Confirmed with Link: Shawn Allard no longer with Avs Organization

[Bill Peckerskull]

A Shake-Up On The Avalanche Coaching Staff

You may have noticed a new, yet familiar, face running the Captain’s skates for the Colorado Avalanche the last few weeks. It’s their new skills coach – Toby Petersen. The former Colorado College graduate and NHL veteran is replacing Shawn Allard, who has been with the organization for the last...

coloradohockeynow.com

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[BaconNater]

I don't know anything about this or how useful skill coaches even are but I thought Allard was good so that's too bad

 

[arun]

They should replace the PP coach

 

[AllAboutAvs]

They should replace the PP coach

I didn't think we had one to replace.

Joke aside I'm in the camp that thinks our proplems on the PP are created as much by the players than the PP coach. For instance...moving the puck too slow, Mack trying stupid passes or trying to go through 3 players, players deferring to Mack too often, lack of screen in front of the goalie, etc. Now people could argue most of those are brought in by the PP coach but I think they are often player-driven instead. The proof to this to me is how more dangerous our 2nd PP looks sometimes compare to our 1st PP. With that said I don't think our PP is as bad as people here make it out to be. It is constantly top-10 in the league if I'm not mistaken.

 

[henchman21]

I have no idea how Toby will do in this role. He did start his own consulting firm for younger player skill development last winter after being out of coaching for a bit that I've heard good things about. Bednar, Pratt and Petersen all go WAY back together too.

 

[henchman21]

I didn't think we had one to replace.

Joke aside I'm in the camp that thinks our proplems on the PP are created as much by the players than the PP coach. For instance...moving the puck too slow, Mack trying stupid passes or trying to go through 3 players, players deferring to Mack too often, lack of screen in front of the goalie, etc. Now people could argue most of those are brought in by the PP coach but I think they are often player-driven instead. The proof to this to me is how more dangerous our 2nd PP looks sometimes compare to our 1st PP. With that said I don't think our PP is as bad as people here make it out to be. It is constantly top-10 in the league if I'm not mistaken.

I think the players play a pretty major role. They want perfection way too often and tend to get cute. The perfection thing that drives me the most nuts is MacK wants the pass setting up his one time in such a small area. If it doesn't hit that 6" window, he passes it back to Makar almost every time to set it up again. If he'd just fire the puck slightly outside that window more often, he'd score a lot more goals. He isn't like Rants that'll adjust to it. Drives me insane.

 

[UncleRisto]

I have no idea how Toby will do in this role. He did start his own consulting firm for younger player skill development last winter after being out of coaching for a bit that I've heard good things about. Bednar, Pratt and Petersen all go WAY back together too.

About this much back?

 

[Avs9296]

I think the players play a pretty major role. They want perfection way too often and tend to get cute. The perfection thing that drives me the most nuts is MacK wants the pass setting up his one time in such a small area. If it doesn't hit that 6" window, he passes it back to Makar almost every time to set it up again. If he'd just fire the puck slightly outside that window more often, he'd score a lot more goals. He isn't like Rants that'll adjust to it. Drives me insane.

Some players just don't have that big of a wheelhouse tho. Mack is pretty picky when it comes to receiving a pass but maybe he knows his shot is shit if it's not how he likes it.

Brett Hull had a 6 foot wide radius of a wheelhouse. I swear you put that puck anywhere near him and he's getting a one timer off.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Actually got myself a scoop. Allard will be difficult to replace, but at least they didn’t leave the spot unfilled.

 

[Pokecheque]

Avs probably just lost the best skater in their organization.

I suppose if Bednar trusts him, then go for it, but I'm curious as to why they made the move. Is it just that Bednar wanted his own guy?

 

[Gruyeriev]

I just watched the video about a week ago on the Avs main site with Allard. Seemed like a good guy. I hadn’t realized how important his role was for injured guys trying to rehab and being isolated from the team. Seems like he did a good job.

 

[Foppa2118]

This is a big loss IMO. Hope Petersen can help the team the way Allard did.

Wonder if he's following EJ to Buffalo? EJ trained with him leading up to the World Cup and recommended him to Bednar. He'd be closer to his home in Ottawa too.

 

[tigervixxxen]

I think the players play a pretty major role. They want perfection way too often and tend to get cute. The perfection thing that drives me the most nuts is MacK wants the pass setting up his one time in such a small area. If it doesn't hit that 6" window, he passes it back to Makar almost every time to set it up again. If he'd just fire the puck slightly outside that window more often, he'd score a lot more goals. He isn't like Rants that'll adjust to it. Drives me insane.

