Aaron Musick: Avs fall on their face, end their season

I wish I hadn't seen that. Not only because I think I've been jinxing the Avs whenever I watch them, but how they badly effed up this game is just mind-blowing. Then again, it was my watching them that made them blow it.

Damn you guys! There would have been nothing better than the Sharks not making the playoffs.

Damn you guys! There would have been nothing better than the Sharks not making the playoffs.
- duxcup07

So the caps will pick most likely 12th rare chance the move up four spots. Still a good trade for colorado. Goalie for the future

Any chance you can get the Avs to throw the game on Saturday night?

Any chance you can get the Avs to throw the game on Saturday night?
- wings-suck

any chance your team ever wins a stanley cup...

any chance your team ever wins a stanley cup...
- wingz4life

Calm down boys. We're just trying to mourn the Avs here.[/img]

Any chance you can get the Avs to throw the game on Saturday night?
- wings-suck

I'm sure our coach will try.

The Avs had a good year and this team is showing lots of promise, especially when you look at where we were at around the allstar break. It was a great improvement from last year.

In the end having the youngest team in the NHL, our best offensive player having an AWFUL season sandwiched by injuries and having a mediocre coach ended up showing over the long term.

I think the avs will need a new coach before they make the playoffs, however it gives mgmt the option to cover thier asses if the avs have a poor start to next year by just firing him. Also having a coach that can teach the young team good defense for 1 more year might not hurt.

Still a good year and #Gabeforcalder

On the Bright side, maybe this will finally solve our Sacco problems.

The Avs had a good year and this team is showing lots of promise, especially when you look at where we were at around the allstar break. It was a great improvement from last year.

In the end having the youngest team in the NHL, our best offensive player having an AWFUL season sandwiched by injuries and having a mediocre coach ended up showing over the long term.

I think the avs will need a new coach before they make the playoffs, however it gives mgmt the option to cover thier asses if the avs have a poor start to next year by just firing him. Also having a coach that can teach the young team good defense for 1 more year might not hurt.

Still a good year and #Gabeforcalder
- Meeqsb

Unfortunately management is going to have to wait until at least the all-star break if they choose to fire Sacco. No one is going to resign a coach to a new contract and keep them on a short leash from the start.

On the Bright side, maybe this will finally solve our Sacco problems.
- DDM-Coga

The front office already said Sacco is coming back next season.

For the record management never confirmed the source saying they are keeping Sacco.

On another note.. I don't care how good of a locker room guy O'Brien is if his role is not seriously limited next year keeping him around is a bad idea.

Hopefully adding another minute munching No. 2 D to play with EJ will do that. I am fine with O'Byrne & Hejda.. But I wish that was our bottom pair not our second pair.

I am almost thinking it would be better to give Gaunce a shot next year than keep O'Brien. He really does try to do WAAY to much and ends up hurting the team.

You also have to wonder.. How long to do you keep Landeskog next to O'Reilly if he does not pick things back up. I hope everyone gets a fresh start in camp next year because I wouldn't mind seeing what a healthy Duchene could do with Landeskog and another good winger all year. Can anyone argue that if Duchene returns to form the lines shouldn't look like this next year.

Parise - Stastny - McGinn

Mueller - Duchene - Landekog

Olver/Jones - O'Reilly - Downie

(It seems like Mueller is just way better on the left side.. He seems more effective on that side for some reason. Which creates a problem because we have better LWs than RWs.)

At some point in the year I would be looking to package Jones for an upgrade and depending on how much of an upgrade that is would depend on how the lines turn out moving forward.

I would love it if O'Reilly kept up his defensive game and still put up 40-50 points.. But Duchene really needs to be with guys that can produce more than O'Reilly does. Duchene has the 80 point potential not O'Reilly. So many questions moving forward..

For the record management never confirmed the source saying they are keeping Sacco.

On another note.. I don't care how good of a locker room guy O'Brien is if his role is not seriously limited next year keeping him around is a bad idea.

