Gavin Brindley’s Potential on Full Display. Ducks Come to Town Looking to Make Another Statement.

Gavin Brindley’s Potential on Full Display. Ducks Come to Town Looking to Make Another Statement.

All right. Are we about to start seeing more of Gavin Brinley? Let’s talk about that in a new episode of Locked on Avalanche coming at you. You’re Locked on Avalanche, your daily podcast on the Colorado Avalanche, part of the Locked On Network. Your team every day. All right, everybody. Welcome to the Lockdown Avalanche podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I’m your host, Chris Miselli. Joining me as always, Mr. Zack Pearson. Thank you for tuning in, making this your first listen of the day. And thank you for making the Lockdown Podcast Network the number one podcast sports network in the nation. Thank you so much for that. Can’t beat that stuff. So, if you want to get in on the conversation, join our subtext. Link is in the show notes below. Chat with Zach and I one-on-one. get your opinion, everything Avalanche related, and share it on this very podcast. We’ll be checking in with the Subtext crew and their predictions for this game of the year that nobody really had circled on their calendars uh when the when the uh schedule came out, the Colorado Avalanche and the Anaheim Ducks. Go figure. So, uh we’ll get to that. And we always like to we’re going to start doing power rankings or depending on how the schedule works out Mondays or Tuesdays whenever we can get them in uh where the avalanche are currently on different websites power ranking. So we’ll get to that a little bit later as well. Uh, but like I said in the opening, it’s Gavin Brinley’s world right now and we’re just living in it. And he he’s been a breath of fresh air for, you know, this this prospect pool that just gets such a shellacking from uh just the the hockey media really around the world. and to have a guy that they went and traded for and not one of those guys that you just stuffed in the AHL. He made the team out of camp, deserved it, and you know, now everything is just roses for him after that game winner. And when you don’t have a game the following day, you keep talking about the guy. And it’s not just that though. It’s it’s like how he’s been playing is it just seems like it everything just fits for him. So, the question I posed in in the opening is, you know, and we talked about yesterday’s episode, not just the game winner, but he was out there uh getting some shifts with with, you know, some top six uh lines, the top line in particular with Nathan McKinnon a couple times. Do you think we’re going to see more of that or was that just a Bednar tweaking some things as that game went on because it wasn’t in in in their hand? you know, there were still some things in doubt. Uh, do you think we’ll see that more or that was just a one-off for now? I think it’s a one-off for now only because I can’t really imagine either like NOS Nichas or Nushkin. I almost just combined their names into one super player. Um, I can’t imagine ne like both of them being off the top line in favor of Brinley yet. Not saying he can’t eventually get there. I just don’t see it happening on a regular basis. That being said, I fully anticipate Bedar to do exactly that and be like, “Hey, we need something to just be a little different.” So, Leki and Mac, you guys are going out there with Brinley for this shift here in a game. And then, honestly, if the kid keeps playing as well as he does, eventually he’s it’s going to be hard to put him down below the top two lines or the top line. I mean, we we were talking about it at the beginning of the season like, oh, who’s going to make the push and who’s going to be the hard one to send back down to the Eagles and then it was it became pretty quickly like Brinley’s going to be really hard to send back down. And now it’s Brinley’s going to be hard to keep out of your top nine or top six potentially. So, yeah, I don’t anticipate it being a very common thing right now. I do see it happening on a not regular but semi-regular rotation on a a a needed basis. It’s just another option that the Avalanche have now if they want to go down that road. Um but I’m with you. I I think you know it was a great moment for him and I think that just gets him more confidence. Um it’s clear that the the team the coaching staff has confidence in him if in that game and a game that was you know still in doubt of of you know this was not in your hands um and you’re moving you saw how he was playing for the duration of that game you decided to make those