Up next in 10
Host Matthew Zator welcomes Colorado Avalanche writer Stefano Rubino to The Hockey Writers Roundtable to preview the upcoming 2024-25 NHL season.
0:00 Intro
1:22 Forwards - Big Storylines/Burning Questions
5:22 Avalanche's Defense
7:46 Goaltending - Georgiev & Annunen
10:46 How do the Avalanche stack up in the Central Division?
Quick Fire
14:16 Biggest Storyline/Question Mark Going Into 2024-25
14:46 Breakout Stars
15:49 One Player That Needs to Bounce Back
16:59 Potential X-Factors
18:14 Rookie/Prospect That Could Surprise & Make the Team
19:07 Prospects to Watch
20:37 Who will lead the team in scoring (forwards & defense)?
23:10 Bold Prediction/Hot Take
Follow Stefano's work - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/srubino/
And the rest of the Avalanche writers at THW as they preview the season in written form - https://thehockeywriters.com/tag/avalanche-season-preview/
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0:00
Hello, everybody
0:02
And welcome into another season preview show here at the Hockey Writers. I'm your host, Matthew Zattor
0:06
And we are up to the Colorado Avalanche here on our previews. I've got Stefano Rubino here
0:13
I can't remember if you did the season preview last year or not
0:18
No, that was Carrie did season previews. I did playoff previews. There we go
0:22
I'm trying to remember. It's meshing together the previews. But yeah, so welcome
0:26
How's it going? Not too bad. I'm looking forward to it. My first off season has been very interesting
0:31
but a good amount of action so far to write upon and looking forward to what this one brings upon
0:36
For sure. Yeah, this season, I mean, the Avalanche had another great season last year
0:42
I mean, they didn't make it very far in the playoffs. I mean, it was, they lost in the second round to Dallas stars
0:50
But, I mean, still really good team going into this season. They still all their good guys
0:55
they could even get Gabriel Andescog back. early on this season. We'll talk about that
1:01
But, you know, there's still a contender in this league. They're still a contender in the central division
1:07
Pretty tough division. They've finished a really high up there with the Winnipeg Jets fighting with them throughout
1:13
the season for the second third spots. I ended up third. But going into this season, let's start
1:22
Let's just start with the forwards and then talk about. I mean, there weren't a lot of changes in the offseason
1:27
they did re-sign, you know, Jonathan Druen, which is a big deal because he had a really good season
1:34
And now he can just get back, inserted back onto that top line. You know, talk about the forwards
1:40
I mean, there are a couple new faces, Parker Kelly on the fourth line
1:44
You know, Nikolai Covalenko is a new face. So what do you think about the forwards going into this season
1:52
Obviously, Nathan McKinnon is the big star still coming up off that 140-point season
1:57
And then, of course, Randon as well. So what do you got for the forwards here? The forward group hasn't really changed much
2:04
and really didn't need to. A big topic discussion was scanning Jonathan and Drew
2:08
and we thought, many thought it would be done before the actual free agency opened up
2:13
but there's reports saying both sides wanted to get it done, but nothing really clicked
2:17
But we found out just a little bit after if he opened. One-year deal, another kind of proving deal to say
2:23
hey, you got a really good second half the season, and you're repeating or a bigger payday
2:27
forward group landisog has definitely been a topic of discussion the past two years there's been
2:32
from the press conference in may to offseason training we've been getting hands and teasers and
2:38
even him saying that hey i hope you back there's no clear date it can be game one it could be game
2:44
82 we don't know uh another big topic discussion is valerian chuskin he's got placed in stage
2:49
three of the player since his program uh he's a topic of you can't come back in november but
2:55
when you be placed in stage three, you need to apply via Gary Benman and the team
2:59
And so that does a whole other behind the scenes of whatever news comes out
3:03
It's because it's coming out. The bottom six hasn't really changed much. Parker Kelly added in to the depth as well
3:09
Nikolai Kovalenko joined Artway through last year as a rookie. A little bit undersized, but he's got great legs
3:15
He's got great food. He's despite the size willing to throw the body as well
3:19
But the four group doesn't have really changed. They re-signed Casey Middlestadt, that second line
3:23
that was a big, the add on the trade deadline, they got that contract done
3:27
