WC Playoffs Round 1: Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild (Wild win 4-3).

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Could see this series shifting with the Wild at home. They can get Suter matched up against the MacKinnon/Stastny/Landeskog trio who is roasting the other Wild d-pairings.

Even if this does happen it's going to be pretty funny when Duchene comes back. "Hey guys we managed to finally figure out how to contain that pesky Stastny line so now all we have to do is oh FML they have another elite scoring machine." Among my favourite quotes of the season, and I can't remember who said it, was "Nathan Mackinnon is like the skilled version of Matt Duchene. Which is scary, because Matt Duchene is also the skilled version of Matt Duchene."

I still think they'll get roasted in the second round but it's turning out that CHI/STL is the bloodbath we all thought it might be, so who knows, maybe injuries level that playing field.

[Street Pharmacist]

Here's a stat for you:

-Roy's first season in the AHL-Calder Cup
-Roy's first season in Montreal-Stanley Cup
-Roy's first season in Colorado-Stanley Cup
-Roy's first season as Coach of the Remparts-Memorial Cup
-Roy's first season coaching the Avalanche????

[ForeverFlameFan]

Nathan Mackinnon with 7 points (1 G - 6 A) in just two games of the playoffs.

Wow. He is by far the best player on their team. I think this kid could have made any team make the playoffs if Colorado didn't draft him.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Here's a stat for you:

-Roy's first season in the AHL-Calder Cup
-Roy's first season in Montreal-Stanley Cup
-Roy's first season in Colorado-Stanley Cup
-Roy's first season as Coach of the Remparts-Memorial Cup
-Roy's first season coaching the Avalanche????

That is quite the list there. Someone sure does know how to win. Maybe MacT should learn a little bit from this guy.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Here's a stat for you:

-Roy's first season in the AHL-Calder Cup
-Roy's first season in Montreal-Stanley Cup
-Roy's first season in Colorado-Stanley Cup
-Roy's first season as Coach of the Remparts-Memorial Cup
-Roy's first season coaching the Avalanche????

[bubbsy]

i am guilty of completely ignoring this series altogether. I just felt as though, regardless of who wins this, they have no shot next round.

i suppose i'll have to tune in next game though, the kid and stastny seem to be ripping it up.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Nathan Mackinnon with 7 points (1 G - 6 A) in just two games of the playoffs.

Wow. He is by far the best player on their team. I think this kid could have made any team make the playoffs if Colorado didn't draft him.

Too bad Colorado pulled the huge tank last year.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Too bad Colorado pulled the huge tank last year.

Ignorance is bliss.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Too bad Colorado pulled the huge tank last year.

Didn't their GM get fired? To intentionally tank and lose your job just so you could make the team better for your successor doesn't make any sense to me. They kept Sacco because they knew that Roy was the guy that they wanted, but since he was unavailable until this season, it didn't make any sense to bring someone new in. They also didn't sell off any of their players, so I don't think there was any intentional tanking going on. They just happened to suck at the right time.

[19Yzerman19]

To be fair, they're still nowhere near as good as they appear, but they're playing Minnesota who are a fairly mediocre team. The Avs are sort of like Toronto lite - all-around better at hockey than Toronto, and with better top-end forward talent, but still relying on that top end forward talent to disguise the serious issues elsewhere in the lineup.

It's a fun team to watch but I would not pick them to come close to winning their division next season. They'll be subject to a correction much like the Leafs were, except not to the same extent (i.e. they'll probably be hovering around the bottom seed in the division or one of the wild card spots rather than missing the playoffs altogether).

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Nathan Mackinnon with 7 points (1 G - 6 A) in just two games of the playoffs.

Wow. He is by far the best player on their team. I think this kid could have made any team make the playoffs if Colorado didn't draft him.

he is not by far the best player on their team, likely will be some time but not now

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

he is not by far the best player on their team, likely will be some time but not now

He arguably is, he is filling in for Duchene and is doing a terrific job at it.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

He arguably is, he is filling in for Duchene and is doing a terrific job at it.

how can someone be arguably their best player BY FAR that makes no sense. If it was by far there would be no argument


they have lots of good players playing well right now, Stastny has 3 goals and 4 assists


really they were fortunate to win game one

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

To be fair, they're still nowhere near as good as they appear, but they're playing Minnesota who are a fairly mediocre team. The Avs are sort of like Toronto lite - all-around better at hockey than Toronto, and with better top-end forward talent, but still relying on that top end forward talent to disguise the serious issues elsewhere in the lineup.