Hopefully adding another minute munching No. 2 D to play with EJ will do that. I am fine with O'Byrne & Hejda.. But I wish that was our bottom pair not our second pair.

I am almost thinking it would be better to give Gaunce a shot next year than keep O'Brien. He really does try to do WAAY to much and ends up hurting the team.

You also have to wonder.. How long to do you keep Landeskog next to O'Reilly if he does not pick things back up. I hope everyone gets a fresh start in camp next year because I wouldn't mind seeing what a healthy Duchene could do with Landeskog and another good winger all year. Can anyone argue that if Duchene returns to form the lines shouldn't look like this next year.

Parise - Stastny - McGinn

Mueller - Duchene - Landekog

Olver/Jones - O'Reilly - Downie

(It seems like Mueller is just way better on the left side.. He seems more effective on that side for some reason. Which creates a problem because we have better LWs than RWs.)

At some point in the year I would be looking to package Jones for an upgrade and depending on how much of an upgrade that is would depend on how the lines turn out moving forward.

I would love it if O'Reilly kept up his defensive game and still put up 40-50 points.. But Duchene really needs to be with guys that can produce more than O'Reilly does. Duchene has the 80 point potential not O'Reilly. So many questions moving forward..
- Steve-B

So many questions indeed but I wonder what's going to happen to Ryan Wilson.

So many questions indeed but I wonder what's going to happen to Ryan Wilson.
- martok2309

I would sign him to as good of a contract as possible. Wait until preseason to see who plays there way into the lineup. If either Gaunce, Barrie, Elliot or Siemens crack the lineup or two of them.. Package him with Jones for a 1st or another winger. Whatever the need is at that time..

Jones cannot be let to walk because we either need him or an upgrade on him. Wilson is a coveted asset as well and an RFA.

Call me crazy but I wouldn't mind seeing what Elliott can do with some added weight and paired with Siemens as our second or 3rd pair. Or Elliott & Gaunce if Siemens is not ready. Or Elliott & Wilson if neither are ready.

With our young D and Wilson.. O'Brien & Hunwick are just out of a job unless one wants to sign another cheap contract to be the 7th D.

If they play to their potential I wouldn't mind..

EJ - UFA (Suter, Carle, Jackman ITO)

*Elliott/Barrie - *Siemens/Gaunce/Wilson (I still think Elliott with some weight will be better than Barrie and I think Barrie is packaged to bring in another wing. Hopefully anyways..)

Hejda - O'Byrne

What makes me ok with one rookie D pairing is that we would have two other solid experienced pairings.

I would also go after Ryan hard before free-agency.. Something like Jones/Downie, Sgrabossa, Barrie & Pickard for Ryan. A RW 20 goal roster player + a high end center prospect PMD and a Goalie prospect in case Hiller continues to falter could get their attention. Maybe it's not enough but maybe it would be and you know we would have to over pay a bit but it could attract Parise and fill the gate next year.

We are so set in all the other areas not many of those guys could crack the roster regardless of how well they play. Maybe Barrie but that's it.. As far as sign and trade w/ Jones it's the business end of hockey.

Good points except for the Erik Johnson and perfect defense in the same sentence..
The guy made some good plays in the offensive zone, but inside his own blue line is like his kryptonite. He loses all agility, all strength, all sense of direction and position. Moving forward to next year and beyond, let's not pretend he's more than an average d-man.

Good points except for the Erik Johnson and perfect defense in the same sentence..
The guy made some good plays in the offensive zone, but inside his own blue line is like his kryptonite. He loses all agility, all strength, all sense of direction and position. Moving forward to next year and beyond, let's not pretend he's more than an average d-man.
- JPStoney

He pushed the guys to the outside, is physical along the boards and, frankly, he covered a lot of Hunwick's mistakes through great plays. He's starting to become anything but average.

I would sign him to as good of a contract as possible. Wait until preseason to see who plays there way into the lineup. If either Gaunce, Barrie, Elliot or Siemens crack the lineup or two of them.. Package him with Jones for a 1st or another winger. Whatever the need is at that time..

