Post-Game Talk: Game 20: Avalanche @ Ducks | 11/18/18 | 18:00 MT | 1,000th Franchise Win!

[ASmileyFace]

Bednar should just not play Z right after we score a goal. Seems like half his penalties are right after we just scored lol

Whenever we score he should preemptively bench Z to keep him from taking a stupid penalty

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Done!

 

[nightonthesun]

Am I alone in feeling like Kamenev has a possibility of being our #2C if he continues to play this way?

Ive been trying not to get ahead of myself but the more he plays, the more I think he’s a gem and our best available solution to the line 2 problem. He reads plays well with + without the puck, has good hands, and is surprisingly quick. i love that Bednar recognized mid-game that Kamenev was giving him little choice but to move him up.

 

[NOTENOUGHJTCGOALS]

Feels like a broken record at this point but EJ was below average yet again.

Andrighetto could've easily been called for a cross check before the goal. The only reason he was open was he knocked down the Ducks defender. Need more good play in front of the net like that. Him and Landy are the only guys who seem to like they'll battle in front of the net like that.

 

[Avsboy]

Barrie looks very good right now, his slapshot seems to be getting through to the net and his defensive play is acceptable. He makes good passes up the ice. I have never stopped supporting the guy and hope he re-signs; I think Avs would be much worse without him.

EJ...I don't know what's going on with him. He looks slower, worse with the puck, even smaller. It must be some kind of pain, maybe accumulated over the years, maybe a hidden injury. Nothing looked good about his game last night.

On another note I think Avs need a good LHD at some point. The puck always ends up with Cole or Zadorov and the play then dies.

In terms of forwards, the positives at the secondary level are Soderberg, Kamenev, and especially Ghetto. Jost was meh last night, Kerfoot didn't do much either. I'm more and more inclined to think Soderberg should be the 2nd line center next to Ghetto.

Calvert is bad. I keep hoping #11 is replaced by our old #11 McGinn. Now that was a 3rd liner.

 

[Pokecheque]

I think Calvert is great as a 4th line guy, he started out the season fantastically. The problem came when Bednar rewarded him with more minutes. I don't even think he should be a primary PK forward.

 

[twostroke27]

I didn't realize Calvert's mom had cancer until the hockey fights cancer night. I imagine that's affecting his game a little (I know it would mine anyways). Hopefully everything turns out okay for him and his family there.

 

[Foppberg]

I didn't realize Calvert's mom had cancer until the hockey fights cancer night. I imagine that's affecting his game a little (I know it would mine anyways). Hopefully everything turns out okay for him and his family there.

I feel for him but I think that's just what he is, an energy 4th liner. And when he's put higher in the lineup it really shows.

 

[Ivan13]

EJ has looked bad to start the season, hopefully that's just rust and not the start of things going downhill for him from here on out.

 

[The Kingslayer]

EJ has looked bad to start the season, hopefully that's just rust and not the start of things going downhill for him from here on out.

I personally think its the latter. His injuries have caught up to him. I mean we all knew it was going to happen eventually.

 

[Ceremony]

EJ has looked bad to start the season, hopefully that's just rust and not the start of things going downhill for him from here on out.

Not sure you can blame rust when the season's 25% done.

 

[henchman21]

I personally think its the latter. His injuries have caught up to him. I mean we all knew it was going to happen eventually.

Woah now, we were assured it wasn't going to happen to him for a while and he'd great until his mid 30s.

I think there is some rust with EJ and he certainly isn't playing up to his capabilities.... but I also think it is clear he isn't a quasi #1 that could have been argued a few years ago and we are going down the path of drop off. He's better than he has shown still, but I don't think people should be expecting top pairing level of play for too much longer.

 

[Foppberg]

Hopefully EJs decline lines up with the growth of Girard, Makar, Zadorov etc.

 

[Foppa2118]

Whenever someone has beaten a dead horse for years claiming something will happen, it takes about two seconds for them to say I told you so. Even if it's way too early to be doing so. Like when Varly was done last year because of his save percentage in November. Then went on to have a great year and finished with a great save percentage.

Those who love making I told you so posts all the time, wouldn't love it so much if they were called out on all the things they've been wrong about in the past, that they've tried to sweep under the rug and hope everyone has forgotten.

