslayer]

If he is a 3rd liner by season's end (which I think he will be), I could see retirement for Tanguay.

I don't see him wanting to be in that role regularly going forward

I want one more awesome playoffs from Tangs. Would love if he retires as an Av

 

[Cooperman]

Wasn't there an interview with Tanguay sometime this summer where he talked about this coming season and his future? It didn't even seem like he was 100% sure he was going to play another year, from what I remember. He'll be 37 on his next contract. I could very easily see this being his last year.

EDIT: Just like that, I googled and found an article from a few days ago.

http://www.lavoixdusud.com/Sports/Hockey/2015-07-28/article-4228449/Les-souhaits-dAlex-Tanguay/1

He is basically saying he wants to play 3 more years:15-16, 16-17 and 17-18, the possible first year of the Nords 2.0.

If everything goes right, he hopes to play at least a game at the new Vidéotron Centre, not necessarily for the Nords which he idolized growing up, but to play an NHL game there, against the Nordiques.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Tanguay had a French interview about a month ago where he made it seem like he was uncertain if he'd be an av next year. Not in a way that he will retire, but in that he may play on another team

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

Tanguay had a French interview about a month ago where he made it seem like he was uncertain if he'd be an av next year. Not in a way that he will retire, but in that he may play on another team

I'm not surprised. He's a UFA and the Avs probably want to see what young players they have that can take his spot in the line up.

 

[tucker3434]

Tanguay has been a bargain pretty much his entire career. If he hits 55 points again, he'll have some interest in July 1. I'd bet we'd off him something, but we wouldn't be able to match what he'd get on the open market. Maybe he wants one last good contract and isn't willing to take the Hejduk method of getting to retirement.

But I certainly hope he's willing to keep taking bargain deals year-to-year for the remainder of his career. Tanguay should retire an Av.

 

[Avsboy]

Tanguay had a French interview about a month ago where he made it seem like he was uncertain if he'd be an av next year. Not in a way that he will retire, but in that he may play on another team

Can you find it? That would be depressing, I was hoping he would be a 3rd liner for us on 1-2 year deals for cheap.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

The interview was posted on here somewhere. He didn't bluntly say he may play somewhere else. He said something along the lines of he doesn't know where he will play next year since his contract is up. I'll try to look but I'm on my phone so I'll likely fail.

 

[flyfysher]

The biggest question mark is the Avs PP. Hopefully, it will be improved this season

For 2016-2017, we will need Radulov as Duchene's RW.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Can you find it? That would be depressing, I was hoping he would be a 3rd liner for us on 1-2 year deals for cheap.

I think it's this but I don't have time to translate it right now.

http://www.tvasports.ca/2015/06/29/tanguay-reve-aux-nordiques

 

[the_fan]

The biggest question mark is the Avs PP. Hopefully, it will be improved this season

For 2016-2017, we will need Radulov as Duchene's RW.

What about LW on that line?

If Tanguay still playing in 16-17 I guess he could be the LW on that line although how much more effective a year older Tanguay will be?

 

[Tommy Shelby]

What about LW on that line?

If Tanguay still playing in 16-17 I guess he could be the LW on that line although how much more effective a year older Tanguay will be?

Hopefully he will slow down just enough so that he can't reach the blueline in time to go offside.

 

[Avsboy]

The TVA article says he doesn't know what will happen, but he likes it in Colorado.

 

[the_fan]

The way i look at it, Avs are lacking top 6 forwards, but I guess that's the price you pay if you want to upgrade the defense.

In 16-17 season there are gonna be some big question marks. How much more will Iginla and Tanguay have left in them.

Assuming they do get Radulov, I see the top 6 still being thin. I don't buy Soderberg and Grigorenko being top 6 forwards.

 

[ABasin]

If he is a 3rd liner by season's end (which I think he will be), I could see retirement for Tanguay.

I don't see him wanting to be in that role regularly going forward

I'd like to see Tanguay play this entire season on the 3rd line.