moves to move he was the one that you inserted more and and gave and put more weight on his shoulders for that game. I think that that speaks volumes to what they think of him. Um, and then to put him in for for overtime. Uh, just putting him out there was kind of like, okay, they have a lot of faith in this kid. But do do I see and I wonder how much of it was uh, you know, NASA seem to get hit early in the game. Um, and I like didn’t really seem like he was the same after that. He didn’t he didn’t come out. I don’t know if that had something to it. didn’t matter if it had something to do with it. It’s just the fact that hey, he if it did, he he that again they went to him to be the one to to just slide him up for, you know, big parts in the game. Yeah. So, I think yeah, as the season goes on, it’s it might be something to watch because they’ve already messed around with that second line quite a bit. you know, uh, Nelson and Auskin are the the staples right now, and they’re kind of, you know, they went to with obviously started with Landisk, then went to Olafson, who’s playing well. It’s not like they couldn’t slide him back in there. It’s been Ross and lately. Why couldn’t it be Gavin Brenley? Why couldn’t you put him in that in that second spot for now? Um, and maybe they do it before Logan O’ Conor comes back to see what they have and, you know, where lines match up. I there’s just a number of ways you could go with this, but to be to catapult him into like a a top six role right now is very premature. But I think the one thing you will see is you should see his minutes creep up a little bit more. Again, not going from the 8 to 10 up to 1718. Uh but maybe you know the way that he’s playing whatever line he’s on even if it’s the fourth line the way he’s playing helps that line. So those lines might be out. You may be able to roll those lines the way that you’ve always wanted to do and you know the where line should be for time on ice kind of levels out a little bit and you see him with two to four more minutes per game. That’s where I we could go right now. 100% agreed. I think it really does help out being able to put yourself in a position where you’re not having Nathan McKinnon play 20 plus minutes, 30 plus minutes the entire game. Sometimes it feels like just because Bedar wants to make sure that we’re we’re getting the points that we need to get. I feel like there’s a couple of games last season especially where you’re like, “Okay, I’m relatively certain Nathan McKinnon has 57 of the 60 possible.” He’s always out there. Yeah, it does feel like that sometimes. And so if you’ve got a fourth line that can produce and is able to keep the puck, keep possession of the puck, keep the offensive zone, and do all of those things you want to see them do like Brindley does. It puts you in a good position, like you said, to just bump those up a little bit. Give a couple of your topline guys a couple extra minutes each night goes a long ways to keeping you fresh into the playoffs, too. Really does. Sure does. Yeah. And I mean, we we love the Nas and uh Nathan McKinnon duo because they’re exciting. I’m not saying replace I’m not all I’m saying is Brinley and McKinnon like every once in a while together would be just as exciting as Martin Nas and Nathan McKinnon. Brinley continues to develop because he’s he’s a little bit smaller for sure. Yes. So, but he’s still working. He’s 21. like you’re showing this much. Yeah. And you’ve got like you’re not even close to your prime yet. You still got four or five years of working up into it. I agree. Like be really fun. He doesn’t care about his his height. Like who was that guy on on Vancouver uh there I think Moer said it on the broadcast that literally is a full foot taller than Oh yeah, that’s right. That’s right. Yeah. He went right up like he he didn’t he didn’t knock him down but he stopped him. right up. He slowed him down and and hey, if I can slow you down, I can I you know, we can have a a battle for puck possession against the boards. He doesn’t care. He like he he’s going in there. He’s going to mix it up. I love it. Um so we’ll see where that goes. And it’s if nothing else, it’s just exciting to have, you know, a top prospect who’s early on in the season, but he’s performing and he’s producing. Um that’s very nice. It’s very nice to have that. I I agree. Very very nice. It’s I’m really It’s really cool that our first two segments today are going to be two very surprising things because in the off season at the end of the playoffs last year, if you’d have told me we have a top end