Where do the Avs need to improve?

[RoyIsALegend]

I don’t think it’s realistic of us to believe Erik Johnson will be on the 3rd pairing or play the 5th/6th most minutes at any point this season.

Let’s be honest.

We might have our opinion of him right now, but he has averaged over 22 minutes this season... the most of any D... and Bednar will lean on him.

With Zadorov’s recent emergence, the acquisition of a top 4 D becomes less likely. Bednar has been praising him, and he would need top 4 minutes to pair up against the other team’s best line, too.

ATOI this season...

Johnson - 22:12
Girard - 21:41
Makar - 20:10
Zadorov - 19:16 (up significantly last 2-3 weeks)
Cole - 17:42
Graves - 16:49
Barberio - 15:38
Rosen - 14:19

Like it or not, your pairs are right there. Yeah, Girard-EJ doesn’t work and Makar should be away from Zads if Zads is against the 1st line of other teams... but there it is.

Girard - Johnson
Zadorov - Makar
Graves - Cole
Barberio/Rosen

As stated, our evaluation of EJ being so far off from Bednar’s and the development of Zadorov makes the potential acquisition of a top 4 D pretty unlikely.

Just my observation.

 

[flyfysher]

I don’t think it’s realistic of us to believe Erik Johnson will be on the 3rd pairing or play the 5th/6th most minutes at any point this season.

Let’s be honest.

We might have our opinion of him right now, but he has averaged over 22 minutes this season... the most of any D... and Bednar will lean on him.

With Zadorov’s recent emergence, the acquisition of a top 4 D becomes less likely. Bednar has been praising him, and he would need top 4 minutes to pair up against the other team’s best line, too.

ATOI this season...

Johnson - 22:12
Girard - 21:41
Makar - 20:10
Zadorov - 19:16 (up significantly last 2-3 weeks)
Cole - 17:42
Graves - 16:49
Barberio - 15:38
Rosen - 14:19

Like it or not, your pairs are right there. Yeah, Girard-EJ doesn’t work and Makar should be away from Zads if Zads is against the 1st line of other teams... but there it is.

Girard - Johnson
Zadorov - Makar
Graves - Cole
Barberio/Rosen

As stated, our evaluation of EJ being so far off from Bednar’s and the development of Zadorov makes the potential acquisition of a top 4 D pretty unlikely.

Just my observation.

After a terrific start to the season, Girard's play recently has been sub-par. Someone else wrote that they felt it was due to him getting too much ice time. I don't follow the number of minutes they play but I'd be in favor of cutting back his ice time to see if his play improves. I'd still feel a lot better about contending if we picked up another top 4 D-man.

 

[Avs71]

I don’t think it’s realistic of us to believe Erik Johnson will be on the 3rd pairing or play the 5th/6th most minutes at any point this season.

Let’s be honest.

We might have our opinion of him right now, but he has averaged over 22 minutes this season... the most of any D... and Bednar will lean on him.

With Zadorov’s recent emergence, the acquisition of a top 4 D becomes less likely. Bednar has been praising him, and he would need top 4 minutes to pair up against the other team’s best line, too.

ATOI this season...

Johnson - 22:12
Girard - 21:41
Makar - 20:10
Zadorov - 19:16 (up significantly last 2-3 weeks)
Cole - 17:42
Graves - 16:49
Barberio - 15:38
Rosen - 14:19

Like it or not, your pairs are right there. Yeah, Girard-EJ doesn’t work and Makar should be away from Zads if Zads is against the 1st line of other teams... but there it is.

Girard - Johnson
Zadorov - Makar
Graves - Cole
Barberio/Rosen

As stated, our evaluation of EJ being so far off from Bednar’s and the development of Zadorov makes the potential acquisition of a top 4 D pretty unlikely.

Just my observation.

This is a good point, and I’m sure it will go back to this.

The only thing that would lead me to believe otherwise is in the playoffs last year, EJ didn’t break 20 minutes since game 4 against the Flames, playing as low as 16 minutes in some games. 9/12 playoff games he didn’t see more than 20 minutes of ice, so when he is struggling, I don’t think the staff has concerns about cutting his ice way down.

 

[S E P H]

Honestly? Nemeth.

 

[Pokecheque]

Honestly? Nemeth.

Honestly...not the worst idea in the world. He's posting shockingly good numbers on an absolutely horrendous Detroit team.

 

[Pokecheque]

As far as EJ goes, I'm not entirely convinced Bednar will use him in the top four. He tends to lean on him but has, in the past, drastically cut his minutes in the past, even when it was a mistake to do so. And also again in the postseason when he struggled against the Flames. We'll see what happens. Recent struggles of other defensemen may also make the decision for him.

 

[CobraAcesS]

I don’t think it’s realistic of us to believe Erik Johnson will be on the 3rd pairing or play the 5th/6th most minutes at any point this season.

Let’s be honest.

We might have our opinion of him right now, but he has averaged over 22 minutes this season... the most of any D... and Bednar will lean on him.

With Zadorov’s recent emergence, the acquisition of a top 4 D becomes less likely. Bednar has been praising him, and he would need top 4 minutes to pair up against the other team’s best line, too.

ATOI this season...

Johnson - 22:12
Girard - 21:41
Makar - 20:10
Zadorov - 19:16 (up significantly last 2-3 weeks)
Cole - 17:42
Graves - 16:49
Barberio - 15:38
Rosen - 14:19

Like it or not, your pairs are right there. Yeah, Girard-EJ doesn’t work and Makar should be away from Zads if Zads is against the 1st line of other teams... but there it is.

Girard - Johnson
Zadorov - Makar
Graves - Cole
Barberio/Rosen

As stated, our evaluation of EJ being so far off from Bednar’s and the development of Zadorov makes the potential acquisition of a top 4 D pretty unlikely.

Just my observation.

I still like my crazy idea of trying Makar with EJ, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[SaltySkywalker]

Well, since our lady reporters can’t get any hotter, I’d probably say our medical staff and their time table diagnosis

 

[Bubba Thudd]

"Where do the Avs need to improve?"

On the ice.
In the game.
When it gets physical.

 

[Rosy Cheeks]

As mentioned in other threads. There are too many busts drafted in this range:

2016	1	10	Tyson Jost	Canada	C	141	24	25	49	40	—	—	—	—	—
2011	1	11	Duncan Siemens	Canada	D	20	1	1	2	25	—	—	—	—	—
2018	1	16	Martin Kaut	Czech Republic	RW	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2019	1	16	Alex Newhook	Canada	C	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010	1	17	Joey Hishon	Canada	C	13	1	1	2	0	—	—	—	—	—
2014	1	23	Conner Bleackley	Canada	C	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2013	2	32	Chris Bigras	Canada	D	46	1	3	4	18	—	—	—	—	—
2017	2	32	Conor Timmins	Canada	D	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2015	2	39	A. J. Greer	Canada	LW	37	1	5	6	47	—	—	—	—	—
2015	2	40	Nicolas Meloche	Canada	D	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016	2	40	Cameron Morrison	Canada	LW	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2012	2	41	Mitchell Heard

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Pokecheque]

Where do they need to improve...?

RIGHT f***ING HERE, THAT'S WHERE