 

[Meeqs]

If he is a 3rd liner by season's end (which I think he will be), I could see retirement for Tanguay.

I don't see him wanting to be in that role regularly going forward

Tangs was one of the Avs best forwards that season and really played on the 3rd line because it desperately needed some offense to be spread through out the line up. I'm not sure why so many people are down on him though.

The only reason I could think of is if Gabe is going to be Mackinnon's LW and Tangs isn't quiet fast enough to work with Duchene after this season then for cap reasons a move could make sense. Although he has a good amount of hockey left in him. Barring any injury retirement talk is silly

 

[Pokecheque]

If the Avs have the luxury of Tanguay on the 3rd line, then I'd say they're gonna have a really good year. However, I imagine he'll be top six (if he stays healthy) most of the season.

 

[ABasin]

If the Avs have the luxury of Tanguay on the 3rd line, then I'd say they're gonna have a really good year. However, I imagine he'll be top six (if he stays healthy) most of the season.

That'd result in two players - 36 and 38 years old - in the top 6. No other NHL team is going to try that. Even Detroit isn't going that far.

I don't think it'll work very well. Players that age very often suffer a precipitous decline in play. The Avs could likely weather that happening to one player, but not two.

 

[the_fan]

So if people think Tanguay will either be gone or moved to 3rd line in 16-17, and Iginla also moved to 3rd line, what will the top 6 look like?

If they get Radulov, and if MacKinnon is playing center...

??? - Duchene - Radulov
Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen

If they don't get Radulov

??? - Duchene - Rantanen
Landeskog - MacKinnon - ???

People probably gonna put Soderberg and Grigorenko there, but I really think Avs will need better top 6 if they gonna win anything

 

[tigervixxxen]

With Tanguay off the books they could sign someone I don't think Iginla will be put on the third line either. He can still shoot the puck so I think he can do that for two more years.

 

[the_fan]

Will there be any good top 6 UFA forwards available in 16-17?

 

[ABasin]

So if people think Tanguay will either be gone or moved to 3rd line in 16-17, and Iginla also moved to 3rd line, what will the top 6 look like?

If they get Radulov, and if MacKinnon is playing center...

??? - Duchene - Radulov
Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen

If they don't get Radulov

??? - Duchene - Rantanen
Landeskog - MacKinnon - ???

People probably gonna put Soderberg and Grigorenko there, but I really think Avs will need better top 6 if they gonna win anything

I'm proposing Tanguay moves to the 3rd line right now.

There's plenty of time to figure out forwards 15 months from now. Trades, FAs, certain pipe dream KHL players becoming available, etc.

With Tanguay off the books they could sign someone I don't think Iginla will be put on the third line either. He can still shoot the puck so I think he can do that for two more years.

Iginla is going to be an interesting case. If he manages to make it to 39 1/2 years old with the same gun he's always had, he'll be forever regarded as one of those incredible freak athletes who beat time.

But if he does start to show his inevitable decline this season or next, it wouldn't bother me a bit if he played on the 3rd line, but was then a power play specialist. As long as his decline doesn't include his shot from the top of the left circle.

 

[cgf]

TMV's thread brings up something (one of the few) that we haven't really gotten into and that's Tanguay's future. So many seem to just assume he'll stick around, take a team friendly deal and won't mind getting transitioned to the third line sooner than later. He's really our UFA this year with the biggest question mark in my mind and I could easily see him not be back. Sure it would be nice if he could be on a retirement plan to retire an Av, doesn't cost much but also doesn't expect to hang around forever but what if that's not the case? Do we actually consider selling him at the deadline (would have to be looking like a non-playoff year though I'm sure)? Are people going to have a conniption if he walks next summer? I think they have to be thinking what the future holds for Tanguay.