And besides the big two asterix, when it comes to Lianne Scott and Valerie Natchewskih. The top 12 is really the same
3:35
Yeah, I mean, the Avalenture going to have to make some decisions, especially if Natchewishkin comes back
3:40
depending on when he comes back. And then, of course, Landa Scott coming back
3:45
that's a big cap hit getting added in. They have to keep the room open
3:49
They can't be, you know, signing a bunch of guys to fill that in. is that going to be a big thing for the avalanche really early on because if lancel does come back within the first few games they're going to have to have the caps face
4:03
yeah and that's something we saw this off season obviously they had capspace going into the off season but they weren't contenders for stephen stanchose jonathan marshes so
4:11
uh jeran was signed for 1.5 parker kelly was about 1.2 uh kasing milstow was the largest at a contract extension but he was someone that they traded for
4:22
they needed a second line center. He's only 26. He's going to be able to grow with the team
4:27
A lot of other additions to the goaltenders and defense will talk in a bit. We're all around a million dollars and under
4:33
And they right now have, I do believe, about two to three million dollar range
4:37
But changes will obviously, we'll need to come when they get the idea of when Lanniskega wants to come in
4:41
And however, Nchuskin is handled with Gary Benman in the league and being reinstated
4:46
Yeah, I mean, those are two big pieces, too. I mean, Nachuchick, it's been amazing since he's come to the Avalanche
4:52
even though he has been out a couple times, he's still come back and still been the same player
4:58
So that's expected to happen again. And then, of course, Landis Scog
5:03
it's going to be interesting to see when he comes back, how good he looks and how long it takes for him to kind of shake the rest off
5:10
because he hasn't played since that Stanley Cup final. So that's a long time to come back, right
5:16
So that's going to be interesting to see how he bounces back from that injury
5:21
All right. moving to the defense. I mean, there were quite a few changes. It didn't look like there wasn't going to be
5:27
but then they added a couple guys, like you said, on those low contracts, Oliver Shillington coming from the flames
5:32
Eric Branstrom being bought out, or not bought out. He was let go as a restricted
5:38
Yeah, it wasn't resigned. So he became a UFA, and then the Avalanche picked him up
5:43
So two interesting bodies. I mean, they're guys that have, you know
5:48
Shillington, of course, had the, you know, mental health issues that he, personal issues that he had
5:54
came back, looked pretty good for, with the team. So, I mean, he could be a good addition
5:59
Other than those two guys, he still got the top four coming back. Of course, Kiel McCar leading the way
6:04
Devon Taves Josh Manson and Samuel Gerard So their big four are still coming back You got a new bottom pairing What do you think about the defense going into this season Yeah as we see the top four hasn really changed There was no effort to change
6:18
I know you can have your two cents on Manson or Gerard based off their play in their contracts
6:23
But for what they've done, it's fine right now based off the cap hit. It was the bottom six, we were worried about
6:28
I was a big fan of Sam Malinsky. He was able to come in last year when Devon Taze was dealing with some injuries
6:34
Eric Transon was doing with some injuries. And he looked great. and he was someone who think, okay, he can be in that six-roll
6:40
975 cap hit, cheap. But then they go out and they sign Eric Branstrom
6:45
They go inside out Calvin Dahon. And so you're thinking, okay, Milinski's going to fight with that six-seven spot with Brantstrom
6:51
And then comes Oliver Shillington with one, it's 1.2 million, largest cap hits so far added within those defenders
6:57
And you see, okay, now there's going to be a really big, as come training camp and leading on to the season of who's going to fight for that bottom pair
7:05
Calvin Dahan is, I like to say a lock. He's a play left wing
7:09
He's a defender. You don't have to really force him for the offensive side. But Molinsky, Schillington, Amelinski, and Branstrom, excuse me, can all really move the puck well
7:17
And there's certain things they all do well and wrong. So it's really going to be interesting come training camp of how they just mix the lines and see who Bednar likes
7:26
Yeah, it's going to be a big battle in training camp for those last spots on defense
7:30
And they're all NHL experienced guys. I mean, it's not guys that Omalinski has the lower experience
7:37
So it'll depend on who, I guess, beats out and training cabinet who plays better, right
