Adrian Dater of the Denver Post posted on the DP website that Patrick Roy told him what our top 3 lines are:

O'Reilly - Duchene - Parenteau

Landeskog - Stastny - Tanguay

McGinn - MacKinnon - Downie

Well then..

Some notes of interest:

Obviously this would move Ryan O'Reilly to the wing. I saw it suggested that this might somewhat diminish his two-way skills which I can certainly see. On the other hand, I think he's the most versatile center on a team with a lot of centers. I know everyone and their mother have been calling for a Stastny+ for Yandle swap, but that ain't gonna happen. I'm not 100% on board with the move but it's intriguing and I do like the idea of Duchene on a line with O'Reilly.

Hejduk hasn't retired and he is isn't included in these line combos. He's not a 4th liner. Maybe he's informed the team he's not coming back but has yet to make the announcement formally? Worth noting.

Including MacKinnon in the top 3 lines says that the team feels he will make the team out of training camp. That's a pretty strong statement considering he hasn't even taken the ice in rookie training camp.

Since Pierre Lacroix left the organization and Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy entered the picture, the Avs have been so much more vocal in the media it's almost startling. I, for one really like the change in policy. It's so much harder to follow a team like the Avs who have struggled for a good while now when they tell you next to nothing about what they are doing. If nothing else it's entertaining and while I highly doubt this will be what our top 3 lines look like, sure is fun to speculate.

What do you guys think?

Don't know how I feel about it yet. I like the idea of Mackinnon on the third line with Downie and McGinn.(two big guys that aren't afraid to bump and bruise and will protect the rookie) Also, I would rather have Tanguay play on duchenes left wing and move ROR to the Stastny line. ROR and lando have had great chemistry in the past and Stastny has never played with both of them on a line.

Tanguay-Duchene-PAP
Landeskog-Stastny-ROR
McGinn-Mackinnon-Downie
McLeod-Mitchell-???

Could see a number of guys filling that last spot but I'll leave that to Patty.
That being said something has to give with our defense. I want to keep Johnson, Wilson, Barrie, Elliot. This means we'd have to pick up two above average dmen. I think we'll get one through trade and one through free agency. Colorado is a more attractive landing spot for free agents now with the pieces we have in place. Hoping Siemens will be ready by next season. (And maybe one of our 5 defensemen we drafted this year)

All in all a great day to be an Avs fan. We got our guy in Mackinnon and this will be a very exciting season. And as a side note I am loving the avs new management so far. They don't shy away from the media and the organization has a better "feel good hockey sense" to it. Greatness to come!

I like moving Tanguay to play with PAP and Dutchy in part because I also like Lando and ROR on the same line. One change I might make and I may be nit picking here, but how about this:

Landeskog - Duchene - O'Reilly

Tanguay - Stastny - Parenteau


thoughts?

I like moving Tanguay to play with PAP and Dutchy in part because I also like Lando and ROR on the same line. One change I might make and I may be nit picking here, but how about this:

Landeskog - Duchene - O'Reilly

Tanguay - Stastny - Parenteau


thoughts?
- dtaylor1923

I could see this working. Not quite sure if I want to split up Duchene and PAP because of how dynamic they were together last year. I think Landeskog has an amazing season. Imagine the power play though....
Duchene-PAP-Mac-Landy-Johnson

I could see this working. Not quite sure if I want to split up Duchene and PAP because of how dynamic they were together last year. I think Landeskog has an amazing season. Imagine the power play though....
Duchene-PAP-Mac-Landy-Johnson
- goavsgo10

Got a point about Dutchy and PAP for sure. I just like the idea of Lando and O'Reilly back together with Duchene in the middle. Could be a really dynamic line. Who knows? The possibilities for the powerplay units are also really awesome. With our lack of D I think MacKinnon looms large on the PP. I've only seen highlights so far but he's got a nice shot from the point.

Got a point about Dutchy and PAP for sure. I just like the idea of Lando and O'Reilly back together with Duchene in the middle. Could be a really dynamic line. Who knows? The possibilities for the powerplay units are also really awesome. With our lack of D I think MacKinnon looms large on the PP. I've only seen highlights so far but he's got a nice shot from the point.
- dtaylor1923

Because this team has so many centers a lot of line combinations are possible and I like that flexibility. And you are spot on with wanting ROR and Gabe to play together. They were a very dynamic line when they played with winnik...now replace winnik with duchene.I feel like we will not have a clear cut 1st line at all this year. More of a 1A and 1B setup.(and almost a 1C, haha) I hope the avs pick up ference through free agency and make a trade for a dman with us sending like a second rounder the other way.

Also think a Stastny+3rd Rnd pick for Vanek would be a great trade for both teams. Sabres need a top line center while the avs need a scoring winger. This trade would also allow ROR to stay in his natural position. And being from Buffalo I've seen Vanek play and he can be a 40 goal scorer again with a good center...and it just so happens we have 3.

Because this team has so many centers a lot of line combinations are possible and I like that flexibility. And you are spot on with wanting ROR and Gabe to play together. They were a very dynamic line when they played with winnik...now replace winnik with duchene.I feel like we will not have a clear cut 1st line at all this year. More of a 1A and 1B setup.(and almost a 1C, haha) I hope the avs pick up ference through free agency and make a trade for a dman with us sending like a second rounder the other way.

Also think a Stastny+3rd Rnd pick for Vanek would be a great trade for both teams. Sabres need a top line center while the avs need a scoring winger. This trade would also allow ROR to stay in his natural position. And being from Buffalo I've seen Vanek play and he can be a 40 goal scorer again with a good center...and it just so happens we have 3.
- goavsgo10

At this point though, Stastny and a 3rd Rounder isn't going to get you Vanek. Maybe if he drastically improves his play under Roy his value might net you someone like that. The way he played last season is whats keeping him from bringing in an elite talent like Vanek or Yandle. So we'd either have to add more or stand pat.

O'Reilly - Duchene - Parenteau
Landeskog - Stastny - Tanguay
McGinn - MacKinnon - Downie
McLeod - Mitchell - Bordeleau

Hejduk doesn't have a contract and likely retires.

O'Reilly - Duchene - Parenteau
Landeskog - Stastny - Tanguay
McGinn - MacKinnon - Downie
McLeod - Mitchell - Bordeleau

Hejduk doesn't have a contract and likely retires.
- Drij

That's a pretty solid forward group. Question is at this point, where are we gonna get the D? I've heard/read suggestions of signing Hainsey and Ferrence, but I've also seen it suggested we wait til next year where more "impact" defensemen may be available depending on contract extensions and what not. Duncan Siemens should also be ready to contribute by then if he isn't already. Hopefully Elliott and Barrie are also more polished. Either way I'm excited to see what we do.

I see a lot of high scoring games in the avs near future.