Jones cannot be let to walk because we either need him or an upgrade on him. Wilson is a coveted asset as well and an RFA.

Call me crazy but I wouldn't mind seeing what Elliott can do with some added weight and paired with Siemens as our second or 3rd pair. Or Elliott & Gaunce if Siemens is not ready. Or Elliott & Wilson if neither are ready.

With our young D and Wilson.. O'Brien & Hunwick are just out of a job unless one wants to sign another cheap contract to be the 7th D.

If they play to their potential I wouldn't mind..

EJ - UFA (Suter, Carle, Jackman ITO)

*Elliott/Barrie - *Siemens/Gaunce/Wilson (I still think Elliott with some weight will be better than Barrie and I think Barrie is packaged to bring in another wing. Hopefully anyways..)

Hejda - O'Byrne

What makes me ok with one rookie D pairing is that we would have two other solid experienced pairings.

I would also go after Ryan hard before free-agency.. Something like Jones/Downie, Sgrabossa, Barrie & Pickard for Ryan. A RW 20 goal roster player + a high end center prospect PMD and a Goalie prospect in case Hiller continues to falter could get their attention. Maybe it's not enough but maybe it would be and you know we would have to over pay a bit but it could attract Parise and fill the gate next year.

We are so set in all the other areas not many of those guys could crack the roster regardless of how well they play. Maybe Barrie but that's it.. As far as sign and trade w/ Jones it's the business end of hockey.
- Steve-B

Elliott is going to be really good but I just don't know if it'll be next year or the one after.

I'd also keep Barrie for the future just because he's a great passer and Elliott's a great shooter. That powerplay with them on the point would own.

My vision for future defense is this:

Johnson-UFA (I REALLY want Suter)
Elliott-Siemens
Barrie-Gaunce

With that six and Varlamov playing as he has shown, that's a going to be a tough defense to beat.

Sacco? I'm not sold.

Elliott is going to be really good but I just don't know if it'll be next year or the one after.

I'd also keep Barrie for the future just because he's a great passer and Elliott's a great shooter. That powerplay with them on the point would own.

My vision for future defense is this:

Johnson-UFA (I REALLY want Suter)
Elliott-Siemens
Barrie-Gaunce

With that six and Varlamov playing as he has shown, that's a going to be a tough defense to beat.
- martok2309

If Elliott & Barrie somehow fill out to around 200lbs yeah I would be ok with that. Even then that D is on the smaller side besides EJ & Siemens.

EJ - 6'4" 232
Suter - 6'1 198
Siemens - 6'3" 196/210 (Hopefully he fills out a bit over 200 at least, 220 would be nice though.)
Elliott - 6'1" 180/200
Barrie - 5'10" 190/200 (Would be nice if they both could get to 200lbs)
Gaunce - 6'1' 203

vs

EJ - 6'4" 232
Suter - 6'1 198
Siemens - 6'3" 196/210
Elliott - 6'1" 180/200
O'Byrne - 6'5 234
Hejda - 6'4 237

I guess your pairs are not that small but I still think having both Barrie and Elliott on the back end is a bit to light for my liking. Having Suter or Carle plus Elliott is enough puck movers. With two of those having Barrie is a bit much considering EJ does it well to. I think Hejda & O'Bryne are a perfect big strong bottom pair. But they are relied on to much to be our second pairing.

Without Barrie we still have all these options at the point on the PP.. EJ, Suter, Elliott, Siemens, Mueller, Duchene. Doesn't Siemens have a pretty strong shot?

Besides didn't we try the whole PMD with a shutdown guy on all three pairings and had it not work? Maybe it was the quality of our D but I like the toughness a little more.

Barrie and one of Sgrabossa or Hishon are expendable high end prospects. We should flip them for an upgrade on Jones. Someone who could contribute to the core right now where we have holes. Plenty of teams want center prospects and puck movers of their quality.