7:44
So. All right, goal tending. Again, no changes, really. Alexander Gorgiev coming back as the star, Eustis Annen as the backup
7:54
Do you have any question marks with that? I mean, I know there's been talk with Gorgiev has, he's been up and down
8:01
He's been okay. He's been really good. I mean, it's either the two extremes
8:05
He's either really good or really bad. So what do you think about the goaltending going into this
8:11
Because Gorgiav is going to probably have to play a ton more unless you feel a bit more confidence in Annen and maybe a 1A1B
8:19
I don't know if that's going to happen, though. Yeah, that's something that we really got to see
8:23
Going into the playoffs last year, I said Grogit was easily our strongest weakness
8:26
eventually when you compare him to Connor Hullabuk. But we saw past game one, he was a Vesna-esque winning performance
8:33
player, 940 Davis centuries above. He looked calm. He looked collected and strong
8:37
being a smaller stature than hell of a book. So I really hope to see him
8:41
have a stronger year this year. Unfortunately, it wasn't that bad last year because you saw him play over
8:47
60 games. He was not very confident in that and you see him just not being able to get that breaks
8:53
Hopefully we see something from a Eustace an antonin that be able to take off some of that
8:57
He'll take off some of that workload, drop your give's workload to say 45-50 plus games
9:03
So Anthony can get that experience needed because he's only 24, 25
9:07
while having Georgian's workload for bringing ready all those back-to-backs, those big Friday night games
9:13
And when it comes to Trent Minor, someone who you're going to see more in the HL, he played in the ECHL a lot
9:18
and I was thinking he was going to be able to see some time in the NHL, but he looks like someone, he's going to be the starting goaltender with the Eagles
9:25
And maybe if there's an injury, he'll see some call-up time, but for now expect Annen and Georgiav as the starting two
9:31
is that something that the avalanche should be looking at though i mean there are some guys that
9:37
are on the free agent market still i mean could be had for cheap i you got ptoes i mean is there
9:44
anything do you think the avalanche will do there with the goaltending or it was interesting
9:50
i really thought they're going to go after someone like an anti-ranta i really thought someone
9:54
to go like a james rhymer just that third string goaltender someone that every week or
10:01
so to get one game in there just get a risk get a break but they didn't do that they just felt confident
10:07
enough i guess in yorgiev his play they hope they felt confident off and anternins play if anything does
10:12
come through and maybe see a call-up from the a hl and a trent minor if something happens throughout
10:17
the season we might see a signing here and there but again like we just talked about when it comes to
10:22
natucheskin and landezcog it's it's got to work within that cap and that's hopefully one of
10:27
things they're really hoping isn't taking the play to where they have to get another goal to enter
10:32
Yeah, I think the hope, of course, is that Gordiev and Annen can be the good tandem and be solid enough
10:38
They don't have to get any other guys. So I keep that cap space open for sure
10:44
All right. Speaking of the central division, very tough division, I mean, there's a lot of powerful teams
10:51
They, of course, I guess they battled with the jets right to the end of the season
10:55
And the stars, of course, come back and they're pretty much the same type of team again
10:59
you've got the up and coming teams. I mean, the Blackhawks probably aren't going to really challenge yet
11:05
I mean, they've got a better team, I think veteran-wise, but I don't think they're going to really make a lot of noise
11:12
You know, the Utah Hockey Club, I don't know about them. They could actually be a surprising team
11:18
There's a lot of unknowns beyond the big three, I guess. And Minnesota Wild could be a better team too
11:25
So, I mean, it's going to be tough. Where do you think they stack up? Are they still in that
11:29
fighting for the top, that two, three there. I think out of anything outside of a top three really is a underperforming
11:39
slash disappointing season. I don't doubt the central division. I think it's going to be a lot tougher
11:44
I think, you know, us as fans, we see the potential of a Utah hockey club
11:48
a Chicago Blackhawks of, you know, the pieces they add in hoping they could be a little bit
11:52
more competitive. I do think they're going to be competitive. I just don't think they're going to be good enough
11:57
