|
|
Post by W on Aug 4, 2018 10:03:15 GMT
You suck.
Statistically it can be proven. Any change made only exploits the already bloated issues. Maybe with the right line mate, or under the right tactic, some secret to success can be revealed. But underneath the stone is only a stabbing reality that there is no secret. That no matter how hard you try, the result is the same.
Demoralization is the face of the ghost come to reap your dreams. He greets us outside the door of the dressing room each time we hang our heads to thunderous applause, and again upon entering to silence. He is there, every day, for a month. In the eyes of your comrades, you see them trying to keep it together, in every empty rallying-cry, every speech veiled in hard-nosed optimism. It's a waste of breath, of time, and the owner is not impressed with the "entertainment value." As if to say, 'If you're going to not be any good, might as well look good doing it.'
It's the end of December, and no one could be happier to go home to their families than this entire organization. Maybe a rest is what's needed, a perspective change, time to center oneself. But upon returning, dread sets like a red sun, and the tensions arise once more. No one is confident, no one trusts, and nothing goes your way. The third day is a helpless defeat to a crumbling rival who just traded with you, not one goal passed through, and the third game revisits the first with more frustration.
The calm before the storm so it's said, the ugly one, where he who holds the most power makes the decisions, and no one ever enjoys those results. It began with MacKinnon, but may end with W, with no first round pick this year, moved for Muzzin to LA, who was then flipped for Theodore and the condition locked by the Commissioner that wasn't stated in the original deal. W isn't helping things here. A playoff birth is needed or this story may end in the tragic trilogy that was the beginning and ending of something great.
8+2=10
|
|
|
|
Post by W on Aug 10, 2018 21:47:54 GMT
One bles'sed hell (of a) ride. (Recap)
This season began like the last, started strong then calmed into mediocrity. Then, Buckley then began a series of moves unprecedented in his tenure as GM. Big ones. In an effort to change the status quo, Nathan Mackinnon, Kyle Wood and Erik Johnson and were traded to St Louis for Colton Parayko, Nick Schmaltz and Calvin De Haan. St Louis got back EJ. It was a move to change the culture and finally get a number one defender. Mackinnon was having a poor season, but one that Schmaltz underachieved in even reaching. Wood and De Haan have since been relegated to minor league duties.
Schmaltz was later moved to Edmonton in another blockbuster with Nikita Zadorov for Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse and a 2nd round. Replacing MacKinnon, this marks the first time Buckley's had a bonafide number one Center, Defender and Goaltender since the last time he won the Cup (in another league).
A retained Tyson Barrie went to Ottawa for Mikael Granlund, which Buckley followed up with a 2nd for his brother Markus. of the two, Markus remains as Mikael shipped to Minnesota for a projected low 2nd from Montreal who has since left.
In the arguably the most heartbreaking move was Colborne to Philadelphia for a 3rd round and Connor Bunnaman.
"We could really use Colborne right now too," Wyatt said.
But it still wasn't enough and Colorado still fell out of the playoff race. They then selected from the draft very promising forward Alex Newhook.
This season's woes didn't really begin until December, Colorado went from a bubble team to a top 5 lottery pick in one month. It started with an experimental lineup (as it usually does) but really hit when he traded for Jake Muzzin from LA in exchange for Sam Girard and what was then projected to be a very high first round pick in a condition that Muzzin would be re-signed by COL. However there was an issue with the paperwork as both players were locked into their respective teams for another week, resulting in Colorado falling further down the charts. However, Muzzin never played for Colorado and was quickly flipped to Minnesota for Shea Theodore, with an added condition. That meant the original condition was flipped to Minnesota. Colorado is guaranteed to lose one of their next two firsts. To further the matter worse, the guys still weren't clicking. He'd made a hash of the whole thing.
But all it takes is one player to set the tone that everyone follows. In this case it was Gabriel Landeskog pulling the team through the mud to play and holding them accountable, as well as a big move that landed Kyle Okposo from Pittsburgh as the 2nd line center in exchange for Tyson Jost, Connor Timmins and prospect Shane Bowers who had been coming along nicely, projecting to fill the 2nd or 3rd line center spot. But in Okposo's first 8 games as an Av, he collected 10 points. He was later named to the All-Star game as Colorado's only representative.
The trade was supplemented by another massive move between the two teams. Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen and Alexander Kerfoot for Olli Maatta, Jake Guentzel, Riley Sheahan and Tom Kuhnhackl.
As Buckley put it, "Upgrade on Kerfooot and Greer (Guentzel and Kuhnhackl). The other two are lateral moves toward D."
Hardly. Rantanen's explosive offensive prowess has yet to be replaced but has needed to be with Kyle Okposo doing the heavy lifting currently enjoying an 8-game point streak. Lawson Crouse has not worked out on the first line with Landeskog and Draisaitl (but he does work well with Landeskog on the 3rd line, hmmm...) and has since been reinstated as the 3rd line go-to with Athanasiou who he has great chemistry with.
