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Colorado Avalanche Blogger •
Before I begin, I apologize for my absence. It has been too long since I put a new blog up. I promise to you, the Avs readers, I will not become as inconsistent as Chopra was.
While I'm sure I speak for the Avs' nation in saying that I've heard white noise that's been louder than the noise coming out of Avalanche camp, there should be news coming really soon.
Tomorrow will mark one month since the Avs' season ended and almost a month since Francois Giguere lost his GM job. Since then, the Avs have signed two players to entry-level contracts (great move, see below), brought in Patrick Roy for an interview but other than that, nothing has really happened.
In the absence of news, I've been forced to try and predict what will happen over the next month. I'm not saying I'm for or against any of these moves, just thinking of possibilities.
General Manager
I have a strong feeling that the Avs are waiting on a team to end it's season before deciding who they want as GM. Last year, about this time, they blew their load too soon and hired Tony Granato as the head coach. With that stain in recent memory, I would think Pierre Lacroix will assess all options before naming a new GM.
When all is said and done I think the Avs'll have two GM's: one for contracts, another for player movement. The guy for contracts I'm not totally certain on but my gut tells me it'll be Chuck Fletcher of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's been there for a team rebuilding and would most certainly help the Avs rebuild. The other GM, I am almost positive on is Craig Billington.
His work hasn't been noticed yet, but it will within three years. He's been in charge of drafting and developing the Avs' prospects. In doing this, Billington has been around the world watching our prospects and the other team's prospects, a quality that would be great to have in the next GM. I don't expect any sort of news on this until sometime during the Conference finals, maybe later if the Penguins advance.
However, for those of you who might be worried about the Avs' draft, I bet that Billington is already handling it. In the absense of a GM, he is the one who will handle the draft, whether or not there is a new GM. We'll be fine for the draft, but we'll need a new GM for free agency, if we decide to be active that is.
The GM will be solved within a month, at the latest but it should be followed by a shakeup in the organization
Coach
Patrick Roy coming in to meet with Lacroix is not coincidence. He's the next coach, I'm 90% certain. Roy and Lacroix go back to their days as player and agent. Lacroix once brought Roy in to help the Avs win the cup in 96 and I think he'll bring him in to put more energy and passion on the bench, as well as a few more butts in the seats.
What will happen to Granato though, you might ask. Well, I've got that figured out. No I do not think he'll be fired, nor will he be demoted to to Assistant Coach again. No, I think he'll be reassigned to Lake Erie to be an assistant there, behind Sylvain Lefebvre. Then, we'll promote Joe Sacco to the assistant coach and let Roy pick his defensive coach (yes we'll let Barr and Cloutier go, finally).
What I think will happen, is that we'll have a new General Manager and shortly thereafter, we'll have a new coaching staff and start building toward the 2009-2010 season, beginning at the draft.
I know the absence of news is frustrating, Avs nation, but it wont be much longer until we have an Avalanche of news.
Musick notes
I am loving the playoff hockey right now. Each game is really entertaining to watch. Screw Christmas, THIS is the most wonderful time of the year. The only thing I would change is to make the officiating more consistent in the games. Otherwise, absolutely wonderful hockey being played right now.
The Avs announced that they signed both Trevor Cann and Cameron Gaunce to entry level contracts. I like both of these moves a lot. Cann will give Lake Erie a solid goalie and give the Avs the option of bringing up Tyler Weiman to test him at the NHL level. When you think Cann, think Tim Thomas type of goalie. Gaunce gives the Avs a two-way defenseman with a hard, accurate shot, something our power play has lacked since Blake. As long as he's improved his skating, I don't see any reason he doesn't make the NHL roster. Both these players, though, are a testament to the work that Craig Billington has done for the Avs.
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While I'm sure I speak for the Avs' nation in saying that I've heard white noise that's been louder than the noise coming out of Avalanche camp, there should be news coming really soon.
Tomorrow will mark one month since the Avs' season ended and almost a month since Francois Giguere lost his GM job. Since then, the Avs have signed two players to entry-level contracts (great move, see below), brought in Patrick Roy for an interview but other than that, nothing has really happened.
In the absence of news, I've been forced to try and predict what will happen over the next month. I'm not saying I'm for or against any of these moves, just thinking of possibilities.
General Manager
I have a strong feeling that the Avs are waiting on a team to end it's season before deciding who they want as GM. Last year, about this time, they blew their load too soon and hired Tony Granato as the head coach. With that stain in recent memory, I would think Pierre Lacroix will assess all options before naming a new GM.
When all is said and done I think the Avs'll have two GM's: one for contracts, another for player movement. The guy for contracts I'm not totally certain on but my gut tells me it'll be Chuck Fletcher of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's been there for a team rebuilding and would most certainly help the Avs rebuild. The other GM, I am almost positive on is Craig Billington.
His work hasn't been noticed yet, but it will within three years. He's been in charge of drafting and developing the Avs' prospects. In doing this, Billington has been around the world watching our prospects and the other team's prospects, a quality that would be great to have in the next GM. I don't expect any sort of news on this until sometime during the Conference finals, maybe later if the Penguins advance.
However, for those of you who might be worried about the Avs' draft, I bet that Billington is already handling it. In the absense of a GM, he is the one who will handle the draft, whether or not there is a new GM. We'll be fine for the draft, but we'll need a new GM for free agency, if we decide to be active that is.
The GM will be solved within a month, at the latest but it should be followed by a shakeup in the organization
Coach
Patrick Roy coming in to meet with Lacroix is not coincidence. He's the next coach, I'm 90% certain. Roy and Lacroix go back to their days as player and agent. Lacroix once brought Roy in to help the Avs win the cup in 96 and I think he'll bring him in to put more energy and passion on the bench, as well as a few more butts in the seats.
What will happen to Granato though, you might ask. Well, I've got that figured out. No I do not think he'll be fired, nor will he be demoted to to Assistant Coach again. No, I think he'll be reassigned to Lake Erie to be an assistant there, behind Sylvain Lefebvre. Then, we'll promote Joe Sacco to the assistant coach and let Roy pick his defensive coach (yes we'll let Barr and Cloutier go, finally).
What I think will happen, is that we'll have a new General Manager and shortly thereafter, we'll have a new coaching staff and start building toward the 2009-2010 season, beginning at the draft.
I know the absence of news is frustrating, Avs nation, but it wont be much longer until we have an Avalanche of news.
Musick notes
I am loving the playoff hockey right now. Each game is really entertaining to watch. Screw Christmas, THIS is the most wonderful time of the year. The only thing I would change is to make the officiating more consistent in the games. Otherwise, absolutely wonderful hockey being played right now.
The Avs announced that they signed both Trevor Cann and Cameron Gaunce to entry level contracts. I like both of these moves a lot. Cann will give Lake Erie a solid goalie and give the Avs the option of bringing up Tyler Weiman to test him at the NHL level. When you think Cann, think Tim Thomas type of goalie. Gaunce gives the Avs a two-way defenseman with a hard, accurate shot, something our power play has lacked since Blake. As long as he's improved his skating, I don't see any reason he doesn't make the NHL roster. Both these players, though, are a testament to the work that Craig Billington has done for the Avs.
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