Dallas, I think right now Dallas is still going to be. the biggest competitor to Colorado
12:02
Winnipeg will see. I feel like Winnipeg is always a case-by-case when it comes to year and prediction-wise
12:07
But I think outside of Dallas, Colorado, all-healthy should be in the top two, barring any
12:13
injuries and really any setbacks. Always forget about the national predators. They added so many guys this season And every time I talk with the Central Division I like wait the Predators are in here too Yeah And they they were of course a playoff team this past season
12:29
And they had added Stephen Samcoast, Marcia, so I, it's there going to be an interesting team going in
12:38
And they were tough, even without those additions. So they're going to be a wild card as well
12:43
I totally forgot about them as well. And I remember talking to some of my friends and we're going through the playoffs
12:49
and we're like, you know, Colorado, we got kind of extremely lucky with the way Connor Hellbuck kind of play just disappeared
12:55
You know, he has that playoff. He does have a playoff record of just not performing well, but outside a game per game, you have to make sure
13:01
And you saw the national players against the Vancouver Canucks, and they brought him to Sevens. The problem was they couldn't score
13:07
A lot of opportunities weren't capillated, and the Canucks took up on that
13:11
And so now you get a healthy UC Soros with a stronger blue line with Brady Shea and two elite top six plays
13:19
So you get to the echelon of where are you overhyping them
13:24
Is it the right amount of hype? But on paper, there's no justifying that they will be a not a wild card company competing for anymore
13:30
It's a top two team they're competing for. So again, yeah, I can completely forget about them because they've always been so middle of the pack
13:36
But they look dangerous. So we'll see it. It'll all depend on how they mesh well
13:40
I mean, we've seen in the past these stars joining teams. They just don't work
13:45
So it'll depend on how Stamco's kind of fits in. and how Marcia so fits with the roster and with Andrew Burnett's coaching too
13:54
So it's going to, they're going to be an interesting one. I think the top four in this division is going to be really up to kind of find
14:01
So yeah, it's going to be a battle. I think that's probably season to see how all this goes
14:07
All right. Let's move to the quick fire. And these are going to be quick ones, one sentence, two sentences each
14:13
So first one, we've got to have biggest storyline question mark going to this season
14:18
We've probably already mentioned it. Yeah. Landisg, Natchewskien. What are the updates
14:24
How are we going to see them coming back throughout the time? Is Landisog good a look
14:28
How is Landeskog going to look? He's been practicing. But if it's not game practice and it's not gameplay, we're going to see
14:34
And Nichushchevon, how is he going to come back? He's been great for them in the playoffs in the regular season
14:39
How is that situation going to be dealt with routine management and Gary Benman and getting him reinstated
14:44
Yeah, that's definitely the biggest one. One or two breakout stars for this
14:48
season. One, Nikolai Kovalenko. I'm a big fan of his. He was someone I talked about who
14:53
watched last year early in the season. He managed to come back after, you know, negotiating his
14:58
KHL contract and being able to move to North America. Undersized, quick, but very physical
15:03
I think he's going to start in the middle, the top six this year. I think if he's able to
15:08
capitalize on his speed and his game style with really shooting the puck creatively, I think he can
15:12
really earn a spot. The second one, I really like is Callum Ritchie. He's a guy that
15:18
Many avalanche fans have been waiting for, including myself. He's been great in development camp
15:23
He's now healthy. Training camp is going to be another just big circle to watch for how he performs with some larger players
15:30
And so he's going to be someone you really want to see. For sure. And there's that opening on the second line that is going to be a battle, right
15:37
Colvalli looks like, I mean, I'm seeing depth charts. He seems like he's there, but he's not a lock for sure
15:43
So that'll depend. He's a good, good choice for sure. other side someone that needs to bounce back this season you know i talked about georgive's regular
15:52
season play i won't go too much on him but i would talk about ross colton he was someone that going
15:57
into the off season was a big question mark on a lot of people's marks about being traded before
16:02
july july first with a no-movement trade clause four million dollar contract he plays on the