EJ has had an up and down start to the year. This was not a good game, but he had a couple good games recently where he was skating great. If he had slowed down, he wouldn't be able to skate like that. His issues this year are mental. He's making poor decisions at times. This isn't due to age.

 

[Pokecheque]

Yeah, he doesn't necessarily look slow, he's just making poor decisions. I DO think he needs to start considering playing a quieter, more defensive-minded game. I don't think he's the guy that can do end-to-end rushes with the puck anymore.

 

[Alex Jones]

EJ just isn't explosive in the way that he used to be. His game has been changing for a couple of years to compensate for this, but I'm not sure how much longer he's going to be able to be one of our top defensemen.

 

[Foppberg]

Having guys like Barrie, Girard, soon to be Makar, I think if EJ learned to play a more simple defensive game vs the condor flights we've become accustom to, that would be the best route for him to still be effective throughout his contract.

If everything goes well in 2-3 years I'd like to see:

Makar-Girard
Barrie-Zadorov
EJ-Cole

By that time I'd imagine something happening with EJ or Barrie though. Not to mention guys like Meloche and Timmins.

 

[henchman21]

Yeah, he doesn't necessarily look slow, he's just making poor decisions. I DO think he needs to start considering playing a quieter, more defensive-minded game. I don't think he's the guy that can do end-to-end rushes with the puck anymore.

I think there is a real question on if he is capable of that style of play. EJ has never been known for exceptional hockey IQ. He was an all tools, no tool box player until he gathered up enough experience to start playing more sound hockey... start taking some tools away and I'm not sure he has the adjustment in his game. He should be solid (and better than he is currently playing) for a few more seasons, but I don't think he will be a guy that can change his style of play.

 

[Foppa2118]

Yeah, he doesn't necessarily look slow, he's just making poor decisions. I DO think he needs to start considering playing a quieter, more defensive-minded game. I don't think he's the guy that can do end-to-end rushes with the puck anymore.

I think there's been a bit of a transition with Girard as his partner. He's already playing a more defensive stay at home style. I'm not sure this is great for him though. I think getting his feet moving early, and skating through the neutral zone with the puck, helps him get into games physically and mentally.

The D core is still in flux now though so there aren't a lot better options. Nemeth is worse this year, and Cole is playing well with Barrie. I'd like to see Cole tried with EJ at some point when they have a chance. I'd like to see if he starts looking more comfortable on the ice and finds his horse again to jump through the neutral zone with the puck.

He will have to find a way to get into these games without having the puck as much though, because long term it seems like his partner will either be Makar or Girard. They don't really have a two way LD that plays a simple game, where he can spend more time making plays with the puck. Unless they switch Timmins to the left, but I don't think he has as much experience on his off side.

 

[Pokecheque]

I don't know why Bednar seems so against a Barbs/Zads third pairing. I guess he just doesn't trust either of those guys farther than he can throw them at present, but yet Nemeth has been far worse than either of those guys of late.

 

[CharlesPuck]

That move where Girard sliced through the D and walked in on goal was amazing. Dude is just so good and gaining confidence in his O game. Love it.

 

[Foppa2118]

I don't know why Bednar seems so against a Barbs/Zads third pairing. I guess he just doesn't trust either of those guys farther than he can throw them at present, but yet Nemeth has been far worse than either of those guys of late.

Yeah I'm not sure why Barberio sat instead of Nemeth this game. Nemeth was clearly worse.

I'm getting the feeling Bednar scratching these guys might be partially to send a message to the rest of the team. So they don't get complacent again. Some of these lineup decisions don't make a ton of sense, and they started after the losing streak.

 

[Pokecheque]

I don't at all love the idea of "message sending" but I suppose coaches have to do that from time to time.

 

[The Kingslayer]

That move where Girard sliced through the D and walked in on goal was amazing. Dude is just so good and gaining confidence in his O game. Love it.

Not many guys can do what Girard did on that play. If only he finished on that move.

 

[LieutenantDangle]

I don't at all love the idea of "message sending" but I suppose coaches have to do that from time to time.

Let the kids know that they have to keep working hard to get playing time, and aren’t entitled to it like good ol COLBORNE