If Elliott & Barrie somehow fill out to around 200lbs yeah I would be ok with that. Even then that D is on the smaller side besides EJ & Siemens.

EJ - 6'4" 232
Suter - 6'1 198
Siemens - 6'3" 196/210 (Hopefully he fills out a bit over 200 at least, 220 would be nice though.)
Elliott - 6'1" 180/200
Barrie - 5'10" 190/200 (Would be nice if they both could get to 200lbs)
Gaunce - 6'1' 203

vs

EJ - 6'4" 232
Suter - 6'1 198
Siemens - 6'3" 196/210
Elliott - 6'1" 180/200
O'Byrne - 6'5 234
Hejda - 6'4 237

I guess your pairs are not that small but I still think having both Barrie and Elliott on the back end is a bit to light for my liking. Having Suter or Carle plus Elliott is enough puck movers. With two of those having Barrie is a bit much considering EJ does it well to. I think Hejda & O'Bryne are a perfect big strong bottom pair. But they are relied on to much to be our second pairing.

Without Barrie we still have all these options at the point on the PP.. EJ, Suter, Elliott, Siemens, Mueller, Duchene. Doesn't Siemens have a pretty strong shot?

Besides didn't we try the whole PMD with a shutdown guy on all three pairings and had it not work? Maybe it was the quality of our D but I like the toughness a little more.

Barrie and one of Sgrabossa or Hishon are expendable high end prospects. We should flip them for an upgrade on Jones. Someone who could contribute to the core right now where we have holes. Plenty of teams want center prospects and puck movers of their quality.
- Steve-B

Barrie is a whole different animal than Liles, Cumiskey, etc. He's not afraid to engage phsyically and is actually going to be able to hold his own in his own end.

Gaunce might be only 6'1 but he's tougher than all get out. Size means nothing (Stoa anyone?), toughness does.

With that six, the Avs will have a top four that is capable of playing 24-25 minutes a night with a third pairing that will hold its own as well.

I only trade Barrie for the perfect, right deal. I don't even know what that is.

Barrie is a whole different animal than Liles, Cumiskey, etc. He's not afraid to engage phsyically and is actually going to be able to hold his own in his own end.

Gaunce might be only 6'1 but he's tougher than all get out. Size means nothing (Stoa anyone?), toughness does.

With that six, the Avs will have a top four that is capable of playing 24-25 minutes a night with a third pairing that will hold its own as well.

I only trade Barrie for the perfect, right deal. I don't even know what that is.
- martok2309

Barrie is going to be significantly better defensively than Liles and Cumiskey, if he's not already. I don't trade Barrie at all...

One thing I will say, regardless of how good of a year he had. I don't want O'Brien back. He may be a beauty, but he's a stupid hockey player. There's no room for stupid hockey players on winning hockey teams... Not in the role O'Brien played in for A LOT of this year anyways.

Barrie is going to be significantly better defensively than Liles and Cumiskey, if he's not already. I don't trade Barrie at all...

One thing I will say, regardless of how good of a year he had. I don't want O'Brien back. He may be a beauty, but he's a stupid hockey player. There's no room for stupid hockey players on winning hockey teams... Not in the role O'Brien played in for A LOT of this year anyways.
- NineTeen

I agree and I also am considering parting ways with Wilson. Too inconsistent for my tastes.

He pushed the guys to the outside, is physical along the boards and, frankly, he covered a lot of Hunwick's mistakes through great plays. He's starting to become anything but average.
- martok2309

compared to defensemen around the league that's what he is.. he may push guys into the boards, but he still loses a lot of puck battles in those tough areas and in front of the net. He does have his flashes, but needs to do more at both ends to be anything but average

compared to defensemen around the league that's what he is.. he may push guys into the boards, but he still loses a lot of puck battles in those tough areas and in front of the net. He does have his flashes, but needs to do more at both ends to be anything but average
- JPStoney

There are times he loses those battles cause he's the only guy among three others. Really tough for even the best to win those.