Rick Sadowski: Roy's final thoughts on season

I'll just post so some dumbass doesn't call first. Yes we need our core to play with more consistency and confidence, but it bugs me that he isn't taking more of the blame.

I think we are due for a Fatmarsh hot take.

I think we are due for a Fatmarsh hot take.
- smellmyfinger

He could be more consistent and confident

Must be rough as a fan where you live avsfaninmin

He could be more consistent and confident
- Tumbleweed

Non Fatmarsh wasn't very confident in his proclamation of first post.

He could be more consistent and confident
- Tumbleweed

- DDM-Coga

I actually don't have a problem with what Roy said on a few fronts -- in general, because I only saw them play four or five times, and a few of those were after MacKinnon and Duchene got hurt late in the season.

But in a salary capped league, I think he's dead-on when he talks about what a core has to do in order to get a team over the hump. It's not that complicated, and when people make it so, it really does set a team back.

Your best players, the players who get the most minutes -- the guys on the PP, the No. 1 goalie, etc. -- those guys have to produce. It's just gotta be like that.

You can system your way for stretches of the season, but those final 20-25 games when you are making a playoff push...it's gotta be those top picks, those talented players, who get the job done 95 percent of the time

- DDM-Coga

Amen bro. Amen.

At the very least, replace Tim Army. Never mind the stats. The PP was awful.

At the very least, replace Tim Army. Never mind the stats. The PP was awful.
- flyfysher

I would agree with this, but the BSN guys brought up a cool story with Army with the effort he works with the forward groups. Constantly he is working with Duchene, Mitchell, Soderberg after practice working on face-offs, there seems to be a real dedication by him which is nice to hear

Parrish on the other hand doesnt work with any of the D after practice, sort of just leaves it there. So guys like Zads and Bigras really are learning in game vs having g guys to work with after practice.

Farrish needs to go first, but Army shouldnt be very far behind, but if it came down to just 1 of them, its Farrish

I would agree with this, but the BSN guys brought up a cool story with Army with the effort he works with the forward groups. Constantly he is working with Duchene, Mitchell, Soderberg after practice working on face-offs, there seems to be a real dedication by him which is nice to hear

Parrish on the other hand doesnt work with any of the D after practice, sort of just leaves it there. So guys like Zads and Bigras really are learning in game vs having g guys to work with after practice.

Farrish needs to go first, but Army shouldnt be very far behind, but if it came down to just 1 of them, its Farrish
- DDM-Coga

I'm okay with retaining Roy but yeah, Farrish too. The Avs need assistant coaches that have a real, effective system. Sorry, but I still want Army gone. The PP was lackluster at the most critical times. I think the Avs had like 2 shots on goal during 6 minutes of PP time against the Ducks and they could hardly even get it in the zone. There were multiple times throughout the season when the PP was pathetic including 5 on 3.

Replacing those 2 and getting a true top 4 D-man to replace Holden would go a long way to changing the character of this Avs team.

I'm okay with retaining Roy but yeah, Farrish too. The Avs need assistant coaches that have a real, effective system. Sorry, but I still want Army gone. The PP was lackluster at the most critical times. I think the Avs had like 2 shots on goal during 6 minutes of PP time against the Ducks and they could hardly even get it in the zone. There were multiple times throughout the season when the PP was pathetic including 5 on 3.

Replacing those 2 and getting a true top 4 D-man to replace Holden would go a long way to changing the character of this Avs team.
- flyfysher

I don't disagree with Army and the PP, if they don't get rid of him, he can't be working on the PP, thats pretty clear.

They really need to clean the house when it comes to Roys coaching staff except Allaire, he still holds a lot of value of working with the Goalies. I just hope they don't bring in Foote to be an assistant coach, need better and fresh ideas.

I would hope they bring in a seasoned coach to help run the bench. I would love to get Crawford or Boucher on the staff, so there is a natural transition to the next coach in case Roy wants to step down....maybe try to snag Gilles Bouchard from Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Q since he is coaching the majority of Avs prospects

I don't disagree with Army and the PP, if they don't get rid of him, he can't be working on the PP, thats pretty clear.

They really need to clean the house when it comes to Roys coaching staff except Allaire, he still holds a lot of value of working with the Goalies. I just hope they don't bring in Foote to be an assistant coach, need better and fresh ideas.

I would hope they bring in a seasoned coach to help run the bench. I would love to get Crawford or Boucher on the staff, so there is a natural transition to the next coach in case Roy wants to step down
- DDM-Coga

Need some Guy Boucher up in this female dog

Need some Guy Boucher up in this female dog


- smellmyfinger

I don't disagree with Army and the PP, if they don't get rid of him, he can't be working on the PP, thats pretty clear.

They really need to clean the house when it comes to Roys coaching staff except Allaire, he still holds a lot of value of working with the Goalies. I just hope they don't bring in Foote to be an assistant coach, need better and fresh ideas.

I would hope they bring in a seasoned coach to help run the bench. I would love to get Crawford or Boucher on the staff, so there is a natural transition to the next coach in case Roy wants to step down....maybe try to snag Gilles Bouchard from Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Q since he is coaching the majority of Avs prospects
- DDM-Coga

Absolutely retain Allaire.

