Eurolanche

Top 9

So before I get going on today’s topic let’s start with some different news. Greg Zanon and Matt Hunwick are on waivers. Not the kind that leads to buyouts. The kind of waivers that leads to playing for the Lake Erie Monsters. I think Zanon passes through and doesn’t get picked up. Hunwick will most likely get grabbed by someone. He is still serviceable D man with a year left on his contract at 1.6 million. It is good news because it makes almost 4 million more in cap room which the Avs will probably use to go after some better D-men.

So back on topic today is Offense. More so Patrick Roy already is setting his lines for next year and some of the responses to that. If you haven’t seen the lines yet this is what has been reported

O’Reilly-Duchene-Parenteau

Landeskog-Stastny-Tanguay

McGinn-MacKinnon-Downie

With the fourth line probably centered by Mitchell with McLeod, Bordeleau and Olver on those wings. So first off I am seeing a lot of people losing it on these line combos for various reasons. So I figure I would take a look at some of those see how serious they actually are.

First off obviously these are subject to change. Don’t take these lines as set in stones. If they are then yes I will agree Roy will probably be a bad coach. But since I believe Roy is not going to be a bad coach I don’t believe these are set in stone. These are just what Roy likes on paper now in his mind. Come training camp they could easily change based on how players perform or chemistry.

Plus never forget one of the biggest things to always happen to this team ever year injuries! The Avs have the injury bug in a bad bad way. Most likely some of those guys will get injured at some point and lines will shift. So if you don’t see your dream line yet just give it time it will probably happen.

O’Reilly on the wing I think surprises people more than anything. Because taking MacKinnon was supposed to mean Stastny leaving to so many. Well as of right now it doesn’t. It means Factor on the wing. Which I have zero problems with. I think a lot of people forget much like I do because of the whole contract problems. What a hard worker and rink rat O’Reilly is. This guy loves the game and works hard to get better. So I think he can easily become a good winger. It isn’t like this was a game night decision surprise position change. This whole offseason as a warning to O’Reilly who I think will train hard to become a successful winger.

What does this mean for Hejduk? I see that question asked a lot. It pretty clear I think it means goodbye to the great Duke. Maybe not anything is hockey or life is ever 100%. Personally I don’t think the Avs have any interest in him but you never know. If he still wants to play I hope he finds a team and has a good year. He is a great man and player. His time with the Avs may have just run out. Sometimes you have to move on to succeed as much as no one wants to see Duke go.

Some more minor stuff like MacKinnon as a third line center makes no sense. Or Tanguay on the right side instead of the left wing. Again lines change as well so shifts length and time on the ice. Remember when O’Reilly and Landy were the third line depth wise but playing all the minutes and getting all the points. No matter what this is very exciting times for the Avs so let just enjoy it more and worry less. At least till the puck drops.