Aaron Musick: Mueller, Duchene out for Edmonton
Bear down

that is good news

could be a long night! they need this win to stay with the group!

Hopefully its an entertaining run and gun hockey game. Don't want to watch a snoozefest. Don't care if the Oil win or lose as long as there are a ton of goals scored for both young gun teams.

When the hell is Duchene back?!?!

He's like one of my fav players in the NHL!

would love to be in col so i could go to a game whenever i wanted
- jonathonpeddle

You guys worried about the pick to the caps if you all unable to pick up the pace

wanna know why this team needs to make a deal ? they will be counting on McLeod, McClement, Kobi, Porter, VanDGulik, & Oliver to keep up with the talent levels of the Oilers ! ! ! not the players fault, they are who they are - come on Sherman, make this a better team.

Varly will have to stand on his head, and the D are going to have to put the hurt on the young inexperienced Oil Forwards ! ! can it be done????

Will Stastny show up and carry this team while Duchene and Mueller recover? will O'Reilly rebound from his worse outing of the season? Can Hejduk get his 2nd wind....will Jones follow Landeskog and go to the net for the dirty goals?

come on boys, time to get a (frank)ing win ! ! ! !

You guys worried about the pick to the caps if you all unable to pick up the pace
- kuznetsov

I stopped worrying about that a long time ago. I'm happy with Varlamov and like how he will be if they get a full time goalie coach. The pick is going to be 10-15 and that won't be as terrible as 1-8.

Avs needed a goalie and they got it. Worrying about what MIGHT happen with the pick won't do any good. This is the team they have and the team that they are building for the future.

The Johnson acquisition is blossoming right now and hopefully the Varlamov acquisition will too

When the hell is Duchene back?!?!

He's like one of my fav players in the NHL!
- wolfos412

if they lose tonite, probably Sunday - if they win, he's back Wed Feb 22 against the Kings ...imho

wanna know why this team needs to make a deal ? they will be counting on McLeod, McClement, Kobi, Porter, VanDGulik, & Oliver to keep up with the talent levels of the Oilers ! ! ! not the players fault, they are who they are - come on Sherman, make this a better team.

Varly will have to stand on his head, and the D are going to have to put the hurt on the young inexperienced Oil Forwards ! ! can it be done????

Will Stastny show up and carry this team while Duchene and Mueller recover? will O'Reilly rebound from his worse outing of the season? Can Hejduk get his 2nd wind....will Jones follow Landeskog and go to the net for the dirty goals?

come on boys, time to get a (frank)ing win ! ! ! !
- 10baci

At what cost? The Avs don't have a first round pick, their system isn't filled with talent and the defensemen (aside from Quincey) won't bring a good return. No use making a panic move to that will do more long-term harm than short-term good.

At what cost? The Avs don't have a first round pick, their system isn't filled with talent and the defensemen (aside from Quincey) won't bring a good return. No use making a panic move to that will do more long-term harm than short-term good.
- martok2309

correct, we have no young forwards in the system that can come up and fill in the holes when this team gets an injury or two. and Ryan Stoa isnt the answer, nor is Mark Oliver or Malone, and Hishon is a big question mark.

I think its time to move Stastny and either Elliot or Barrie for a talented winger. Lets be honest, there is no guarantee that Parise or Semin will be signing with Colorado, so the team has to deal with what they have, and what they have is Stastny Elliot and Barrie and Siemens as assests, however, i would want to keep Siemens. You have to give to improve.

Like i've said before, they can go Duchene and O'Reilly as 1 and 2 up the middle, its time to build on the wings. Hejduk may be gone after this season, and Mueller is iffy (again) so all the have on the wings is Landeskog as a top winger ( sorry but Gali and Jones havent been able to prove they are top consistant wingers..3rd line wingers yes, but they havent proven they can be 1st or 2nd liners)
go avs go

correct, we have no young forwards in the system that can come up and fill in the holes when this team gets an injury or two. and Ryan Stoa isnt the answer, nor is Mark Oliver or Malone, and Hishon is a big question mark.

I think its time to move Stastny and either Elliot or Barrie for a talented winger. Lets be honest, there is no guarantee that Parise or Semin will be signing with Colorado, so the team has to deal with what they have, and what they have is Stastny Elliot and Barrie and Siemens as assests, however, i would want to keep Siemens. You have to give to improve.