16:08
fourth third line excuse me who i'm a big fan of class next to miles wood and logan coner
16:12
unfortunately was hurt last year so they didn't really get that same mesh but when playing together they look really
16:17
well, but it's $4 million contract. You kind of want more impact with him
16:22
And if it's too easy to say, just move him down to the fourth. Again, $4 million is a lot
16:26
And so I'm not hoping for a 60, 70 point resurgence, but defensively, just being more
16:33
secure with the puck and hopefully clicking well and more with Logan O'Connor coming back
16:39
Yeah, that was a big loss when O'Connor went down because he's a very effective bottom six guy
16:44
So if he can come back. And, of course, Colton, we all know what he did in Tampa Bay
16:49
So in a decent season, but, yeah, you'd hope to be him to be a bit better
16:54
A little more. He's got right. All right, someone that needs not someone that could be an X factor
17:00
I mean, it doesn't have to be a player per se. It could be something, a situation too for this
17:06
For me, I'm just going to go back to John and Truent. I think this was a big year that really showed what he can do compared back to his days in Montreal
17:15
beginning of the year, he was really cold. He bounced from the first of the third lines playing left and right wing with a bunch of matchups
17:21
And we thought it was just going to be a disappointing year. But come that second half of the season, he played on top line with McKinnon and Ranted in
17:29
And he looked like a playmaker like we saw back in Montreal, closing it on almost 50 assists and adding to that top power play
17:36
So if he can resurface something we saw coming off that second half the season, I think he can prime that offense right back in the line
17:45
Yeah, that definitely, definitely, I mean, Drouan is, lately he's been, it's been an interesting case
17:51
I mean, whenever he's been, but he seems like he kind of got it together after a bit
17:56
of struggling at the beginning of the season. But, you know, everyone thought he was just going to click with McKinnon right away
18:02
And he didn't. Eventually, they rekindled it. So, yeah, definitely a big one for this season
18:10
All right, let's talk about prospects. You mentioned Callum Ritchie there. Who do you think could surprise
18:15
and no one's kind of thinking about that could make the roster out of training count
18:20
We're talking about surprise. I got to go with Sean Barron's. Sean Barron's after the University of Denver won the championship and then signed his ELC
18:28
He someone that I really thought could maybe push for a seven spot you know played those nine games see what he like and then had him sent back down so it doesn count on his year But with Oliver Schillington the Eric Branch and Sam Maliski I was like you really can see out of some injuries Unless he performs really
18:45
really well with the Colorado Eagles, maybe we'll see that couple games stench. But right now
18:51
he's just someone you should look out for if you're going to watch Eagle games into the HL
18:56
The defense, like we said, is going to be hard to crack. So that would be definitely a surprise. He'd have to
19:01
beat out a few veterans to make the roster and Malinsky too. So that would have been an interesting one
19:07
All right. Outside of making the team, who do you, what prospects do you think everyone should be keeping an eye out
19:14
It could be in the H.L. It could be beyond that. Richard Humphreys, he just played, you just got drafted last year
19:21
I do him in the fifth round. He was a prospect that many had him going much, much higher in the round, round four
19:28
round five, somewhere in around six, but you got him in the round. seventh and he's someone that I really like about 5 foot 11 he should be playing in the
19:36
I forgot which university he's playing that's kind of embarrassing but he should be he's a really
19:41
interesting product because the Colorado advantage didn't have a lot of draft picks this year they moved
19:45
out of their first they didn't like what they selected they were they liked the options and so
19:50
they moved back and they got a lot of really good depth picks and Christian humphre's is a guy you should
19:54
put a name out of yourself that I wouldn't suspect to sign his ELC in the next coming years but
20:00
should definitely be seeing his play. We're playing for the University of Michigan
20:05
Thank you. This coming 20, 24, 25. So that's this season. So, yeah, that's a big university to join
20:13
So, yeah, he'll be down the road playing the NCAA, probably three, four seasons from now
20:18
But, yeah, he's definitely a guy that I thought he was going to be drafted a lot sooner, too