prospect we’re going to be very excited and talking about. I’d have been like who? I don’t know who’s stepping up into that spot. And now we got Brinley. And you know like we are going to talk about the Ducks next segment but you know they have a lot of them that are producing. So yeah they do they have the bragging rights for that too. I wanted to bring this up too. Uh this was over on JFresh’s uh uh it’s on his website but he posted about it on his Instagram page. So he’s he they they have a thing over there where you can um for the you can you can kind of predict what the points are going to be for all 82 games just projecting where guys are now. So I wanted to to bring this up because it’s it’s kind of hilarious. uh where Nathan McKinnon is right now. Over 82 games, he is on pace for 149 points, 72 goals, and 77 assists. Um, does this stuff usually pan out this way? No. But don’t tell Nathan McKinnon he can’t do that. So, I mean, actually tell Nathan McKinnon he can’t do that because then I’m pretty sure he’s going to go out there and just rip things apart for the entire season. Very good point. Um, but man, if he hits 72 goals, that’ll just, you know, destroy his careerhigh. Um, and then 77. So, almost equal amounts goals and assists is just stupid. Yeah. Um, to to be at 149. So, but that would only be the tops in the league by four points over Willie Knander. Knander doing as well as he is. Yeah. Who would have 50 goals and 95 assists. Uh, that’s pretty that’s pretty crazy. And Leo Carlson, who’s playing phenomenal right now for Anaheim, would be at 137. That’s your 123 for the season, which I love. I love that we don’t have the same old same old, you know, with the exception of Nathan McKinnon because he’s usually always towards the top. Uh, but you are getting uh new guy, new new blood infused into the league in terms of scoring and Carlson is up there right now. Baddard is up there right now. Celibbrini is up there right now. All those guys are up there right now. And I love it. It’s not just your McDavid every year, Matthews every year. like sure, those guys are going to score their goals, but uh the Young Bucks are are starting to make their name. Um and I’m here for it. It’s about time. Yep. I absolutely love this. It’s cool to see a new generation starting to to take that spot. Yeah. And yeah, I mean, I do really like Nathan McKinnon being on top, the scoring, and the beginning of the weekend, everybody’s like, “Oh, all these young kids leading the league. Celibbrini leading the league in scoring right now and then all of a sudden McKinnon’s like, uh, I’ll I’ll just take nine points this weekend and take that back over. We’ll see about that. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It’s It is exciting though. Uh, McKennon like we mentioned it yesterday’s episode and he did get the number one star of the week uh which not too surprising with the what he had. I think uh Bard was Bard was second and I think Carlson was third. So there you go. Like they’re they’re holding up. They’re staying up there. One other thing I want to point out on this list. Kale Mar is number eight on this list. Um for 113 points. He’s the only defenseman on here. I was going to say I’m kind of blocked here. I moved it over. I think he’s the only defenseman on here. I went through it quickly. No, I don’t I don’t see any other defenseman. But not only is he the only defenseman, look who’s right below him. It’s Conor McDavid. Conor McDavid. He’s tied for overall points with McDavid, but he has more goals than him. Can you imagine if Kale Mar finishes the season with more goals than Conor McDavid? And I don’t know, man, if if that if if Nathan McKinnon does go out and score 149 points, uh, but it’s Kale Mar who has 31 goals more than Conor McDavid and has 113 points on the season. I think Kale Mar wins your heart trophy if those are his numbers. to absolutely has to. That’s ridiculous. 