Since that December where the team won only a single game of fourteen, the team followed it up with a 10-4 January, with back-to-back shutout performances by Semyon Varlamov, putting them just inside the playoffs.
Avalanche fans are chomping at the bit in wonder of what February will bring, because it's been a roller-coaster ride so far filled with bittersweet celebrations and heartbreaking costs of doing business.
10+2=12
|
|
|
|
Post by W on Jan 1, 2019 22:30:34 GMT
Winds of Change
It's been a rough 6 years in Colorado with recurring stretches of slumps following soaring highs at the most inopportune times. But the change in the league rules of eliminating the Hit and Grind tactic have given the team a new boost of confidence.
"I think it's actually more suited to our style," commented captain Gabriel Landeskog. "We may not have the killer first lines most teams have but we all work hard and want to deliver. I think the new rules give us a chance to play how we all want to play."
The team slipped from a secure playoff position to just missing. That all started when a shouting match erupted in the dressing room among captain Gabriel Landeskog and rookie Noel Gunler.
"I remember calling him out for playing kind of selfish," Landeskog recalls. "He's a good kid with a lot of skill we don't play the superstar game and he had a temper. He didn't change his attitude the next couple games and so Coach sat him." In his place, the team called up Jiri Poklop for a couple of weeks and Noel took exception. When Gunler was inserted back into the lineup, it wasn't in his old role on the 2nd line, his antics continued. "We gave him an opportunity to play again," said head coach, Head Coach, "But to do that we had to shift around the entire lineup because he lost that spot. That's just the nature of competitive sports. And those changes ultimately imploded the team because we were no longer clicking. And he still wasn't happy."
Upon the conclusion of the season, Noel Gunler was moved to the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres under new management for I don't even remember anymore. But he wasn't the only ones to leave. The end of the Hit and Grind era couldn't have come at a more convenient time with expiring contracts to Cal Clutterbuck and Paul Martin, staples of the 4th line who made a living stapling opponents to boards.
"It's been so much fun playing here," beamed a jovial Paul Martin who is actually happy because I researched his attitude and morale. "It wasn't exactly the picture-perfect ending you'd want to a career," piped Cal with whom I did the same thing with, "but I couldn't have asked for a better band of brothers to bond with." "Hey speak for yourself, I still got a shot." Martin retorted.
On the other side of the room in a different mood sat young pending free agents Max Gildon and Igor Rykov, two classic stay at home defensemen who will have to adapt to finding work in the HaGless era. They look sad. We don't talk to them.
4 + 2 = 6 GMP
|
|
|
|
Post by W on Jan 9, 2019 22:06:16 GMT
Going Forward
With the league going in a new direction, teams are adjusting to the new rules as well. But for Colorado, not much needs to be done according to Head Coach, Head Coach. "We are already set up for this kind of style. We have 6 elite skilled forwards, so big changes aren't necessary. We don't even know yet how the new rules will affect them, but they know each other from having played for awhile already, so the learning curve should be much shorter for us than for others who face any kind of adversity early."
That forward core is lead by Captain Gabriel Landeskog, one of, if not the most complete two-way forward in the game who can outwork nearly anyone in the dirty areas. He does everything well and brings his A game nearly every night, holding himself and his teammates accountable while making his linemates better. He's the kind of guy you'd want leading this transition.
In Leon Draisaitl they have their biggest offensive weapon. Possessing elite hockey IQ, exceptional speed, strength, faceoff ability and defensive acumen, his skillset will be key in every facet going into the future. His only knock has been his inconsistency but that may have been due to Head Coach giving him the toughest assignments. "It's a lot of responsibility, and they put their trust in me to deliver but I got good talented guys to work off of."
The other staples at center are Alex Newhook and Filip Zadina. The latter of whom is still looking for his spot in the lineup. We all know his role: filling the net with the puck, and he does it so well. For three seasons since he's become a regular for the club, he's lead or have come close to leading the team in goals. "He just gets it done," says Head Coach of the 23-year old. "It's kind of my nickname here. 'He who get it done,' or something like that. I play my game, I got work on a few things still but that's every day. If this hockey were easy everyone would do it."
The youngest of the six is Alex Newhook, the kid with untapped potential. Since coming over his learning curve has been long, but his coach believed he could handle top 6 minutes and it was rough going. However, scouts in the organization believe he has the potential to be better than Zadina on both ends of the puck. Head Coach puts him in high pressure situations there anyway because he sees his work ethic, that "He's hard on himself to be great," Head Coach says of the 22-year old. "It's not going to take him long to figure it out."