Like i've said before, they can go Duchene and O'Reilly as 1 and 2 up the middle, its time to build on the wings. Hejduk may be gone after this season, and Mueller is iffy (again) so all the have on the wings is Landeskog as a top winger ( sorry but Gali and Jones havent been able to prove they are top consistant wingers..3rd line wingers yes, but they havent proven they can be 1st or 2nd liners)
go avs go
- 10baci

Avs are currently counting on Barrie and Elliott for their future plans. I would have to be a HELL of a deal to trade either one.

Lets be honest, there is no guarantee that Parise or Semin will be signing with Colorado,
- 10baci

I'd say the chances of either of these guys signing with Colorado is about 8.734%.

You guys worried about the pick to the caps if you all unable to pick up the pace
- kuznetsov

not as worried as leafs fans were when they traded for kessel

Funny how it's going to go from...

Jones - Stastny - Hejduk
Olver - O'Reilly - Landeskog
Kobasew - McClement - Winnik
McLeod - Van Der Gulik - Porter

to

Mueller - Duchene - Olver (Ideally, a different player added via trade)
Jones - Stastny - Hejduk
Landeskog - O'Reilly - Galiardi
Kobasew - McClement - Winnik
McL, DVDG

Huge difference.

the Avs should look at picking up a forward that might be cheeper to get like:

Chris Stewart (never wanted to leave Col)
Andrei Kostitsyn (im not a fan but he hits and can get hot)
Antoine Vermette
Mike Kanuble
Tummo Ruttu
Jussi Jokkin
Andrew Ladd

just puting some ideas out there

I'd say the chances of either of these guys signing with Colorado is about 8.734%.
- BraxtanFILM

Move the decimal one place over for Semin. I think we have a better chance at Alex but we do have two players Parise is familiar with. We have the cap space.. There has also been proof in the past that the players do not see Colorado the same as most NHL experts do. One of Alex Semin's main complaints about Washington has been the quality of the centers hes played with.

So with Alex Semin selling him on playing with Duchene or Stastny would be easy. With Parise.. We have the cap space to offer him a deal with a 6.5-7M cap hit and we have players he is familiar with.

I think it was ESPN or something that also mused at the fact that we are one of very few teams that could afford to sign both Parise & Suter if they wish to play together.

With all that being said.. It's still less than likely because they have to make it to free agency first. If that happens we do have plenty of selling points and the money to go with it. Our chances are better than most cap restricted teams and assuredly better than the teams that are not nearly as close to being done with their rebuilds as we are.

While not exactly.. but close. We look almost like Chicago did before they signed Hossa. A young team that is challenging for a playoff spot despite our missing pieces.

Funny how it's going to go from...

Jones - Stastny - Hejduk
Olver - O'Reilly - Landeskog
Kobasew - McClement - Winnik
McLeod - Van Der Gulik - Porter

to

Mueller - Duchene - Olver (Ideally, a different player added via trade)
Jones - Stastny - Hejduk
Landeskog - O'Reilly - Galiardi
Kobasew - McClement - Winnik
McL, DVDG

Huge difference.
- NineTeen

Yes HUGE F***n difference..

You guys worried about the pick to the caps if you all unable to pick up the pace
- kuznetsov

No not really, whats gone is gone and its not like making the Caps better is going to have any real impact on us. Avs could finish anywhere from 7-12th depending how the season plays out.

This draft is top heavy but a lot of the big names have had a bad season or an injury this year so its not as strong as previously thought.

We were able to get a 2nd from TO. Varly was worth the 1st but adding in the 2nd was kind of rough.

As good as giggy has been Varly is still our guy and he has been a bit streaky but he is still young and is just skilled as a mother(frank)er

correct, we have no young forwards in the system that can come up and fill in the holes when this team gets an injury or two. and Ryan Stoa isnt the answer, nor is Mark Oliver or Malone, and Hishon is a big question mark.

I think its time to move Stastny and either Elliot or Barrie for a talented winger. Lets be honest, there is no guarantee that Parise or Semin will be signing with Colorado, so the team has to deal with what they have, and what they have is Stastny Elliot and Barrie and Siemens as assests, however, i would want to keep Siemens. You have to give to improve.

