Bleacher Report - Articles by David Fredrick

The Colorado Avalanche: A Midseason Breakdown

David Fredrick — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:08:51 -0500

Heading into this weekend's All-Star break in Atlanta, the Colorado Avalanche have compiled 26 wins, 19 losses, and 4 losses, post regulation, for a total of 56 points through 49 contests.

The story of this team can be summed up like this: Whenever the Avs seem to get magic rolling their way, something sneaks up behind them and crushes their momentum.

For instance, they found solid goaltending in Peter Budaj, which led to a series of impressive wins, along with more consistancy as a road team; but a devestating, possibly career ending-injury was sustained by their captain, Joe Sakic, and saw their momentum sputter.

Then, the Avs found chemistry in a line centered by Paul Stastny combined with an impressive compilation of points by wingers Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk. But disaster struck again when Smyth was soon after cut down by a broken foot (and is projected to be sidelined for another 8-10 weeks).

Next, with a bit of a faulter from Peter Budaj, back-up Jose Theodore grabs control of the starter position in 2008. He then backstops Colorado to a 5-3-1 record, posting their first shut out of the season in a victory over Tampa Bay.

With this Vezina winner's new life, it seemed that things were salvagable, but the hockey gods decided they didn't deserve the reprieve.

In a freak illness, Stastny is diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent apendectomy surgery to correct it. He'll be out for another two weeks.

Despite all these problems, there are many positives for this highly talented, though snakebitten, Colorado Avalanche franchise. After all, they are still holding onto a playoff spot in the tightly squeezed Western Conference. And if that wasn't enough optimism for the team, they can also consider that they are barely out of a division lead, which would put them into third place in the fluid Western Conference standings.

Also, bright spots like Marek Svatos, Jaroslav Hlinka, and T.J. Hensick, who entered the season with high expectations, have been able to produce with the additional responsibility, and provided the Avalanche with high hopes for a positive second half and a strong playoff push. These three forwards are, and will have to continue to significantly contribute to keeping the Avs afloat while the big guns are recovering.

The Avs have also made some depth decisions recently, and have acquired two minor league prospects from the Blue Jackets. Winger Phillippe Dupuis may appear in at least one game before the season is over, and Darcy Campbell adds depth to their minor league defensive core. The Avs received both prospects for forward Mark Rycroft, who was up and down with the club, and will be a UFA this summer.

Though the future holds uncertainty for the franchise this season, all Colorado may have to do is hold on to the young talent that remains, hope that the All-Star break will give rest to the overly burdened bunch of talent, and get back some of their injured stars, and, who knows, maybe this Avalanche club can make a serious push in the playoffs.

With 33 games left in the season, hope is far from lost.

Best of the West: NHL All-Star Candidates

David Fredrick — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:26:05 -0500

With the NHL All-Star game approaching, here is a list of five amazing players I have personally selected on the online ballot. Hopefully, browsing through the list will help you decide as well.

Center

In the 2008 all-star game, your Western Conference is proud to present—Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.

This center easily has the best hands at center in the West this season, posting points with—and during injuries to—Henrik Zetterberg.

With 50 points in 41 games and a plus 22, while only racking together 6 PIMs, he's my outstanding vote for the West All-star center.

He's a major part of Detroit's success, and he's chasing the East's Lecavalier as top scoring center in the NHL.

Left Wing

Henrik Zetterberg. The ying to Datsyuk's yang. It's hard for a Colorado fan to send two Red Wings to the All-star game, but you simply cannot argue with his success. 52 points in just 36 games.

Zetterberg is a powerful Left Wing, and with the chemistry already there, it's a recipe for West success.

He's also not shy of shooting either, amassing 188 shots.

Right Wing

The Calgary Flames powerhouse, Jarome Iginla.

Iginla has been the scoring backbone of the Flames for seasons past, and the improved supplemental scoring has only increased his offensive output.

He's racked up 57 points in 42 games. He's totalled 178 shots, and sits high atop a plus 18 rating.

