Rick Sadowski: Compher, Duchene, Pickard in Worlds

Who else might go? Barrie? Boedker?

Rick Sadowski: Compher, Duchene, Pickard in Worlds
- Rick Sadowski

#Free FatMaesh

Sign Compher! Coga for avs owner!

Boedker might go if the Avs want a high end winger of a different caliber. They might look at the Ladd, Okposo, or Eriksson options. I'd go all in for Stamkos and might even look at Staal as an option for a top 9 role. Most of these guys will be overpaid this summer with the shortage of top tier free agent talent available.

Defensive help on the free agent end is weak too. Yandle, Schenn, Russell, Goligoski, and the others aren't exactly going to give us that major boost on defense and based on the salary structure we can't afford them if MacKinnon and Barrie sign big contracts.

Just out of curiosity is anyone throughly unimpressed with the quality of in-game entertainment at Pepsi Center? The fans hardly seem into the game at all and only cheer for a big hit, a fight, a big save, or a goal and even then it just doesn't seem to have that loudness factor like when the Avs had Sakic, Forsberg, and Roy playing.

I remember when they'd have the ice crew dance on the ice, the crazy dancer in the stands between faceoffs, and other great in game entertainment. Most folks just seem bored overall and I think the fans actually do have an influence on the players when they are cheering and loud. It's more on the players to provide an exciting game to watch, but there could be a lot more done to get the crowd into it.

If my memory serves me correctly they had alumni like Bourque and Roy flash up on the Jumbotron and say "Hey Avs fans. This is Ray Bourque. Let's make a little noise in here and the arena would erupt." Can't imagine it's asking to much of the in-game entertainment crew to step their game up and get the fans going.

Thoughts anyone?

The good news is, free agency almost never pushes a team towards their goals. Free agency is nothing but a cash grab for the players, and an opportunity for teams to improve that have cap space without giving up a roster player.

It's a joke these days. If a good player is FA, they only go to the highest bidder, not to their best shot at an emerging team or contender.

FA isnt the answer and the Avs know this.

It's unfortunately time to choose a roster player wisely to find the defensive help they need. And unfortunately it's going to take a Duchene/Landeskog/MacKinnon caliber player to do so. It sucks, but the Avs D has been so bad for so long, and only having EJ and Beauch as the only 2 legitimate Dmen, banking on Barrie to play D, or Bigras/Zadarov/Gelinas to suddenly become top 4 quality D is a bad idea.

Just out of curiosity is anyone throughly unimpressed with the quality of in-game entertainment at Pepsi Center? The fans hardly seem into the game at all and only cheer for a big hit, a fight, a big save, or a goal and even then it just doesn't seem to have that loudness factor like when the Avs had Sakic, Forsberg, and Roy playing.

I remember when they'd have the ice crew dance on the ice, the crazy dancer in the stands between faceoffs, and other great in game entertainment. Most folks just seem bored overall and I think the fans actually do have an influence on the players when they are cheering and loud. It's more on the players to provide an exciting game to watch, but there could be a lot more done to get the crowd into it.

If my memory serves me correctly they had alumni like Bourque and Roy flash up on the Jumbotron and say "Hey Avs fans. This is Ray Bourque. Let's make a little noise in here and the arena would erupt." Can't imagine it's asking to much of the in-game entertainment crew to step their game up and get the fans going.

Thoughts anyone?
- Lundstrom

As a season ticket holder for the past 2 years and someone who has been to many different NHL arena's here are my thoughts.

The Avs actually have one of THE BEST in game experiences, and its pretty noticeable. The Pepsi Center goes out of their way to put on a lot of activities and have things always going on. Some of their jumbocam stuff is kinda lame but its whatever. For comparison the Dallas Stars arena only has Ice girls and a funny jumbo tron, but has nothing else and doesn't do anything during intermission and what not.

As far as the crowd response I think it is 2 things/

1) The stupid NBCSN rule that makes games start at 8pm on week nights regardless if the game is national or not KILLS attendance. It is really the stupidest thing in the world, no family is going to go out that late and tickets never sell.

2) The Avs are just finishing a rebuild in a city where its football team won a Superbowl. No matter what city you go to (outside of some Canadian ones) teams that make the playoffs sell out and teams that don't struggle a bit. When the Avs start becoming a consistent playoff team then the arena will start going nuts.

For example some of the BEST selling Avs game are the ones against the Wild and the place goes nuts. This only happened after the playoff series.

So to circle back to your question, the Pepsi Center is actually one of the best arena experiences in the NHL. Just give it time and the Fans will show up.

The good news is, free agency almost never pushes a team towards their goals. Free agency is nothing but a cash grab for the players, and an opportunity for teams to improve that have cap space without giving up a roster player.

It's a joke these days. If a good player is FA, they only go to the highest bidder, not to their best shot at an emerging team or contender.

FA isnt the answer and the Avs know this.

It's unfortunately time to choose a roster player wisely to find the defensive help they need. And unfortunately it's going to take a Duchene/Landeskog/MacKinnon caliber player to do so. It sucks, but the Avs D has been so bad for so long, and only having EJ and Beauch as the only 2 legitimate Dmen, banking on Barrie to play D, or Bigras/Zadarov/Gelinas to suddenly become top 4 quality D is a bad idea.
- dan_77

Usually the top end players in UFA tend to be a mistake because they get overpaid for what they do. However UFA is still a great place for teams to get depth, like Comeau and Matthias. Also sometimes teams just do a great job with negotiations like TBL and Stralman or Soderberg with the Avs.

UFA isn't bad, its just only good for certain things. For example I wouldn't resign Boedker for anything over 4.2m.

