A few quick hits today.
The Colorado Avalanche extended Tyson Jost for a couple of more seasons with an AAV of $2 million. It will carry Jost through the 2022-23 season and allow him to have one more year with RFA eligibility before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Jost is another one of those "pieces" to the Stanley Cup" puzzle. He is a solid penalty killer and a defensively responsible forward. He only had 17 points (7g 10a) this past season and he wasn't great in the playoffs but he's entering his fifth NHL season with a clearly defined role.
I like the extension and the cap hit isn't much to write home abound. Hopefully he continues to develop his game enough to be a key piece of the Avs bottom six.
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The Avs also added defenseman Jordan Gross for a season. Colorado signed the 26-year-old for the 2021-22 season. Gross spent last season with the Coyotes. He appeared in just seven games and collected three assists. Two of those assists were in one game (vs ANA). To be fair, he only has nine game of NHL experience in two seasons. He's got some learning to do.
His another depth signing for the AHL squad but can provide some NHL help when needed. He spent four years playing college hockey and that speaks volumes to me. I don't really know much about him but more often than not, college kids come to the NHL prepared to play and I'm okay with that.
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Are the Avs better or worse than last season?
I keep seeing that question all over social media and to be honest I'm not really sure and who can be?
The addition of Darcy Kuemper over Phillipp Grubauer is intriguing to me. I feel Kuemper is the type of goalie that can be very good when put in the right situation and the Avs just might be that situation.
Throughout this clubs Stanley Cup window, the knock has been on the netminder. Between injuries and inconsistent play, the Avs have been hampered by their own goalies. It's been their own worst enemy. Grubauer was a disaster in game six. His .773 save percentage in that game is not even beer league worthy.
I think if Kuemper stays healthy he could be the best addition the club could have made this off-season. Even at 31, Kuemper is a very good goalie. We see a lot of goalie continue to be elite even into their last 30's (MAF for example). His playoff numbers are similar to Grubauer's in a much smaller sample size. With a team like the AVs in front of him the sky just might be the limit.
Grubauer career playoff numbers: 19-10, 2.50 GAA, .917 save percentage and 2 shutouts.
Kuemper career playoff numbers: 7-6, 2.86 GAA, .913 save percentage and one shutout.
I also think keeping Gabriel Landeskog was HUUUUUUGE. Obviously. Losing him would have been a defacto "L" for Joe Sakic and the Avs. Instead, he's staying, Cale Makar was extended and Kuemper is between the pipes. It's been a stellar start. But, is it enough to be at or above where the team was last season?
No telling how much more tinkering Sakic is willing or able to do. He has a little over $ million in cap space available. Here is the roster as it sits today from hockey-reference.com...
What do you think? Is Sakic done or are you satisfied entering the season with is group?
Thanks for reading, Steve