Colorado Avalanche 2017-2018 Season Thread

[Houshmazode]

Also, Jonas Johansen got claimed off waivers by Phoenix. Guy just can't stick around.

[Houshmazode]

Galchenyuk was waived from his PTO, the team cited a major injury issue. Might pick him up later on when he's healthy.

Georgiev gave up 6 goals on 12 shots in one of the preseason games. Not too worried about it but it does make you wonder if he's ready.

[darryn16]

It is. We got a bit sidetracked on there being any other contender in Denver besides the Avs. I don’t agree the Nuggets are true contenders as well but will be happy to be proven wrong.

Gotcha. The Western conference is just too deep, has been that way for as long as I can remember. I would be ecstatic if they could win just one championship. I don't care if it was their only one, just win one!!!!

[DenverBlood]

This. I'll agree, the Nuggets have a talented roster, but Malone doesn't know how to use them. By the way --- I thought this was an Avalanche thread??

It is. We got a bit sidetracked on there being any other contender in Denver besides the Avs. I don’t agree the Nuggets are true contenders as well but will be happy to be proven wrong.

[darryn16]

I’ll believe it when I see it.

This. I'll agree, the Nuggets have a talented roster, but Malone doesn't know how to use them. By the way --- I thought this was an Avalanche thread??

[famicommander]

They made the conference finals in a bubble with no fans. They haven’t made it that far with having to deal with tough road environments since Melo and Chauncey were nuggets.

On paper they may seem nice but I’m not buying a Malone led team until they prove it.

The warriors also weren’t healthy they last time the Nuggets were healthy and if Ja is back healthy I wouldn’t pick us over Memphis either.

The Grizzlies have a much better record when Ja doesn't play than when he does. He couldn't cover a girl scout in a phone booth.

[DenverBlood]

The last time they had Jokic and Murray together they made the conference finals and this team is WAY better overall than that team was.

They made the conference finals in a bubble with no fans. They haven’t made it that far with having to deal with tough road environments since Melo and Chauncey were nuggets.

On paper they may seem nice but I’m not buying a Malone led team until they prove it.

The warriors also weren’t healthy they last time the Nuggets were healthy and if Ja is back healthy I wouldn’t pick us over Memphis either.

[famicommander]

I’ll believe it when I see it.

The last time they had Jokic and Murray together they made the conference finals and this team is WAY better overall than that team was.

[DenverBlood]

The Nuggets are absolutely contenders. They may need to go get a backup center at the trade deadline or find one off the couch like they did last year with Cousins, but otherwise the team is stacked. They have perimeter defense and three point shooting on a level they've never had before. Even if they get absolutely nothing from Porter, this roster is a legitimate threat as long as Jokic and Murray are healthy in the playoffs.

C: Jokic/Nnaji/Jordan
PF: Gordon/Green/Cancar/White
SF: Porter/Reed/Watson
SG: Caldwell-Pope/Brown/Braun
PG: Murray/Hyland/Smith/Gillespie

Last year:
C: Jokic/Cousins/Nnaji
PF: Green/Green/Cancar
SF: Gordon/Rivers/Reed
SG: Barton/Forbes
PG: Morris/Campazzo/Hyland/Howard
(Murray, Porter)

Three of those dudes aren't even on NBA rosters right now.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

[famicommander]

Stoked to have Mac Locked up for what pretty much could be his career. Season is almost upon us already. Will be nice to have the one true contender in Denver back in play.

No disrespect to the Nuggets or Broncos but neither of them are legit contenders.

The Nuggets are absolutely contenders. They may need to go get a backup center at the trade deadline or find one off the couch like they did last year with Cousins, but otherwise the team is stacked. They have perimeter defense and three point shooting on a level they've never had before. Even if they get absolutely nothing from Porter, this roster is a legitimate threat as long as Jokic and Murray are healthy in the playoffs.

C: Jokic/Nnaji/Jordan
PF: Gordon/Green/Cancar/White
SF: Porter/Reed/Watson
SG: Caldwell-Pope/Brown/Braun
PG: Murray/Hyland/Smith/Gillespie

Last year:
C: Jokic/Cousins/Nnaji
PF: Green/Green/Cancar
SF: Gordon/Rivers/Reed
SG: Barton/Forbes
PG: Morris/Campazzo/Hyland/Howard
(Murray, Porter)

Three of those dudes aren't even on NBA rosters right now.

[DenverBlood]

Stoked to have Mac Locked up for what pretty much could be his career. Season is almost upon us already. Will be nice to have the one true contender in Denver back in play.

No disrespect to the Nuggets or Broncos but neither of them are legit contenders.

[famicommander]

"My sources say there is still a lot of work left to do on getting a deal done" - Adrian Dater, less than one hour before the MacKinnon deal was announced

What a clown.

[famicommander]

That's a good deal for MacKinnon. I feel like he'd get 14-15M pretty easily on the open market.

[Houshmazode]

Excellent signing. Rodrigues is a very solid two way guy. He's a great skater and strong on the puck. I'd compare him to Compher but with a much stronger shot and better defensively.

I'd start the season with him as the 2C. Maybe you can rotate Compher, Newhook, Meyers in and out depending on who has the hot hand, and if someone runs with it, so be it. All four of them can play center so they should be good.

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Nichushkin
Lehkonen-Rodrigues-Rantanen
Newhook-Meyers-Compher
Cogliano-Helm-O'Connor

Toews-Makar
Byram-Manson
Girard-Johnson

Georgiev
Francouz

That is a much stronger unit than they started last season with, and they should still have the cap space to cover any potential Newhook/Byram bonuses and still have some breathing room if they need to get an emergency forward or goalie at the deadline.

Rodrigues won't match the numbers that Kadri put up last year but they should be able to make up for that with healthier seasons from MacKinnon and Lando, plus having Lehkonen/Byram/Cogliano/Manson from the start instead of adding them throughout the year via trade or return from injury.

Defensively this is, by a wide margin, the strongest six man group in the NHL. Last year they were rolling with guys like Ryan Murray, Jack Johnson, and Kurtis MacDermid playing regular minutes. EJ goes from a top 4 guy every night to the guy with the fewest minutes.

The only question left is Georgiev. Did the Avs pro scouts do it again? They took chances on Kuemper, Francouz, Varlamov, and Grubauer and they all paid off. Georgiev is an even bigger risk. I believe he's the guy but he has to prove it.

Everything I've heard about Rorigues' playing stye indicates that he's fairly similar to Kadri, just mot as much of am offensive threat. Sounds like a really good fit, should fill in nicely at 2c until and of someone else is ready to step up.

Georgiev is young and I like his potential. He's had some really good games in spot play, and some not so good ones. I follow him on instagram and he seems kind of timid. Hopefully he grows into a long term role here. I think we'll be fine no matter what with Francouz and the defense backing him up.

Really can't wait to see the development of Newhook, Byram and Myers. This season will be really exciting.

[Houshmazode]

Mackinnon 8 years 12.6m AAV!

Highest paid player for now. In a couple years this deal probably becomes a bargain again, cap should go up a lot with the tv deals.

Woohoo!!