The Avalanche were the odd man out in the Central this year, and while they look to be players of the future, they will need to keep adding if they expect to compete in the best division in hockey. It seems like ownership is determined to stick it out with colorful coach Patrick Roy and GM Joe Sakic, so let’s see if the fourth go around together comes with better results for these two, or if they could only come up with one year of good hockey.
1. Center DepthÂ
Having come close to trading their number one center two years in a row, the Avalanche are dangerously close to some of the weakest center depth in the league. While Patrick Roy is clearly not a fan of Matt Duchene, Duchene put up good numbers to earn his keep. But if he could be used as the second line center, it gives the Avalanche a proven center on the second, and gives them better depth, a need in this division.
Somebody like David Backes could come in, on a cheaper deal because of his age, and immediately contribute. Plus, the Avalanche seem to like older players, and it would be sweet revenge for the Blues having stolen Paul Stastny. Backes would provide a physical threat, which the Avs don’t have in the top 6, as well as play with quick wings like MacKinnon and Landeskog. If the Avalanche somehow managed to get back to the playoffs, Backes has proven this year to be a contributor there as well.
2. Extensions
The Avalanche have a large number of key players for the future coming into restricted free agency this year, and some of them should never have been allowed to reach this point. Names like Nathan MacKinnon, Tyson Barrie, and Calvin Pickard are needing new contracts, and if the Avalanche expect to be competitive they need these guys. MacKinnon finished third on the team with 52 points, and missed ten games. Barrie was one of the best (and youngest) defensemen for the Avs, and while he didn’t have as good a season as last year, the Avalanche as a whole slumped. And Calvin Pickard is the future backup goaltender for the Avalanche (we’ll get to it).
If these players are not offered contracts soon, there will be offer sheets, especially on Barrie and MacKinnon, with teams in need of scoring and defense.
3. Youth Injection
The Colorado Avalanche need to get younger. This is almost a proven stat at this point, as the team was fourth oldest in terms of average age. This was largely because of players like Francois Beauchemin, Brad Stuart, and Jarome Iginla, who despite their advanced age, can still be competitive and contributors, but for how long? The Avalanche need youth, especially on defense, where their youngest proven defenseman is Barrie at 24. They have Chris Bigras who looks like a good addition, and allowing him to play more minutes will help the defense improve. They need more. They can’t have over 35 players play a ton of minutes like they will need in the playoffs, and that’s a need in today’s defensive schemes.
The Avalanche have a top ten pick, and can (and should) use it on defense. Still, the offense also needs new blood, and the only prospect in their system that could truly make a difference is Mikko Rantanen.
The Avalanche have only two forwards under 23 in Landeskog and MacKinnon. They have Bigras and Nikita Zadorov on defense. But they need more and quickly, because a team looking towards the future needs to have players willing to play past next year.
4. Goaltending
Seymon Varlamov is not the player he was when he came close to the Vezina. He has grown further and further away from that point, and he could not be relied upon this season, posting a 2.81 GAA and only a .914 SV. He may not be able to get back to the player the Avalanche need, and they need to have a contingency plan in place.
Calvin Pickard is a solid player, but I don’t know if he’s anything more than a consistent and proven back up goaltender. As a goaltender, Pickard is very young (24), and he could surprise me, but I want a proven talent, and I don’t think that is Pickard, though a full season of his stats could prove me wrong – he posted a team best .922 SV and a better-than-Varlamov 2.56 GAA. With the defense unable to contend this year, those may improve exponentially when they have a younger/better force in front of them.
Reto Berra couldn’t win games, but was the best goaltender for the Avalanche this season, though that may be because of a small sample size. His 2.41 GAA led the team, and he tied with Pickard at .922. But again, this was through only 12 starts and 14 games, and in those games he surrendered 29 goals, close to what Pickard allowed in 13 starts and 20 games.
The Avalanche need someone reliable, and while they have many goaltenders in the system, none of them seem like the answer. They have a lot of cap space, and while some of it needs to be devoted to MacKinnon and Barrie, another chunk could go to luring in a goaltender or trading for one.
This is a team that should be on the rise very soon. I don’t expect them to be in the cellar much longer, when three years ago they gave perennial playoff entries Minnesota a run for their money. But they need to get younger and deeper if they expect to contend.