It's a fun team to watch but I would not pick them to come close to winning their division next season. They'll be subject to a correction much like the Leafs were, except not to the same extent (i.e. they'll probably be hovering around the bottom seed in the division or one of the wild card spots rather than missing the playoffs altogether).

Man, look at their roster.

Elite goalie trending upwards? Yep.

18 year old franchise centre? Yep.

23 year old franchise centre? Yep.

23 year old soon to be Selke winning centre/winger? Yep.

21 year old captain who leads by example? Yep.

To compare that to the Leafs is insane.

Oh, they're not up 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs?

Oh, they didn't have four 60+ point scorers under the age of 24? Another one that's only 27?

They're a good friggin' team. They're going to be a good friggin' team for a long, long time.

Look at the centres they have! Their goaltending is stellar, and their D could use some work (although, Johnson and Barrie are high-level, young and improving). The Avs are this good.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

To be fair, they're still nowhere near as good as they appear, but they're playing Minnesota who are a fairly mediocre team. The Avs are sort of like Toronto lite - all-around better at hockey than Toronto, and with better top-end forward talent, but still relying on that top end forward talent to disguise the serious issues elsewhere in the lineup.

It's a fun team to watch but I would not pick them to come close to winning their division next season. They'll be subject to a correction much like the Leafs were, except not to the same extent (i.e. they'll probably be hovering around the bottom seed in the division or one of the wild card spots rather than missing the playoffs altogether).

They really needed to make a move on their defense this year.

They've got some big salaries starting next year:
Duchene moves from 3.5 to 6
Landeskog moves from 925k to 5.57
Varlamov goes from 2.8 to 5.9
ROR is back to being an RFA and you know that is going to be a battle, wouldn't surprise me if they trade him since he's going to want more than Duchene.

Plus Statsny as a UFA.


The one saving grace is that Tanguay/Parenteau contracts expire at the same time as MacKinnon will start getting paid.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

how can someone be arguably their best player BY FAR that makes no sense. If it was by far there would be no argument


they have lots of good players playing well right now, Stastny has 3 goals and 4 assists


really they were fortunate to win game one

Maybe I used a poor choice of words, still doesn't change my opinion on the 18 year old being the best hockey player on their team, he's only going to get better. He is primarily the reason why they are up 2-0 in the series.

The only way Colorado loses a couple of games is if Minnesota manages to shut down the Statsny - Mackinnon - Landeskog line.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

They really needed to make a move on their defense this year.

They've got some big salaries starting next year:
Duchene moves from 3.5 to 6
Landeskog moves from 925k to 5.57
Varlamov goes from 2.8 to 5.9
ROR is back to being an RFA and you know that is going to be a battle, wouldn't surprise me if they trade him since he's going to want more than Duchene.

Plus Statsny as a UFA.


The one saving grace is that Tanguay/Parenteau contracts expire at the same time as MacKinnon will start getting paid.

Yeah their D is nowhere good enough to win it all, will be interesting what happens with them in the summer. I would offer Stastny a massive contract if I was another GM like say Brian Burke.

[Burke Salad]

My Oilersesque analysis of this series had Minnesota taking advantage of an inexperienced Avalanche club! Burke Salad is no good!

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Maybe I used a poor choice of words, still doesn't change my opinion on the 18 year old being the best hockey player on their team, he's only going to get better. He is primarily the reason why they are up 2-0 in the series.

The only way Colorado loses a couple of games is if Minnesota manages to shut down the Statsny - Mackinnon - Landeskog line.

well I would say those 3 are the primary reason...so we partially agree. Not taking anything away though. Don't count Minny out though, really they should have won game 1

[manwiches]

i had completely forgotten that Tanguay went to Colorado. haha.