Iginla needs no help from Iron Mike, and you shouldn't need any help putting this player on your ballot.

Defense

Edmonton's bad boy, Chris Pronger. Much of his success last season was attributed to his partnership with he-who-would-not-decide, Niedermayer.

But this season, Pronger showed he could get the job done. 31 points in 43 games, and of course, 89 PIMs.

Why not Lidstrom? I already have two Red Wings,—don't make me change the title to "Wings are the Best and that Makes Me Sad

In the other blue-line spot: Dion-The Hammer-Phaneuf. Not only does he contribute offensively, he's arguably one of the hardest hitting defensemen in the league. He's a man every NHL team wants, and the Flames get.

Phaneuf has produced 29 points in 42 games, but his real all-star quality is his phyiscal toughness and willingness to put himself at risk for a win.

While it was hard to keep Lidstrom off the ballot, it's obvious to see that we lose very little when we select this young, improving defenseman.

Goaltender

It would be easy to select Luongo, considering he's carrying the Canucks on his back—and, with the Sedins, is the only reason they even have a shot at the playoffs.

But it would be rude to ignore the stellar play of Evgeni Nabokov. With the trading of Toskala to Toronto, Nabokov has cemented their decision with a GAA of 2.02, a league lead in NHL wins with 22, a save percentage of .917%, and an impressive five shutouts, all this in 40 games.

When looking at the Vezina voting, it's apparent that Luongo may have to wait another year, given a class that gives us Kiprusoff, Nabokov, Giguere, Backstrom, and even Osgood.

The Western conference shows no lack of talent, and with these selections, it's sure to be an exciting All-Star game, and I'll be watching to see where all these players take this tremendous start, while I hope Budaj wins Vezina, and Stastny breaks 100.

Avalanche of Injuries: Colorado Goes Short-Handed

David Fredrick — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:55:29 -0500

If injuries were a disease, you'd want to stay away from Colorado's locker room.

In just a few short weeks, the Avalanche have lost four players to injury, and not just your typical players, either—vital components to the success of the franchise have gone to the DL.

The biggest blow for the Avs? A career-threatening injury to Colorado's star player, the face of their franchise since the Quebec Nordique days: captain Joe Sakic.

Sakic was on pace for a solid year, contributing 22 points in 24 games, with half of those points coming on the Avs' struggling power play. Sakic was diagnosed with a groin injury, and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks.

It's easy to believe that with old age setting in, and the notorious nature of recurrence that comes with this injury, that Sakic might be on his way out the door.

The most recent woe comes in the form of Colorado's summer blockbuster, Ryan Smyth. Smyth had just began to find his groove on the Stastny line—contributing 28 points in 36 games—when he suffered a fractured ankle in Colorado's 4-3 overtime loss to Phoenix last Monday.

Smyth provides an offensive punch that Colorado can't afford to lose with Sakic out. The Avalanche will have to go without Smyth's services for a staggering 12 weeks.

On December 16th, Tyler Arnason, a uniquely energetic player with potential to score, was placed on the IR with a wrist injury. He initially was thought to be out until mid-January, but recent developments support an earlier return.

This prognosis bodes extremely well for the Avs, as it's expected the center will get increased ice time and a larger role in the offense with the injuries to Smyth and Sakic.

Of course, Jordan Leopold, Colorado's recently-acquired, chronically-injured defensemen was not to be outdone. Leopold, thought to be a No. 2 defenseman to skate with Liles when he was first obtained, has played in only 13 of Colorado's 36 games so far.

Leopold has posted three points in those contests, and is just now coming back from a thigh laceration suffered in practice.

Colorado, however, is very far from being starved for scoring talent. T.J. Hensick can expect to see a lot more ice time, and Jaroslav Hlinka will need to step up the scoring everyone expected to see after an amazing preseason.

Paul Stastny will need to find a cure for his streaky play, and develop strong consistancy, while Brunette can look forward to a first line role.

It's extremely possible with these promotions Colorado could maintain playoff position, and I wouldn't even rule out a Northwest title.