Like i've said before, they can go Duchene and O'Reilly as 1 and 2 up the middle, its time to build on the wings. Hejduk may be gone after this season, and Mueller is iffy (again) so all the have on the wings is Landeskog as a top winger ( sorry but Gali and Jones havent been able to prove they are top consistant wingers..3rd line wingers yes, but they havent proven they can be 1st or 2nd liners)
go avs go
- 10baci

Chill guy, the Avs will be fine. We are still a few years out and are just growing and slowly making smart moves. We have nothing to worry about. Just stay the course and keep rooting them on.

the Avs should look at picking up a forward that might be cheeper to get like:

Chris Stewart (never wanted to leave Col)
Andrei Kostitsyn (im not a fan but he hits and can get hot)
Antoine Vermette
Mike Kanuble
Tummo Ruttu
Jussi Jokkin
Andrew Ladd

just puting some ideas out there
- jonathonpeddle

How much would you give Stew to come back. Over or under 3mil per. Depending on the number depends on how I think he would do. AK46 is decent, would give us some scoring power, but he would be a bit lazy defensively and we would grow tired of him. I LOVE LOVE LOVE vermette, favorite player behind Hossa, but for the money he makes he wouldn't produce enough points. He is a player that plays great defensively and can win a ton but he is better for a team that need help down the middle, not so much the avs. Knuble isnt going anywhere and is better for a playoff rental, rather than a rebuilding team. Ruttu's price right now is just stupidly large because so many teams want him and he is also injured for a few weeks. Jussi would be a good add but again depends on the cost. Ladd would be an amazing addition to the team, but would bring more grit and a game similar to Gabe's rather than adding offensive skill which is what the avs need more at this point.

So there are my thoughts. I like how you considered untraditional names though.

Chill guy, the Avs will be fine. We are still a few years out and are just growing and slowly making smart moves. We have nothing to worry about. Just stay the course and keep rooting them on.
- Meeqsb

as frustrating i get when they lose . . . i still love this team and our core is as strong as any other young team in the nhl Duchane, O'Rilley, Stastny, Landiskog, Johnson, Mueller, Galliardi, McClement, Varlamov, and the oldest guys is what 26??? we have 3 strong centers and not to mention Hishion, Elliot, Barrie, Semins, Pickard, Attiailko(how ever you spell it haha) all waiting for there chances. Its a very bright future in Colorado!!!! Gotta Love It!!!!

GO AVS GO!!!

How much would you give Stew to come back. Over or under 3mil per. Depending on the number depends on how I think he would do. AK46 is decent, would give us some scoring power, but he would be a bit lazy defensively and we would grow tired of him. I LOVE LOVE LOVE vermette, favorite player behind Hossa, but for the money he makes he wouldn't produce enough points. He is a player that plays great defensively and can win a ton but he is better for a team that need help down the middle, not so much the avs. Knuble isnt going anywhere and is better for a playoff rental, rather than a rebuilding team. Ruttu's price right now is just stupidly large because so many teams want him and he is also injured for a few weeks. Jussi would be a good add but again depends on the cost. Ladd would be an amazing addition to the team, but would bring more grit and a game similar to Gabe's rather than adding offensive skill which is what the avs need more at this point.

So there are my thoughts. I like how you considered untraditional names though.
- Meeqsb

Thanks im just trying to look at smaller named players out there. people other then nash, carter, parise, semin, etc. people who would hurt the future and could help us now.

Thanks im just trying to look at smaller named players out there. people other then nash, carter, parise, semin, etc. people who would hurt the future and could help us now.
- jonathonpeddle

As time goes on the core that we have will get better. If we keep drafting smart, then we can pick up a FA or 2 and be set. Our best bet would be to look at prospects who are NHL ready who could grow into a top 6 role.

In reality most trades suck and you can't force a good one. You could always swap a good player for good player like a stastny for a winger or a Quincy for a forward or a Jones for a high pick that could turn into a top 6 player.

I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of resigning Stewart if it was for around 3mil to make the team better for a while but I am much more interested in what coach the Avs decide to get and the composition of this team when we are playoff contenders.

Can I point out for as bad a season that stastny is having, his point total is pretty identical to semins. Food for thought