20:23
a seventh round pick that's probably because of his size and it's always right
20:27
but yeah definitely a good guy to watch all right this could be i mean there's a few guys of course
20:35
mckinan's the obvious one but who who's going to lead the team in scoring forward and defense okay
20:41
i guess there's two obvious ones there yeah for it's going to be nathan mckinan again i thought
20:46
after we saw his 22 22 23 season where he put up i believe 111 points i thought or 114 i thought
20:53
i don't want to limit him but be like i thought that would be the best we've seen And we were blown away last year
20:59
Ed Lindsay winner, Hart Trophy winner. He's going to lead the forward out of the way
21:03
Topsy, he's got Miko Ranton. Potentially with Valerie Nushkin and Gabe Blandis Gogh back
21:08
he's shown what he can do with those two guys. Defensive core, it's going to be Kea al-Makar
21:14
You know, he can make the argument for, you know, he should have won the Norris or wherever
21:17
But statistically, he had a lot of bad, he had a bad slump coming out of the all-star break
21:23
that really kind of put him behind when Quinn Hughes really picked up his play
21:26
so I suspect him to be despite any injuries again the clear cut shot to be a norris competitor and put up another leading defensive core points yeah I do think McKinnon gets 140 points again or is another hundred and forty I don't know if you puts up another hundred of forty that means he puts up another career breaking home point streak which again everything in a sense is luck kind of comes to the way to bounce the puck bounces the puck
21:56
it's passed but i i can definitely say over a hundred is easily written in the books
22:02
he was just a beast last season i mean it's such a fun guy to watch i mean at times i think he's
22:09
funner to watch than i than macdavid honestly i don't know it's tough to kind of compare the two
22:15
and we've have i think we did compare the two yeah i think about their speed but jim parsons
22:21
did a great article i believe in like february march when the debate really started heating up and
22:26
I compared McKinnon to McDavid when it comes to lightning and thunder
22:30
When you hear McDavid, you see the lightning bolt. You see him go from one end to another in an instant
22:36
You see how fast his skate move and how fast his stick moves. Where McKinnon, he kind of rounds up
22:41
You kind of hear him. And then by the time like Thunder, you see the flash and then you hear the bang
22:45
And so by the time you hear that bang, McKinney is either a blown past your defense or
22:49
he set up a play where two guys are looking at him and Miko Ranton is left alone
22:54
So both are really fun, but they got little. different nipits of style when it comes to their game
22:59
Yeah, they're going to be a fun duo to watch at the Four Nations
23:04
Oh, yeah. Holy. I'm really excited to watch that. So am I
23:08
All right. Now, one bold prediction, a hot take for this season to finish up the show here
23:15
Bold prediction, I believe we're going to see a Yorgiev bounceback that's going to lead him to
23:19
gain to Norse Vos Voting Contendency. Last year was statistically his worst
23:26
regular season in part of how he just played. He didn't look confident and look strong
23:32
But I think I like the additions to the defense and how more they be able to work in front of him
23:37
and be able to cycle the puck. And the offense, I think there's going to be major questions
23:42
when it comes to the bottom six that's going to need some tweaking to start the season. But I really like to have guys like Parker Kelly
23:48
Chris Wagner, are going to be able to really help with that physicality and grit
23:52
while being able to move and cycle the puck up to make sure it's in the offensive
23:56
zone more. So Giorga doesn't have to rely on, constantly working on scanning the puck
24:02
Yeah, definitely a big thing going into this season. Make his job easier, that's for sure
24:08
Absolutely. All right. Well, thanks, Stefano for coming on and talking the avalanche for this season
24:14
It should be another fun one coming up. There should be a really good team again
24:19
Very fun to watch, especially with the forwards they've got. And, of course, Camel Carr
24:24
Yeah, so it's going to be good. So make sure checking out everything at the hawkerreras.com
24:29
We've got the substack going as well. It's all the best Avalanche articles to take a look at that
24:34
And everything throughout the season that, Stefano and the Avalanche writing team will be putting out
24:42
So lots of fun coming up. And until our next preview show, we'll see you next time
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