Eurolanche

Preview: They have to make the playoffs

Joe Sacco will be under higher pressure than never before. The Colorado Avalanche fans are not willing to wait one more year. They want to see their beloved team in the playoffs soon. Very soon. In this season. The Avs have to make their road to the final stage. The majority of the success will depend on one player. It is not the young captain, overrated unnamed center or two great goalies. It is Matt Duchene. The Avalanche first round pick had terrible season last year. It all resulted to sending down Duchene in the fourth line. In this season, it is unacceptable. Duchene could become the leader of all centers in the first line with Gabriel Landeskog and P.A. Parenteau. The arrival of P.A. and placing him on the right wing to Duchene´s line is a clear evidence of a help by the management and coaches. After his rookie season, Duchene could not find a right right wing. If the hockey relationship between P.A. and Duchene will work, I have no doubt the line will never change (except injuries). Landeskog is one of the greatest talents in the league. I have no doubts he will be great captain. Just check his non-NHL references. But if Duchene will continue in his last season´s performance, there would be no playoffs again.

The second line includes two well-paid and „older“ players – Paul Stastny and David Jones. Stastny will have one of the last chances to prove he deserves at least a half of his luxury contract. The unchanged shape will mean his end in the Avalanche organization what was unimaginable years ago. He will be under the same pressure like Sacoo, and mainly Duchene. Now we can see that fans and people around the team will await big things from the first top centers – both of them had failed in the past. This does not look good. Stastny has had a ton of secondary chances. Our eyes are focused on Duchene again. On the left wing plays Jamie McGinn. He is not big individuality person like Landeskog and will not be able to fight for the whole second line if Stastny and Jones would be in trouble. Jones enjoys his big contract and it will be on him if he wants to become another „Stastny“ or not. Overall, the second line raises most questions. And I am not too positive about it.

Veteran Milan Hejduk is supposed to stay in the third for the whole season. We know it, he knows it. He will be a dark horse of the team. Yes, he had the same bad season as Duchene last year and also we cannot expect such big things from him as from Matt, but the shortened season could help get back his scoring skills. With the hard playing man Steve Downie on the left wing and centering the two-way skilled John Mitchell, the third line is the most colorful on the roster. Downie can fight for teammates, sometimes makes bad penalties, but also can score. Mitchell could become the replacement of Jay McClement and he could be even better. In a case of fails made by Stastny and co., I see all guys from the third in the mixture in the north side.

Fourth line is a place for various players. Chuck Kobasew is sick and will not able play this weekend. I think he will be off at many points in this season. He is the next Matt Hunwick. Cody McLeod is the class and the kind of face of the organization after so many years. He does what he is supposed to do. From the Lake Erie Monsters, Michael Sgarbossa is a huge candidate for many call ups, Tyson Barrie is now healthy scratch, but we are going to see him in more games than the last year. His partner of the defensive pair, Stefan Elliott has very bad season in the AHL and is one of the candidates for a trade. Finally, Monsters and Denver Cutthroats have four very talented goalies, so we do not have to worry what would happen if Varly of Jiggy gets injured. At least not so much than other teams.

Regarding the other teams. I think most of them underestimate the role of the backup goalies. The Avs have probably the best duo in the league. The chemistry between them is unbelievable. Do you remember how reliable was Jean-Sebastien Giguere when Semyon Varlamov had a bad time in the last year? 48-game season means the fast pace, the frequent changes of goalies in the net – and this could be the key factor in the success in this regular season. With no good backup, I do not see many teams who are supposed to be at the top in the playoffs.

The defensive pairs had another year behind them. With no major changes, guys are should be ready to show more and be better than their colleagues from the offensive lines. Erik Johnson has to start his show together with Shane O´Brien. Jan Hejda should improve well, but his role is underestimated. With Ryan O´Byrne in the one pair, the Avs have good defensive-defense guys. This will be the season of Ryan Wilson. He is not going to be next Johnson, but could get closer. He is in the good age and should definitely to show he belongs to one of the two pairs. His talent is underrated. The arrival of Greg Zanon indicates rumors about the possible trade of one or more d-men. I have no opinion on his play, but I am looking forward.

Offensive: With a lot of question in the second line, but with a big hope on the arms of Duchene, the offensive raises most questions amongst the team. I do not believe that Sacco will mix lineups again. I believe in the final success of the first line, but I am not positive about Stastny. It is clear the offensive will be not the strongest part of the team this year. Rating: 7.5/10

Defensive: Many fans do not believe in our six guys. They probably forget on Johnson, experienced Hejda, hard playing O´Brien, tall O´Byrne and talented Wilson. These guys have another year in their stats and life. I expect big progress, especially on the penalty kills. Rating: 8/10

Goalies: The best pair? I think so. No words needed. Varlamov showed everything in the KHL. He is going to have a big season. Rating: 9/10

Overall: As a fan, I want the Stanley Cup and I think the Colorado Avalanche will win it. As a writer, I see definitely playoffs as the objective goal. Fans do not want again. But if...? What then? Is would all Sacco´s fault? Or just some players do not deserve to play roles which they supposed to play regarding their contracts? Goalies are perfect, defensive had to improve in the last season, offensive raises question, but the new leader could mean the new success. At least in the first round. Hard to say. The Avalanche surprised both positively and negatively us in the past. Overall rating: 24.5/10

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