100%. Yep. So, go over to the JFresh page over on uh Twitter or he has his own website up now if you want to go follow along on that. So, cool stuff there. We’ll we’ll have to save that and see how it uh all winds up at the end of the year. So, uh but we got to get through games and the next one for the ABS should be an entertaining one against the Anaheim Ducks. What? Yeah, let’s talk about that next. First, we’re going to hear from FanDuel. The NBA is back, and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. And even if you miss the start of the game or want to ride a hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. Uh, obviously, the Avalanche are playing on Tuesday. Nuggets as well. Nuggets are playing Tuesday as well. And then Broncos Yeah. fun stat. So if you guys FanDuel is still doing $5 bet if it wins $300 in bonus bets. A bet you can take right now. The three Colorado major sports teams that are playing currently, the Broncos, the Nuggets, and the Avalanche are 150 and two at home since October. So take that $5 and choose one of those teams at home to win and you’ve got a pretty good shot at that $300 in bonus bets. That bodess well for this game against the Ducks on on Tuesday. So um I mean I think it helps that the Rockies are not playing for that. That helps immensely that record to be what it is. So that definitely helps. Uh so right now FanDuel is giving like Zach said new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. So like I said in the beginning, nobody had this game circled between the Avalanche and the Ducks. And while I’m also I’m here for, you know, all these the young guys being higher up in the uh standings for points, I’m all for this, too. I’m all for teams that nobody really gave a chance or was just like, “Oh, they’ll be improved but not improved enough to, you know, maybe grab a playoff spot.” And who knows when when this is all said and done, who knows what’s going to happen with the Ducks. But when you watch them play, um, I you get the feeling like, sure, will the world even itself out maybe a little bit, but I think they’ll be there for for the duration of this season. I think they’ll be there. They they had done very well drafting and developing and they brought in they did a great job of doing both things, drafting and developing and making good trades for veterans. And they have that nice balance. And the two guys that stick out right now are uh Trouba and Chris Krider. Go figure. I mean, Trouba just I guess we’re out as welcome in New York. Kind of a weird trade to me at the time. Uh Krider I I get Crider feels like just needed somewhere else to go. He just what it just seemed like the luster wore off for him in New York and he’s reinvigorated his career in a short amount of time. And then you have all of these young guys that they’ve drafted and developed that are making the name for themselves. Yeah. Like all of them. It’s not hit or miss. It just seems like they have they have hit all of the right buttons and it’s nice to see. It is nice to see. I don’t want to see it Tuesday night. No. I’d love for them to still be developing. Uh but you have Tuesday be good after Tuesday. Exactly. Exactly. Um, but you could see it like if you watch this team, you can see like, yeah, these guys are on their way. Just when is it going to be that they like hit their stride? And it seems to be now. Guys like Leo Carlson, that guy is a gamer. He is a great player. And I I have a feeling that he’s going to be one of those guys with the Baddards of the world and the CBrinis. And here’s Leo Carlson who’s just doing as well as they are, but it’s just kind of like skating under the radar because he wasn’t the household name those two guys were. This is a good team. It’s a good team and I think it’s gonna be a fun game. It should be a really fun game. I’m curious, who do the ABS put in net for this game? Because I’m thinking they’re going to go Scott Wedgewood. Uh if you asked me last week, I would have said uh probably Mackenzie Blackwood, but right now I I’m with you. I think they’re still riding the hot hand with Wedgewood and I think in this this is the type of game that everybody’s kind of looking forward to. This is the type of game I think the guys are really going to want to go out and show like cuz you’re kind of putting up like you said two of the best in the west right now. This is Nobody would have thought that in November you would have you somebody would have said Avalanche as a competition for best in the west. Nobody had Anaheim as the potential there. And so, yeah, I don’t I feel like Wedgie’s got maybe he’s going to get the start. It just feels like you said, the hot hand. See if you can put him out there to get a win. And yeah, I think so. And I I remember talking about like Western Conference and things like that and and thinking the Ducks would be improved. Yeah. Um but this like on on the heels of the Avalanche, no. No. No, nobody had that. And they are in the midst of a sevengame winning streak right now. Mhm. And I don’t know if you’ve looked at the teams that they beat during this sevename winning streak, but I’m going to tell you, it’s impressive. It it all started in Florida and they beat the Panthers in a shootout and