Bouncing Back: Initial Impressions of the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

When a team finishes last in their conference, loses their star player of 20 years, and trades away their highest paid player, expectations are low.

If the first two games were any indication, those expectations need to increase drastically.

Despite having arguably the worst personnel (on paper) in franchise history, this year's Colorado Avalanche has come flying out of the gate. The team has been doing what every good team is supposed to do: control the play and keep the puck out of it's own net.

The major contributing factor to this is management's decision to remove slower players like Arnason, Tjarnqvist, and Smyth (sorry Smitty) from the roster. In their place are younger, quicker players like Duchene, Galiardi, and Hendricks.

Having young players fighting for roster spots has made the team more competitive. In the first two games, there weren't any players mindlessly floating around the ice; a sight seen far too many times in the past by players like Tyler Arnason.

It was very refreshing to see that this young team, likely riding adrenaline highs, could come out of nowhere to beat two teams many were calling Stanley Cup contenders before the season.

Here comes the real test.

Whoever made the NHL schedule obviously has a grudge against the Avalanche (a Blue Jackets fan perhaps?). After starting the season with two games at home, Colorado now goes on the road for 11 of it's next 13 games.

This road trip is going to be the litmus test for what will follow the rest of the season. If, when the dust settles, the team's record is at or above a .500 winning percentage, I think they're going to be playoff bound.

Looking to this weekend, I expect the record to improve to 3-1-0 with a win in Music City and a loss in the Windy City.

Welcome to the NHL, kids.

3 Stars of the Week

Craig Anderson

"Andy" is proving management right with their decision to sign him instead of more established options like Martin Biron and Dwayne Roloson. Through two games last week, Anderson compiled a 2-0-0 record, with a 0.973 SV% and 1.00 GAA. He was named NHL.com's second star of the week.

Wojtek Wolski

Will this finally be the year Wolski plays like everyone has hoped for? If the first two games are any indication, it is. Wojtek has had a strong start to the season collecting three goals and one assist in the first two games. Compare that to last season, when he didn't get his third goal until game 22.

Matt Duchene

The third overall draft pick has been nothing short of spectacular to start his NHL career. He doesn't have a goal yet, but leads the team in takeaways (four) and fewest giveaways (zero).

Dud of the Week

Kyle Cumiskey

When things are going well, it's hard to single out someone as bad, so choosing wasn't easy. But, considering a bad play by Cumiskey led to the first goal against the Avalanche this season, coupled with the fact the offensive defenseman still doesn't have a shot, he's my choice for dud of the week.

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