"I know expectations are high on me," said Alex. "But I got to get there still. I'm grateful for the staff and their patience. I know they had chances to move me and they say I'm not moving, but I know better, you can't just rest. And they're all working with me, it's incredible. The end of last year when we missed I worked hard on my skating every day. I didn't want to rest."
The team's resident powerforward is the big-hearted, tenacious and rambunctious Lawson Crouse who plays a heavy game and will stick up for anyone on the team. His journey with the Avalanche has been a turbulent one. Coming from the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes, finding his game and his place in the lineup had its ups and downs, literally, going from second liner, to first line, to third, and everywhere in between with his role changing from shooter to feeder to grinder. But this year he says he feels different. "I'm in the best shape I've ever been, been working on my hands with Nik [Ehlers]. I'll never be that good, his puck work is incredible."
Speaking of whom is another support player, third assistant Nikolaj Ehlers. The explosive Right Winger has some of the best hands in the game and speed to burn. Recognizing his place on the team who has been given the "A" as a newcomer, he's put in hard work in the off-season to keep his athleticism in top-form. "It's a lot of responsibility so soon as a new guy. Typically that goes to seniority so I just don't want to let anyone down."
"And they're all better than me by far," said a smirking Landeskog. "I got to work twice as hard just to keep up with them, I got nothing on them. They're all incredible guys. Would be nice if once in a while they weren't so I could be."
4 points. (+40=44 + level 4 Postmaster = 84)
|
|
|
|
Post by W on Feb 16, 2019 9:37:19 GMT
Interview with a guy.
Hooly Shit. Okay so Avalanche move out Newhook. Why? And Adam Larsson?? For Seth Jones. Oh. And Boqvist. Okay. But you added a first. Interesting.
"Did you just read that for the first time just now?"
You had mentioned you were looking to upgrade their Defense but no one predicted this. Apparently there was more than one option out there for this kind of a deal?
"Yes, but I'm not disclosing who or what all was involved but I will say the cost was cheaper, but so was the return. And in the end I decided you do something, you don't go halfway. It's not about pinching pennies or squeezing the the most value out of every deal. Sometimes you got to be bold. You put your money on the table and you put your balls where your mouth is."
Moving Newhook was unprecedented because you never put him on the block. You must have only targeted specific teams. So the upgrade downgrade is apparent from Larsson to Jones, Newhook to Boqvist, but why the first?
"The investment in Boqvist. He's a top six guy not getting that opportunity. And if he's got more to give, that contract should pay for itself. If not, we get a little extra space to make something happen later."
But the Avalanche made the playoffs. So why the change? Is it because of the early exit?
"No one wants to pull out early. it's the trade at the deadline is what screwed them. I shouldn't have done it. By the way, that's how you spell that phrase, should-not-have. I thought it would have made the team better but it killed all the momentum and chemistry. I traded guys who were clicking for guys who were getting hammered. But we can't take it back so forward is the only option. And with that, Larsson wasn't delivering in his role, and then wanted a raise. He may be the best defensive player in the file, but what he's done is not enough for me to invest further."
After wiping a tear from his eye as he broke the fourth-wall, he went on to talk about Newhook.
"Who are you talking to?"
Newhook, please.
"Farabee and Newhook, that was supposed to be the pairing, but it didn't work until the last week of the season, and then into the playoffs, they scored, but they were scored on twice as much. The core is getting older, and we needed him to be here now, not later. Boqvist is going to get that same chance."
What does this mean for Joel Farabee? Wyatt did not comment.
"I'm not commenting."
Told you. But that probably doesn't bode well. But they are looking for another center now.
"We're looking for another center now, however, I know it looks like we're just moving in circles, but I assure you those circles are necessary for the diagram we're drawing. Are you familiar with the ZoSo? It's kind of like that but with goat's blood to summon the necessary daemons."
So witchcraft then.
"Contractual Demonic Evocation."
Whatever.
"It's all above board."
I'm sure.
"What's all this business about TJ Brodie?"
Can't afford him and Orlov. Don't need him and Orlov. They're basically the same player, and they both need a defensive counterpart. The main difference is Brodie is older and isn't quite as physical. I mean, he's still physical, moreso than half the defenders in this league. I entertained trading Orlov but we're contending, so that would be a step backward.
"But no one's biting?"
I'm not sure if it's because his hitting doesn't have a '7' in front of it or it's because of his age or what. He's been offered to a team that only has 2 defenders signed into next season, and the one's they have left, only one is top 4 who is about as good as TJ. I practically gifted him. He rejected it. It's truly perplexing.
"Well it sounds like there's more to be done."
Yeah, is this over? I got to get back to work.
"We'll get back to you later."
Wait, who is giving this interview again?
3+4=7
|
|
|
|
Post by W on Mar 3, 2019 23:59:14 GMT
Quarter-Season Reflection, October-December 2024 edition.