Games start at that time all over the East coast all season long. Plenty of families goes to Bruins games. You should try escaping that mess after a game.

It's not the entertainment before, or between periods that draw fans. Sure it adds to the experience, but on ice product dictates attendance unless it's north of the border.

The issue with Avs attendance has to do with the fan base being accustomed to the Sakic/Forsberg/Roy era where the teams were stacked with talent that could draw even casual fans to witness consistent winning teams. It will take a few years of playoffs to shake the stigma that follows this team.

You're right that FA has its place for depth. You will get the occasional player like Soderberg, but the price was a touch high for him, one that may look good in a few years if he plays like he did for the remainder of his contract, but for the moment his price tag is a touch too high.

The front office thought youth mixed with last contract veteran players was good patch work to bring along this team and it's just not the case. It appears they finally acknowledged that this season with Boeds and Matthias that mid to late 20s is the new veteran help, not late 30s formerly excellent players. That's not a shot at Beauch or Iginla, they have their place, but Beauchemin was entirely overworked and it began showing around the deadline. A player of his caliber today should be a 3rd pairing consistently with a 1st/2nd pairing situationally to the Avs advantage, not because they have zero options otherwise.

As a season ticket holder for the past 2 years and someone who has been to many different NHL arena's here are my thoughts.

The Avs actually have one of THE BEST in game experiences, and its pretty noticeable. The Pepsi Center goes out of their way to put on a lot of activities and have things always going on. Some of their jumbocam stuff is kinda lame but its whatever. For comparison the Dallas Stars arena only has Ice girls and a funny jumbo tron, but has nothing else and doesn't do anything during intermission and what not.

As far as the crowd response I think it is 2 things/

1) The stupid NBCSN rule that makes games start at 8pm on week nights regardless if the game is national or not KILLS attendance. It is really the stupidest thing in the world, no family is going to go out that late and tickets never sell.

2) The Avs are just finishing a rebuild in a city where its football team won a Superbowl. No matter what city you go to (outside of some Canadian ones) teams that make the playoffs sell out and teams that don't struggle a bit. When the Avs start becoming a consistent playoff team then the arena will start going nuts.

For example some of the BEST selling Avs game are the ones against the Wild and the place goes nuts. This only happened after the playoff series.

So to circle back to your question, the Pepsi Center is actually one of the best arena experiences in the NHL. Just give it time and the Fans will show up.
- Meeqsb

I'll say this, that jumbotron is bada$$.

Makes every other team's look like they're from the 1980's

I'll say this, that jumbotron is bada$$.

Makes every other team's look like they're from the 1980's
- fattyboubatty

Your welcome, for the entertaining hockey and the scoreboard both provided by minnesota.. we appreciate the way you show your thanks by losing almost everytime you play the wild!! don't change a thing colorado

Get Bergeron out of Boston. They're going to tear it down.

Your welcome, for the entertaining hockey and the scoreboard both provided by minnesota.. we appreciate the way you show your thanks by losing almost everytime you play the wild!! don't change a thing colorado
- gopherwildfan

Don't worry...enjoy the 1st round exit and crappier draft pick. Oh and also, enjoy your lovely salary cap problems next year

#FreeFatMarsh

Draft McLeod please...

Don't worry...enjoy the 1st round exit and crappier draft pick. Oh and also, enjoy your lovely salary cap problems next year
- romefalls19

what?? only need to sign a 4th line and dumba & keumper.. that's maybe 7 mil the wild don't have a cap issue.. the wild have 9 mil coming off in contracts ending.. plus we have D that alot of gm's would like, so making a trade this summer is also probably likely.. if your at the cap but have moveable players you don't have cap issues.. plus fletch could just buyout vanek or pommer if he wants more space..

Your welcome, for the entertaining hockey and the scoreboard both provided by minnesota.. we appreciate the way you show your thanks by losing almost everytime you play the wild!! don't change a thing colorado
- gopherwildfan

Your team barely squeaked into the playoffs and when's the last time you won a Stanley Cup? I'm sure you'll pull the expansion team card out, but you've been around long enough since 2000-2001 to at least win something. Enjoy watching your boys get destroyed by Dallas.

You are one obnoxious child.

"Your welcome, for the entertaining hockey and the scoreboard both provided by minnesota.. we appreciate the way you show your thanks by losing almost everytime you play the wild!! don't change a thing colorado"
- gopherwildfan

Laugh it up a-hole. While yes it does suck to be on the outside looking in again, MN will be finished early again. With Parise out last night, MN had no one else to step up. Some "team"..2 guys gobble up 25% of cap space year in and year out. The greedy contracts signed by Sutter and Parise will continue to prevent the Wild from being able to afford additional talent that could push them over the top..enjoy your continued mediocrity

BTW.. It was great watching your former team kick the sh@! out of your current team.

Damn still torn about drafting a defensive at draft, 16 in jr, 17 ahl, 18 take a spot.... or draft a forward... McLeod (people are saying best two way player in the draft) asume 17 back in jr, the big club in 17... man with rantanen a year in, duchene in prime, mack prime, Landy prime, hot damn 4 solid lines and compher in there too plus Greer, pepin, natel gosh darn we are going to be looking sexy in June competing for a cup! Boom!

This was one of the most confusing posts you've made......

This was one of the most confusing posts you've made......
- Lundstrom

Yup i agree... let's try that again...

So this draft let's say we draft a defensemen. I can see him playing jr one more year 2016, the ahl in 2017 before making the club in 2018 taking beauchs spot... but if we draft a forward (hoping mcleod) he will play jr next year and then possibly make the team in 2017 which would be a huge boast to an already solid top 9, which compher amd rantanen being there already.

- DDM-Coga

You choking on that sandwich ddm?