then they beat uh the Red Wings at home 5-2 and then they beat the Devils at home and then they beat the Panthers again 7 to3 at home and then they beat the Stars in Dallas and then they beat Vegas in Vegas in overtime and then they just beat Winnipeg at home. Those are all topofthe- line or def or twotime defending Stanley Cup champion teams that they are beating. They are not going out and beating you know the the lottery teams of of next year. So you want I mean we’re talking about confidence level of the Colorado Avalanche. The confidence level and that’s what a team like Anaheim needs. All they need is confidence. So, and when and when you have like I I I was I wanted to come in and say, “Oh, this is going to be, you know, the test for them.” They just passed seven of them, right? So, this is just another one for them. So, uh they’re coming in and they’re not going to be uh intimidated. They’re not going to feel like the moment’s too big for them. And when you have a team that honestly I want to say this has nothing to play for uh because nobody expected this. They can go out and just play hockey. It’s play right now. It’s all kind of is. Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. And you have, you know, Lucas Dostall who’s who’s I think a very good up andcoming goalie himself. So they they have it all right now. So, uh, I I think I think we slept on the ducks. I think that’s the one team that we just immediately just dismissed and because it was easy to it was it’s so easy to do that for teams that just haven’t done much. And it’s tough to say like a team that, you know, over the last decade struggles uh to be like, oh, this year they’re just going to break out of it. I think that team this year was the mammoth for a lot of people and they’re doing well, too. But I don’t think anybody really had it on the Ducks. So, I’m I’m kind of excited for this. I’m excited to to watch them play and and uh see where they match up against the Avalanche. See where the Avalanche match up against them as well. Yeah, agreed. This is going to be a really good game. I hope everybody who goes is nice and loud because I think the ABS are going to want to feed off that energy for sure. You got a prediction for this one or what? What do you think? Oh man, this one’s going to be really tough to predict. I don’t know if I’m expecting super high scoring or like a one of those weird nobody seems to be able to actually score the puck kind of games. Uh let’s go 43 Avalanche win regulation. All right. I mean the way the ABS are scoring lately wouldn’t surprise me if they could put up another five spots, right? Another Yeah. wild and crazy game. Have no idea. Um let’s see. Katie says, “Ducks won seven in a row, so the ABS should be able to shut that down.” All right, I mean, I would love it. We’ll see. I actually think they can shut them down, especially here at home. That clearly helps you avanch anytime you’re the home team, that clearly helps. But if this game was in uh Anaheim, I think, you know, doesn’t take much to to, you know, sevename winning streak early in the season, you’re at the top of the standings. And if it was, you know, the Avalanche coming to town in Anaheim, that place would be rocking. Place would be rocking. But coming to Arbar. So, yeah, that’s down the road. Um, Adam says, “Ducks are flying high right now, but the Avalanche will smother them six to three final.” I like that. I mean, I it’s it’s just great that this game is happening when both teams are are really on a heater right now. Both of them are. So yeah, I mean the ABS need to slow down the Ducks and the Ducks need to do their best to slow down the ABS, which is is proving difficult right now. Uh Christina said, “I’ll be there.” So she’s going to the game. So I’m sure they’ll pull out a win. I anticipate it will be a close game. For some reason, Anaheim has decided they want to play hockey this season for now. Just need the ABS to remind the Ducks who they are. I I get where like she’s going with that. Um, and that’s where I was saying like where the Ducks are. It could be. It could be. Like we don’t know. We don’t know. Like I think they’re like a much improved team, but they’re just so young. And I think that’s where it’s tough to predict uh like they were going to do this because you had to predict when it was just going to all mesh well with all those young guys that they have and they’re all doing it together, all doing it this year. I think that was what’s difficult to predict about it, but it’s working for him. Uh Laura says, “Does Jacob Trouba’s elbow of