Due to the 2024 trade deadline and off-season circumstances, the team has become all support, no execution. It began with the Edmonton trade Zadina and Draisaitl for Horvat and Farabee. While in hindsight not the best decision, at the time the logical sense was that Farabee's playmaking would feed Newhook's rocket. But then came the opportunity to grab a top 2 defender and in the 8 years of this league, that opportunity came to Colorado only once and we took it then too (Mackinnon to St. Louis for Parayko). With Zadina and Newhook gone, the resident 'detonators' were replaced with 'primers' (Anthem). Landeskog, Ferland, Athanasiou and Crouse are all power forwards that create space - for who? Farabee and Horvat are primarily passers - but to whom? Boqvist and Connolly are two-way utility players who are best paired with a presence. That leaves Nikolaj Ehlers, who has explosive speed and puckhandling ability to create chances but is more of a volume shooter. One man for eight. And the Avs only real up-and coming forwards are Chuchnov and Christl - quality players but more of the same.
The solution? Colorado is currently shopping for a big trigger man. Will they get it? Or will the team have to continue to rely on out-chancing their opponents. In the midst of this identity crisis comes a flurry of lineup changes and experiments. At present, the current lineup has proven sound, but it's only been 2 games, but two decisive ones against Winnipeg and Los Angeles. It's possible the luck of the draw gave Colorado the upper-hand at home against the Jets, and the Kings haven't been a legitimate threat in the last decade, but holding both teams down to less than 20 shots and a goal each shows promise.
|
|
|
|
Post by W on Mar 15, 2019 16:20:44 GMT
So far so good as the Avalanche sit first in the division since last season where after making a blockbuster deal with Edmonton, began to crash. This time around has been a harder fight getting their wins but GM Wyatt stated he's learned from his mistakes and won't be doing that again. Instead, what they would be doing is adding via upgrading, acquiring 33-year-old Reilly Smith from the rebuilding St. Louis Blues for 20th overall Alois Christl. Smith currently has 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points and the team is hoping he'll bring some scoring stability to the streaky team.
Before December the Avs were traversing the rocky-road of win-loss-win-loss and at the beginning of December it looked like that road was headed for a ditch, but in mid-December they edged a 2-1 win over the defending champs (Philadelphia) which sparked the team and went on to win the next 12 games putting them top 5 in the league when they lost to Minnesota mid-January. The Avs cooled off after that, bouncing between loss and win again. 2 games prior, they lost Michael Ferland for the rest of the season (5 months).
They also lost Jesper Boqvist late December to an ankle injury while training. Despite these injuries the Avs were able to stay competitive, calling up depth players Greg Elkaim, Anthony Cirelli, forcing minutes on Martins Dzierkals and most recently calling Ed Robinson to his NHL debut. But the bouncing losses and wins ended in another win against Vegas began another 5-game-winning streak ending in Montreal.
In that game, for the first time, another team outshot Colorado keeping them to less than 20 shots. But they truly lost the game from their Power Play, an area the Avs have always had trouble with under Wyatt. In fact, in 10 of their 21 losses they only scored 1 goal or less. Wyatt is hoping having Reilly Smith in the lineup will help in those situations, and if their current .664 point-pace continues, theoretically that could swing 5-6 of the remaining 30 games the other way. But the post-season is really where they're hoping a complete player like Reilly can help.
28+4=32
|
|
|
|
Post by W on Mar 18, 2019 13:18:59 GMT
When the Hunter Became the Hunted.
Denver strikes first! The wicked heart of the profiting serpent coiling its gold. The flicking tongue sniffs the putrid air it breeds from its sheltered-hole. For if the serpent strikes first, no sooner does the venom toll the body and tax the mind. And only in dazed trance of death can you know defeat. Slipping sickly into perpetuating silence. He who does not score first seldom wins the game, indeed, though exceptions made against those of weaker character. A goal up, a game down, and one in hand, content in the victory before its conclusion befell the hopeful Avs, but a lesson quickly learned, more quickly turned. Strike first and bleed the beast dry, stand your ground against the flail of gnashing teeth, and you may see the next day.
But if you are the serpent, coiling your collective wealth carefully amassed, prized and proud, may your resolve remain a strength and not slip to hubris. Oh, the contrarian victory, to attack first to become the victor, to remain victorious move seldom and prudently, or foolishly bite every hand in sight. Does one remain cold and calculating? Or fiery and reckless? For if they were to strike from your blind spot, either functioning carefully or with abandon, a certain-death would be made of you. Impermanent and humiliating. Will you react with vengeance, self-termination or humility? A conscientious warrior would act in kind, and the lucky remaining oblivious to its circumstance, casting its own shadow of ignorance of its own unironic puerility.
At the purest form of comparative excellence, when all have been slain in your quest for validation, as either a slayer of beasts or killer of men, in your own inevitable absolution, how will you fall when the hunter becomes the hunted?
8+32=40
|
|