I like Hitchcock when he gets fired. Actually hate him from Dallas days. Plus he would eat fat marshes sandwich

I like Hitchcock when he gets fired. Actually hate him from Dallas days. Plus he would eat fat marshes sandwich
- JeffShantz

ohhhhhhh yessss my MacKinnon...rise....rise

the story how the Avs lost Kevin Hayes last summer stinks
Stupid Rangers, and stupid Roy and Sakic for not doing the same

I actually don't have a problem with what Roy said on a few fronts -- in general, because I only saw them play four or five times, and a few of those were after MacKinnon and Duchene got hurt late in the season.

But in a salary capped league, I think he's dead-on when he talks about what a core has to do in order to get a team over the hump. It's not that complicated, and when people make it so, it really does set a team back.

Your best players, the players who get the most minutes -- the guys on the PP, the No. 1 goalie, etc. -- those guys have to produce. It's just gotta be like that.

You can system your way for stretches of the season, but those final 20-25 games when you are making a playoff push...it's gotta be those top picks, those talented players, who get the job done 95 percent of the time
- AllInForFlyers

Unfortunately guys like Mitchell play 15 or more minutes far too often, and Nick Holden has hit 29 minutes while everyone was healthy. The coaching staff has to play your best players and actually lean on them on the ice in order for them to carry the team as well.

Holden was the worst, then after that it was probably Mitchell, and then Comeau got far too much time as well. We're hoping we bring in one major top six forward. Radulov, Eriksson, Ladd, Boedker. About in that order, and thankfully Rantanen will be up all year now that they don't have his contract as an excuse.

Grigorenko should get a little strong in the off-season, and Roy has already said one of his goals will be to improve his skating.

We'll likely be running,

Grigorenko - Duchene - Radulov/UFA
Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Matthias - Soderberg - Comeau
McLeod - Mitchell - Iginla

Last season most of it was some variation of this

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Tanguay
Grigorenko - Duchene - Iginla
Martinsen - Soderberg - Comeau
McLeod - Wagner - Skille

Martinsen is not an NHL player, and Tanguay was painful to watch on the ice. It took Roy over half the year to finally put Iginla down on the lineup. Then we needed him higher in the lineup again once MacKinnon went down.

How much of an upgrade we can pull off getting to put in Nick Holden's spot will be a key factor.

I mean,

Barrie - EJ
Zadorov - Hamonic
Bigras - FB

That would completely change the makup of a defense that was,

FB - EJ
Holden - Barrie
Redmond or Bodnarchuck or Gelinas or Gormley or Zadorov or Bigras or Guenin

Holden averaged almost 22 minutes a night over the course of the season and even played some games well above 25 minutes. That's a fringe NHLer who wouldn't even dress on a lot of good rosters.

Unfortunately guys like Mitchell play 15 or more minutes far too often, and Nick Holden has hit 29 minutes while everyone was healthy. The coaching staff has to play your best players and actually lean on them on the ice in order for them to carry the team as well.

Holden was the worst, then after that it was probably Mitchell, and then Comeau got far too much time as well. We're hoping we bring in one major top six forward. Radulov, Eriksson, Ladd, Boedker. About in that order, and thankfully Rantanen will be up all year now that they don't have his contract as an excuse.

Grigorenko should get a little strong in the off-season, and Roy has already said one of his goals will be to improve his skating.

We'll likely be running,

Grigorenko - Duchene - Radulov/UFA
Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Matthias - Soderberg - Comeau
McLeod - Mitchell - Iginla

Last season most of it was some variation of this

Landeskog - MacKinnon - Tanguay
Grigorenko - Duchene - Iginla
Martinsen - Soderberg - Comeau
McLeod - Wagner - Skille

Martinsen is not an NHL player, and Tanguay was painful to watch on the ice. It took Roy over half the year to finally put Iginla down on the lineup. Then we needed him higher in the lineup again once MacKinnon went down.

How much of an upgrade we can pull off getting to put in Nick Holden's spot will be a key factor.

I mean,

Barrie - EJ
Zadorov - Hamonic
Bigras - FB

That would completely change the makup of a defense that was,

FB - EJ
Holden - Barrie
Redmond or Bodnarchuck or Gelinas or Gormley or Zadorov or Bigras or Guenin

Holden averaged almost 22 minutes a night over the course of the season and even played some games well above 25 minutes. That's a fringe NHLer who wouldn't even dress on a lot of good rosters.
- Steve-B

Im fairly certain that Holden is gone, since they traded for Gelinas, it makes no sense to have both those guys if one is sitting as a healthy scratch. Not sure how they get rid of Holden but I dont think he is goin to be near this NHL roster next season.

If they dip into the UFA market I would love to see Goligoski or Demers as they are ideal 2nd pairing shot suppressing possession machines, and the fact that Demers is a RHS, I think really helps giving this team options as its too LHS heavy at the moment

Barrie EJ
Bigras Demers
Zads Beacuh
Gelinas (Redmond?)

I wouldn't hate bringing back Redmond on a 1 year cheap deal, out of all the crappy depth guys, hes one of the better ones. I think EJ & Barrie can play well together, so lets keep that going.

Would love to get Hamonic, but I dont think he can be traded for without giving up 1 of Bigras or Zads, which I wouldn't want to see happen.

Go all in and sign Stamkos. We'll play 4 forwards and 1 D all the time. A new brave style that Roy can patent. It will catch on just like pulling the goalie really early.

Must be rough as a fan where you live avsfaninmin
- Footer52

Yea considering we can't beat them to save our lives. I can only remind them that they raise banners for first round playoff wins for a reason so many times...