Rick Sadowski: Roy era set to begin

Welcome aboard!

Any update on Downie and his knee? Is he ready to go?

Welcome, I am glad we have a new Avs blogger...very good blog, as it highlights the major concerns of this team going forward, however I am pretty optomistic we will see a huge improvement in this teams performance and effort.

I think this back end got a lot better through subtraction...Losing O'Bryne at the deadline, Zanon to buyout, O'Brien to trade, and potentially Hunwick to AHL waivers...this team is better. Barrie and Elliott already perform better than those 4 mentioned, and have levels to potentially reach, now they have the ice time and roster spots to do so.

A healthy Johnson and Wilson will be a big boost as well.

Nice--Rick Sadowski! Great get Eklund!!

Welcome, I am glad we have a new Avs blogger...very good blog, as it highlights the major concerns of this team going forward, however I am pretty optomistic we will see a huge improvement in this teams performance and effort.

I think this back end got a lot better through subtraction...Losing O'Bryne at the deadline, Zanon to buyout, O'Brien to trade, and potentially Hunwick to AHL waivers...this team is better. Barrie and Elliott already perform better than those 4 mentioned, and have levels to potentially reach, now they have the ice time and roster spots to do so.

A healthy Johnson and Wilson will be a big boost as well.
- DDM-Coga

Can't get much worse after last year

Can't get much worse after last year
- UsernameUnknown

Not a chance it will be as bad as last year, Roy will be in goal before game 10 when he watches them!

A new (future) franchise player, a new coach, a new executive, and a new blogger! A new era indeed! Welcome to HockeyBuzz Rick, great first blog! Still sad the Hockey Mountain News went to the wayside!

Not a chance it will be as bad as last year, Roy will be in goal before game 10 when he watches them!
- Byfuglien Ate Me

the playoffs might be a pipe dream but we will at least be a passionated competitive team to play against, Heck we could have dressed a line of MVP chimps playing for Roy and we would be happy to see that over Saccos system

the playoffs might be a pipe dream but we will at least be a passionated competitive team to play against, Heck we could have dressed a line of MVP chimps playing for Roy and we would be happy to see that over Saccos system
- DDM-Coga

Yeah ain't that the truth...

Our defense is better than it was in 11-12 (We finished 11th in team GA), and that defense was Quincey (Half the year?), Johnson, Hejda, Wilson, Hunwick, O'Brien, & O'Byrne.

We lost Quincey, signed Zannon, and O'Byrne decided to lose all semblance of being an NHL defender in the 12-13 season.

So.. Johnson, Barrie, Wilson, Hejda, Benoit, and Sarich should be an improvement as a top 6 group. Especially with proper use and TOI management.

EJ, Barrie, Hejda, and Wilson should be our TOI leaders on defense with a competent coach. Instead of Hunwick & Zannon alternating for the most TOI per game every night.

Benoit gets zero hype, but hes touted by Ottawa as being fairly safe, and actually having a very good amount of mobility, and some or at least more offensive ability than Hunwick...

The biggest problem we'll have is injuries to the left side defense, unless Siemens proves to be ready for at least third pairing minutes. Which so far in camp looks positive.

Wilson really needs to stay fairly healthy.

the playoffs might be a pipe dream but we will at least be a passionated competitive team to play against, Heck we could have dressed a line of MVP chimps playing for Roy and we would be happy to see that over Saccos system
- DDM-Coga

- UsernameUnknown

ROR after the fax from Feaster?

Just jokin Avs fans, what ever happened with Hejdyk? You guys resign him?

ROR after the fax from Feaster?

Just jokin Avs fans, what ever happened with Hejdyk? You guys resign him?
- Byfuglien Ate Me

No updates for a while really, he was told the team is moving in a different direction.

There really isn't room for him on the roster, and no news of him potentially signing with another team right now.

We do know he wants to play another year though.

No updates for a while really, he was told the team is moving in a different direction.

There really isn't room for him on the roster, and no news of him potentially signing with another team right now.

We do know he wants to play another year though.
- Steve-B

Thx for the update, moving in another direction or not, that's a quality vet player you sign if the deal is rite.

We'll trade you Garth, Kevin and a 2nd for Rick.

We'll trade you Garth, Kevin and a 2nd for Rick.
- Jacob582

Hmmm.. depends. Do you think Garth will meet performance bonus criteria for minimum number of blogs?!

Thx for the update, moving in another direction or not, that's a quality vet player you sign if the deal is rite.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Nah if you've watched him the last couple of years consistently you'd see he needs to retire. Having him back would basically be nothing more than nostalgia.

It's frustrating but the truth, and he was never very vocal in his career. So he does not have a huge impact on the dressing room either IMO.

Hmmm.. depends. Do you think Garth will meet performance bonus criteria for minimum number of blogs?!
- aghector

Of course!

And I will throw in a proofreader.

We'll trade you Garth, Kevin and a 2nd for Rick.
- Jacob582

The blogger formally known as Garth...hes gone all hollywood now

After so many like Gretzky, Hunter, Muller, Yzerman.... I get the feeling this new Sakic-Roy combo is going to pay off and Avs will come back as an elite NHL team sooner rather then later. I don't think Sakic would of took this job if he didn't think he could bring back the club to what he use to and/or have well surrounded staff. This brings me to Roy. When a guy say he is not afraid to loose his job and it's not about the money, you got to believe he got only one thing in mind and it's to succeed. Brodeur may have broke some records but Roy could do something here that I doubt Brodeur will ever do.

It's sure going to be interesting to watch.

Welcome, Rick!

Holy poop, Rick Sadowski writing for Hockey Buzz. What an amazing get for Hockeybuzz.com! Biggest free agent signing of the post season.

Welcome to the insane asylum. [/URL]

I think the Avs were very smart to not rush fixing the Defense when there really was nothing there. Also choosing Mackinnon as well, I can't stress enough how crazy its going to be to have Duchene, Mackinnon as our 1 2 punches for years to come. I also think Gabe and Mac will play insanely well together (even more so in the playoffs).

Last year our Defense was quoted as "soft, slow, and easy to play against". Sarich is at least rough nosed enough to play hard in his own zone, and Benoit along with Barrie will greatly help our transition game.

Also don't negate the impact a full year of RoR and Downie would bring to helping alleviate some pressure off the defense as well.

I'm VERY excited for this year. Even the losses should be entertaining and fast paced, rather than the last few where even the games where we "won by cycling for 60 min" were dreadful.

Also.......ICEGIRLS!

The blogger formally known as Garth...hes gone all hollywood now
- DDM-Coga

I hear he's doing a lot of coke and calling himself "Garf" now. So sad.