[jam26]

With a pivotal matchup against the Kings all that remains before the Christmas break, Colorado GM Jam26 took a few moments to discuss the season thus far with the local media.
"Overall, this team is exceeding expectations and I think we owe a lot of credit to Paul Maurice, who has these guys playing hard every night," Jam said. "We're getting balanced scoring and that's what we need without a top sniper."
Sillinger leads the way offensively with more than a point per game. Other pleasant surprises include Pisani and R. Neidermayer. Chad Kilger has been a nice addition to the team and has provided some much needed grit, as well as the odd goal.
On defence, Rob Blake has been Rob Blake, very solid and a good playmaker. The team misses Sergei Gonchar, and Bryan McCabe may be moved if he doesn't begin producing.
Another pleasant surprise has been in goal, where Cristobal Huet has proven he's for real. Huet boasts a 2.06 GAA and .901 Save %. Still, he shares duties with Thibault, who has had hot and cold streaks.
The Avs have been at or near the top of the Howe Conference all season long. Can it continue?
"Our goal remains to finish in a playoff spot with home ice advantage in the first round," stated Jam26. "The Oilers are coming on strong and the Kings and Wild are always going to be tough to stay ahead of. This team could possibly take the conference, but we have to focus on taking it one game at a time and improving the club overall."
The manager hinted more changes could be on the way before the second half of the season commences. Rumours are circulating that the Avs are looking to move some youth to upgrade at several positions. They're also considering shipping out a few players who haven't met expectations.
There are plenty of rumours about Bill Guerin's future with the club. He started off strong but has since seen his point production slip. He's been moved to the second line and recently scratched himself for a game versus the Sharks. One has to wonder about his future in Colorado.
Overall, the Avs give themselves a B+ for the first half of the season, but there's still work to do in order to compete with the league's elite.