social justice try to take out Marty Nes again, or was that the only East or is that the only East Coast Trouba? Uh I make fun of uh him with my Ranger fans all the time about the True Elbow. It’s a very real thing. Um I feel like he’s been on his better behavior since coming to Anaheim. You haven’t really heard about it too much. No. Taking those like wild shots at guys in in the playoffs like he did with NASA. But um I don’t know if he’s been on better behavior, but sometimes you can’t teach an old dog new tricks and it’s it’s still within him there. And uh is he one of those guys where if someone’s just close to him and he’s having a rough game, he just flails that elbow out? It’s always possible. That would be a concern is if the ABS somehow start to run away with it, does that elbow come back out? Right. And he doesn’t care who he throws it to either. That’s the scary part. So, um, Hawacorn says, “I’m actually going to this game as well.” Sweet. Uh, so he says, “Three to2 ABS.” And then Zack H says, “Might be one of the best games of the year. An Anaheim is looking like a complete package. It’s a good measuring stick.” Um, but he doesn’t say for who. I mean, maybe it’s for both. I was going to say I think it’s for both. Yeah, why not? So, all right. Yeah. Uh, going to be a good one. So, uh, we’ll be back on to talk about that one on tomorrow’s episode. One more thing to do here. We’re going to last breakin and then we’ll come back with, uh, some power rankings for this week. And where did the Avalanche stand? I think you’re going to be pretty happy with this week’s uh, power rank. I think so. Across. Something tells me we’ll do that next. New sponsor here on the podcast and that is Drip Drop. And you want to stay hydrated. You want to stay hydrated. That’s when everything just works better. Your focus, your energy, your mood, even your skin is better when you’re hydrated. And that’s why you got to use Drip Drop. It’s a doctor developed hydration that keeps you running at full power no matter what your day looks like. Drip Drop isn’t your average sports drink. It delivers three times the electrolytes, electrolytes, and half the sugar of leading brands using a sciencebacked formula trusted by medical professionals, firefighters, and over 90% of top college and pro teams. Make Drip Drop part of your daily routine. Mix a packet in the morning before the gym or during that midday slump. And trust me, they taste amazing. They actually sent me a package of them. Uh right now the cherry limeade is maybe my favorite one. They sent me a citrus package, so it’s all like the citrus flavors. Uh you can never go wrong with cherry limeade. I feel like that’s always just like the go-to for me. It’s a great choice. It’s always good. So right now, Drip Drop is offering podcast listeners 20% off of your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use the promo code locked on NHL. That is dripdrop.com. promo code NHL for 20% off. Stock up now before hitting the ice and keep your body and mind performing at their best with Drip Drop. All right, sir. Power rankings. Let’s see where the Avalanche stand for this week. Uh, yeah. Go. You got I’m going to address one thing real quick before we hit the Yes. for on yesterday’s episode there was a comment I saw and it was when do we start discussing when Landiskog that contract for Landiskog is he overpaid etc etc we don’t moving on the only thing I want to say about that is isn’t it funny how all that needed to happen was Gabe Landiskog needed to return and everything was fine and to an extent that’s true look what’s still like the team is And sure, he cures a lot of what was missing in the in the locker room, but be because what’s going on on the ice for him is a little bit slow to come around. Now everyone, I don’t say everyone, some people like that comment. Now we’re backing off on that and now we’re like, “Oh, is what’s going on with Gabe Landisk?” I just find it how these things just alternate. Uh it is crazy. It’s It’s funny to me. It’s funny. I just wanted to I just wanted to address that. We don’t. He’s He’s not overpaid. He’s earned every cent. Absolutely. And if you’re winning, what’s the problem? Exactly. What is the problem? So, um All right, let’s dive into some power rankings here. We did last week, uh I know we did the athletic. Why don’t we start there? Um and I figured we do we do a kind of a fun way, I guess, because we just talked about Anaheim. Yep. So, I know last week when we did this, we we looked where the Avalanche were and we looked where the Mammoth were. Yeah. Why