I'm not banking on tangs coming back, even if we don't sign Radulov, much less him doing so at a discount...but he might. With the way both he and Rads have talked about gunning for the cup this summer, I wouldn't be surprised if Roykic had already sold/pitched both of them on this team doing just that in 2017 with both of them involved. And based on what they said in their respective SC-related interviews it sure does seem like both are motivated to be a part of that. Which is why I'm less skeptical about Tangs coming back on the cheap, provided it's to open up money for Rads, and Radulov taking a 1 year deal before getting paid on an extension that'd kick in when Iginla / Tangers' extension / Stuart / Berra / Malkin all expire, than I was this past winter. I'm not expecting a cheap one-last-hurrah deal for Tangs or for Radulov to be ok with getting just a 1 year deal until those oldies are off of the books...but it seems much more plausible than it did not too long ago.

And given the relationships Roykic have with those two guys specifically (Tangs from their playing days and the 2001 run; Rads from Roy's being a father-figure to him), I can see both of them seriously thinking about it if they buy that this team would have it in them to actually win it all before the old-timers rode off into the sunset. Especially if Radulov's has some playoff drama next year that makes him want to prove himself in the NHL playoffs even more; like another heart-wrenching game-7 defeat, or carrying CZKA to the Gagarin Cup en route to winning the KHL's Conn Smythe...and even moreso if we go back to the playoffs this season and make it to round two to face the hawks; while Tangers actually gets to play a home playoff game at the Can again, leading the nostalgia to just take over his brain.

 

[cgf]

So if people think Tanguay will either be gone or moved to 3rd line in 16-17, and Iginla also moved to 3rd line, what will the top 6 look like?

If they get Radulov, and if MacKinnon is playing center...

??? - Duchene - Radulov
Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen

If they don't get Radulov

??? - Duchene - Rantanen
Landeskog - MacKinnon - ???

People probably gonna put Soderberg and Grigorenko there, but I really think Avs will need better top 6 if they gonna win anything

If Tangs and Rads are avs in 2017, like they might be; MacK breaks out this season or next, like he should; Duchene gels with Radulov quickly next season, like they should; then that forward core would absolutely have the top end horses and scoring depth to get the job done with a quality D and goalie; which we should have by then:

Rantanen* - Duchene - Radulov
Landeskog - MacKinnon - Tangs*
Grigorenko* - Soderberg - Iginla
Comeau* - Mitchell - Everbeast*

**Beauch - Kondor
**Zads - Barrie
**Bigras/Siemens - Stuart/Bigras
( Holden; Geertsen )

Varlamov
Pickard / Berra
( Will / Martin )

*Rantanen, Tanguay, Grigorenko, Comeau, Everberg, Bleackley, Rendulic or Compher, filling those jobs next to Dutchy-Rads, Landy-MacK, and Soda-Iggy, based on chemistry/fit...assuming Iggy isn't completely useless by then and can still shoot. Winchester, Martinsen, Henley, McCleod and Hamilton, joining the mix for the 4th line gigs.

** Beauchemin next to EJ to start the season, eventually getting passed by Zadorov or Bigras. Then Beauch would play with Barrie, while one of Zadorov/Bigras would play with EJ, and the other one would play with Siemens/Stuart/Holden...unless Beauch really fell off a cliff hard and needed to be sheltered on the third pairing.

 

[tucker3434]

So if people think Tanguay will either be gone or moved to 3rd line in 16-17, and Iginla also moved to 3rd line, what will the top 6 look like?

If they get Radulov, and if MacKinnon is playing center...

??? - Duchene - Radulov
Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen

If they don't get Radulov

??? - Duchene - Rantanen
Landeskog - MacKinnon - ???

People probably gonna put Soderberg and Grigorenko there, but I really think Avs will need better top 6 if they gonna win anything

I don't think that's all that bad. Looking at Dallas, they only had 3 players over 60 points last season. They just also had 6 over 30 points and another 7 over 20. The Islanders had Tavares, then 10 players that scored between 31 and 51 points. The lighting, with the most goals scored this year, had only 4 guys over 60 points. The Rangers didn't have any guys hit 70 points and only 2 over 60. The Ducks had one 70 point scorer but no one else over 55.

If MacKinnon becomes the player he can be, I think our forward core is more than good enough to win big.