They should be setting up Mikko as the primary one time target anyway, he’s the better pp goal scorer.

 

[S E P H]

Can't lose somebody important when Avs haven't developed anybody since 1996.

 

[Balthazar]

Actually got myself a scoop. Allard will be difficult to replace, but at least they didn’t leave the spot unfilled.

Do you know which party decided that it was time to move on?

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I think the players play a pretty major role. They want perfection way too often and tend to get cute. The perfection thing that drives me the most nuts is MacK wants the pass setting up his one time in such a small area. If it doesn't hit that 6" window, he passes it back to Makar almost every time to set it up again. If he'd just fire the puck slightly outside that window more often, he'd score a lot more goals. He isn't like Rants that'll adjust to it. Drives me insane.

So true about Mack and Mikko. Mikko will contort himself to make the shot. No way Mack does that.

 

[Metallo]

I think the players play a pretty major role. They want perfection way too often and tend to get cute. The perfection thing that drives me the most nuts is MacK wants the pass setting up his one time in such a small area. If it doesn't hit that 6" window, he passes it back to Makar almost every time to set it up again. If he'd just fire the puck slightly outside that window more often, he'd score a lot more goals. He isn't like Rants that'll adjust to it. Drives me insane.

Amen.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I think the players play a pretty major role. They want perfection way too often and tend to get cute. The perfection thing that drives me the most nuts is MacK wants the pass setting up his one time in such a small area. If it doesn't hit that 6" window, he passes it back to Makar almost every time to set it up again. If he'd just fire the puck slightly outside that window more often, he'd score a lot more goals. He isn't like Rants that'll adjust to it. Drives me insane.

This drives me up a f***in wall.

Some players just don't have that big of a wheelhouse tho. Mack is pretty picky when it comes to receiving a pass but maybe he knows his shot is shit if it's not how he likes it.

Brett Hull had a 6 foot wide radius of a wheelhouse. I swear you put that puck anywhere near him and he's getting a one timer off.

Might be the best player I have ever seen at this. Couldnt give a bad pass to Hull.

 

[henchman21]

Some players just don't have that big of a wheelhouse tho. Mack is pretty picky when it comes to receiving a pass but maybe he knows his shot is shit if it's not how he likes it.

Brett Hull had a 6 foot wide radius of a wheelhouse. I swear you put that puck anywhere near him and he's getting a one timer off.

It is a skill that can be worked on and should be.

 

[Avs91]

Avalanche notes: Shawn Allard's departure, thoughts on the Tomas Tatar signing, more

Colorado got better by signing Tatar, but the biggest questions about him can't be answered until the playoffs.

theathletic.com

Looks like he spoke to Peter, and if you don't have access, it's just that his contract expired and he has kids/family he wants to be more involved with (no other job or anything, at least not right now). Good for him.

 

[Bender]

They should be setting up Mikko as the primary one time target anyway, he’s the better pp goal scorer.

Yeah but Mikko is a better passer/playmaker than Mack, imo.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Yeah but Mikko is a better passer/playmaker than Mack, imo.

Mikko is doing no playmaking on the pp sadly.

 

[Foppa2118]

Mikko is doing no playmaking on the pp sadly.

Mikko did lead Avs forwards in PP assists last year. Two more than Nate and one less than Cale.

Led the team in primary PP assists too. 1 more than Cale and 11 more than the next forward in MacKinnon.

9th among forwards in the NHL and 4th in primary PP assists among NHL forwards as well.

He's not that pure playmaker where you know he's looking to setup a pass the whole time. He's more of that sneaky good passer with elite vision and instincts, who just knows whether the better play is to pass or shoot, so he racks up the numbers.

Probably also why he can look like he's having a bad game but still end up with 2-3 points.

 

[MarkT]

Mikko did lead Avs forwards in PP assists last year. Two more than Nate and one less than Cale.

Led the team in primary PP assists too. 1 more than Cale and 11 more than the next forward in MacKinnon.

9th among forwards in the NHL and 4th in primary PP assists among NHL forwards as well.

He's not that pure playmaker where you know he's looking to setup a pass the whole time. He's more of that sneaky good passer with elite vision and instincts, who just knows whether the better play is to pass or shoot, so he racks up the numbers.

Probably also why he can look like he's having a bad game but still end up with 2-3 points.

Exactly. A "playmaker" is usually a guy who was the puck on his stick, skating around with it and making passes to open guys. Mikko will do whatever is most likely to lead to a goal, which could be shooting, setting someone up, carrying the puck, or cycling it. This is why he's so great - he's not a one dimensional player.