don’t we look where the Avalanche are and why don’t we look where the Ducks are? I was at the same mindset. Uh, so over on the Athletic, and again, the way we did it last week was go through the teams until we hit the Avalanche. We don’t have to go very far in really any of these. Uh, so over on the athletic, Colorado is number one. They were three last week. The You don’t have to go far to get to Anaheim. They’re number two. Anaheim is number two and they were 14 the week before. A 12 spot jump for the Ducks. So, people are starting to come around. But do you think that’s too much? I think we talked about this with with the the Mammoth last week of, you know, it’s it’s the like the sexy pick, so let’s throw him up as as high as we can. And the Mammoth were two last week and dropped to eight. So yeah, I mean it could be a bit of kind of an overreaction moving on the board a bit for Anaheim. Uh but it is pretty crazy to see them one and two and facing off tomorrow. I it’s I love that the AS bumped up their two spots on the Athletic. I It’s hard for me to argue, especially as an ABS fan, that they belong anywhere except the number one spot. Uh Anaheim, I think maybe a little high, but I also think this is not the only outlet that has them at number two or number three. Yeah. Um and I do want to bring up for The Athletic for their bullet points and uh like their paragraphs, they talked about one player or at least one player from each team who’s on the bubble for the Olympic roster. So, for the Avalanche, they said uh said Gabe Landiskog has started slowly, but that doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter. Respect he’s earned has already helped him put on Sweden’s roster. Yep. And agreed. There you go. Um let’s go over to the NHL and their their uh 16 or whatever they call it. Uh I still have a hangup that they just don’t care about half a league. Bothers me that whatever. Well, I really like when teams rocket up to like seven or eight, like six, seven, eight, and they weren’t ranked the week before. It’s like, well, how many spots did they jump? Exactly. No idea. The world may never know. It’s like center of a Tootsie Roll Pop. Um, Colorado Avalanche number one again. They were number three last week in their uh ranking as well. So, they move up to number one in that in the NHL ranking. Where is Anaheim? Number nine. nine. Yep. And they they were 16 the week before. So, um that’s the only way we know is that where where they were last week. Um they were barely in that. Yep. So, Anaheim, again, a pretty big move up to the number nine spot. I mean, jumping seven is nothing. It like that’s no small jump. So, yeah, another outlet really thinking pretty high on the Ducks, but AB still hanging on at number one. I think they did something where it’s who’s like a surefire Hall of Famer for each team. Um, you know, I I love that question for the Avalanche right now. If you’re just to pick one, if you only pick one, it’s obviously between McKinnon and Mar who do between the two. It has to be uh I mean, it’s like one of those things where Mar Yeah. But it’s like that that doesn’t mean oh Nathan McKinnon you have no shot, right? It it’s so it No, I’m saying like if you had to choose like you’re given right now only one of these two you can pick to be the one who will eventually make the Hall of Fame. It’s like putting your $5 FanDuel bet down. I feel like it’s got to be Mar. He’s just it’s too historic and gamechanging of a career already. It’s got to be him. Uh I mean you’re you’re you’re 100% right. no matter which one of those guys you pick. Right. So, um the funny thing is with Anaheim, we’re talking about Leo Carlson. That’s who they have. The Anaheim one is Carlson. He’s good, man. He is really good. So, we’ll watch him. Uh over on the hockey writers, we didn’t have the hockey writers last week. Um, but we’re bringing them up this week because like the Athletic, they have the Avalanche at one previously at five and they have Anaheim at two, previously at 11. So, I mean, a sevengame winning streak will catapult you up our ranking. So, really will. Yep. Uh, number two, you know what? Let let Anaheim have their flowers while they can. You know what? I’m okay with it. I’m okay with it. So, that’s another one. And then uh we got the who else we got here? ESPN. ESPN. Yep. So ESPN, Colorado at number one. Um they have Montreal at number two. Actually, we haven’t talked much about Montreal, but man, they are a fun team. And they have Anaheim at eight. Previously 20. So another 12 spot jump. Big jump on another rankings. Yeah, like