Avalanche captain
Gabriel Landeskog and center
Carl Soderberg practiced with the Avalanche on Thursday, their first since playing for Team Sweden in the World Cup of Hockey.
They won't play Friday against Los Angeles at the Pepsi Center, but three other returnees from World Cup competition will: goalie
Semyon Varlamov, center
Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman
Erik Johnson.
"We're starting to get those guys integrated into the group, and we'll be cutting down a little bit to try to get two one (practice) group soon," coach
Jared Bednar said.
With five World Cup participants back in Denver, center
Matt Duchene remains the lone survivor, playing for Team Canada against Team Europe in the best-of-three tournament championship series. A win Thursday night would clinch the trophy.
"We're wishing Dutchy luck here to go and win the tournament, but having the other guys back and getting them back with the group -- especially with everything being so new with me and the system, it takes time," Bednar said.
"We have a significant amount of time before the regular season (the opener is Oct. 15 against Dallas), we've got some good practice days coming up ... to get those guys in and get them feeling good and playing in practice within our system, those are all positive things for us."
Bednar said during his Aug. 31 introductory news conference that Landeskog would remain captain but that no decisions had been made about the assistant captains.
Jarome Iginla and
Cody McLeod wore an 'A' last season.
"I talked to (Landeskog) a few times before he went to the (tournament)," Bednar said. "We sat down, him and I and (Soderberg) yesterday and we brought them up to speed on all the systems so when they hit the ice today they're not thinking, they're just playing. We're going to continue to talk through training camp, too, his thoughts on our team and how we're moving forward and what everyone likes. It's an ongoing process throughout the course of the year."
Landeskog was named captain after his rookie season on Sept. 4, 2012 by then-coach
Joe Sacco.
Patrick Roy resigned in August, so Bednar will be his third coach.
"I guess it feels good (to retain the 'C'), no doubt," he said. "Every coach has the right to do their thing and to change things up if they want if they feel it's needed. As of right now I'm happy where I'm at, happy with where my relationship with Jared is at so far even though it's really early. I'm definitely looking forward to working with him and taking this group quite a few steps forward this season."
Landeskog said he hadn't yet spoken with Bednar about his role.
"It's been more of trying to get to know each other a little bit and going through the systems and things like that," he said. "Yesterday when I first met him it was a great first impression. He seems like a really personable guy with a great personality and laid back, but at the same time he demands a lot from his players.
"You can tell today in practice he's very engaged. If he saw something he wanted to correct, he did that. I think that's a good sign to do that this early. He's really setting his tone on things. I think he did a great job of keeping the pace up high and making sure that everybody was crisp and had fun.
"I think it needs to be said that I respected Patty on and off the ice, and I enjoyed working with him for three years, but I'm really excited about having Jared here. It feels like he brings in a lot of fresh air and feels like he comes in with a lot of optimism about this group. It feels like he believes in us, and we do as well.
"I thought it was a really good first practice. I definitely think that this system is going to fit us as a group. I think we're really simplifying the game, and I really think the coach has done a great job of making sure everyone buys in so far. All the guys I've talked to so far have really been positive about the systems and practices. There's definitely been a lot of good feedback."
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Soderberg said he's looking forward to his second season in Colorado after putting up 12 goals and 39 assists in 82 games last year. He set career highs for assists and points (51).
"I don't know, we missed the playoffs," he said of his individual play. "Hopefully we and I have a better season this year. We were right there, but we shouldn't be right there, we should be in."
Team Europe advanced to the final round with a 3-2 overtime win against the Swedes.
"Had a great time, it was a lot of fun to be a part of the team," Soderberg said. "It was an honor to be a part of it. I think we had a pretty good tournament except for the last game."
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It's just preseason, but the Avalanche are 2-0 with four games remaining. They scored three times in the third period Wednesday to beat the Stars 4-2 in Bednar's home debut.
Here's my
NHL.COM STORY.
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The Avalanche made seven transactions Thursday.
Goalies
Nathan Lieuwen and
Kent Simpson were assigned to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL, along with left wing
Shawn St-Amant. Center
Reid Petryk (foot) and defenseman
Mason Geertsen (hand) will report to San Antonio to rehab their injuries.
Center
J.C. Beaudin was assigned to Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and defenseman
Nicolas Meloche to Gatineau of the QMJHL.
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