Avalanche Season Preview
Avs ready for 06/07
Organization vows to make playoffs
The Colorado Avalanche were in disarray when GM Jam26 took the reigns in October of last year, but there is a renewed sense of optimism among fans in Denver.
The team has been stripped to its foundation and rebuilt, much to the approval of the fans who enjoyed a run to the top four during the recent summer tournament. Still, GM Jam26 is quick to remind fans the rebuilding process continues and there is still much work to be done.
Coach Paul Maurice takes over behind the bench this year and he has a lot more talent to work with than the team had last year. With injuries decimating the Avs in the last few months of the 05/06 season, the team stocked up on prospects earning it the #5 spot on the 2006 Future Watch rankings.
Since then, some of those youngsters have been moved to ice a competitive team in 06/07 – one that by all means should make the playoffs and perhaps even start the post-season with home ice advantage. Anything less than a playoff appearance this year will be unacceptable, Jam26 has warned.
Despite moving some youth, the Avs still have 7 of their 10 top prospects which earned them fifth place in the prospect rankings.
The Avs’ biggest acquisitions during the off-season include: Rob Blake, Miroslav Satan and Bill Guerin. Cristobal Huet has also joined the team, providing depth at goal alongside Jocelyn Thibault.
The starting lineup as the team prepares for the 06/07 season looks like this:
Vasicek (75) - Rucchin (76) – Satan (80)
Moreau (75) – Sillinger (76) –Guerin (78)
Pisani (74) – Brylin (75) – Neidermayer (75)
Czerkawski (70) – Holmqvist (71) – Cleary (73)
Blake (83) –Zyuzin (74)
Skrastins (73) –Baumgartner (71)
Gorges (71) – Ulanov (71)
Thibault (77)
Huet (76)
GM Jam26 has acknowledged improvements are required at defense and will be looking to improve the team throughout the course of the year. However, he says he wants to see what this lineup is capable of through the pre-season and into the regular season given their strong performance in the summer tournament.
Maurice has publicly stated the starting goalie job is up for grabs with both Huet and Thibault expected to start plenty of games – at least until one of them earns the role of the undisputed #1 ‘tender. Hopefully, having two equal goalies share responsibilities as starter will result in a well-rested tandem heading into the playoffs.
The biggest assets the Avalanche have going for them this season are stability and depth. They’re not the flashiest of teams but they have a strong core of players – anyone of whom is capable of stepping it up on any given night. Management seems committed to returning glory to this once proud franchise.
The team’s most glaring weakness is depth at defense, and – beyond Satan – a lack of pure goal scorers. In order to win, this group will have to come together and work well as a team. Jam26 is confident Paul Maurice is the guy who can ensure that happens.
All in all, the Avs expect to be vastly improved compared to last year. They intend to make the playoffs and once there, to create some noise.
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"Next time you come to Edmonton in June, July, or August, check out the colour of the grass in Calgary before you leave. It's brown and yellow....i.e lack of precipitation," - Sundeep, Feb. 6, 2005
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