you said, sevename winning streak will do it. And like, you know, is this too much of a jump? You did go through the list of the teams they beat on this sevename winning streak. I don’t know that it’s too much of a jump. This is a heck of a good jump. Yeah. Yep. And then uh finally over uh Shannon over at the Hockey Guy website, um he had the abs at seven last week, I think. Yep. And he has bumped them up to number three where uh he has Anaheim at six. And I don’t remember what time was last week. I don’t remember either. Yeah. So, um, if nothing else, this just tells you like the ex the excitement around this game uh that wasn’t there three weeks ago is very much there. And every single website has both these guys in the top not only the top 10, top five or top two. Yeah. So, you really you really do have potentially the two best teams going at it on Tuesday night. Who doesn’t love that? And with uh with Shannon the hockey guy, being the only one without the ABS at number one, he put uh New Jersey and Montreal at one and two ahead of the Avalanche. I can understand why. Um I know on the last one we got some comments saying, “Oh, he’s just an Avalanche hater.” His comment when he put the puck on his board was, “The AS can and very well could be the number one spot next week if they keep playing this way.” So I I think he’s trying his best to make a opinion as unbiased as possible. Montreal’s been sneaky good. Like not like maybe not even sneaky good. We’re just not talking about them here, but they’ve been a good team. And New Jersey, everybody knows New Jerseyy’s been playing phenomenal. So yep, good good spot to be at three. I think the AS are number one on my power rankings um because they are the best team in the league and can do no wrong. Of course not. They never do. Uh even if they lost every game, they’re still number one in the world. Number number one in my heart. Exactly. Exactly. So, um but yeah, that Montreal is a fun team. So, I think they I think they’re up against each other at the end of this month. I remember when we did the the month of November. Um 29th and Yeah, true. That will that will be a fun fun high octane game. high octane up and down the ice. Uh just going to be blinding speed back and forth. That’s gonna be fun. That’s for the end of the month. So, um long way to go before, well, kind of a long way before we get to that. But, uh you’re not overlooking the Ducks anymore. At least right now, not not right now. So, uh we’ll be talking about this game tomorrow after it finishes up. So, make sure you tune in to that. Um until then, thank you for making this episode your first listen of the day. And of course, the Locked On podcast network, the number one sports podcast network in the country, always appreciated. So for Mr. Zack Pearson, I am Chris Melli. This is the Locked On Avalanche podcast. We’ll see you guys tomorrow to talk about that big game. And you also have made it through another 24 hours where Sydney Crosby’s that much closer to be being a part of the Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado Avalanche soar to the top of NHL power rankings as Gavin Brindley’s breakout performance ignites the prospect pool and fan excitement. Can Brindley’s rapid rise force his way into a top-six role alongside stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Nečas, or will coach Jared Bednar opt for a cautious rotation? The team’s newfound lineup flexibility could be the key to balancing ice time and keeping veterans fresh for a playoff push.

Chris Micieli and Zach Pearson debate lineup strategies, analyze Brindley’s on-ice impact, and preview a high-stakes showdown with the surging Anaheim Ducks, who enter with a seven-game win streak and standout rookie Leo Carlsson. Insights include power ranking shifts, MacKinnon’s potential record-setting pace, and how the Avalanche match up against other Western Conference contenders. Is this matchup with Anaheim a defining test for Colorado’s championship ambitions?

00:00: Brinley’s Potential
06:20: Gradual Increase in Player’s Role
07:37: Depth Improves Playoff Readiness
11:28: New Stars Shine in NHL
16:25: Improved Ducks
21:37: Ducks’ Surprise Breakout Potential
30:59: Avs Claim Top Spot in Multiple Power Rankings

Subscribe to our Subtext to talk to us directly!
https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonavalanche

Everything Locked on Avalanche:
https://solo.to/lopn_avalanche

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOAvalanche?sid=YouTube

Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL

Follow on X:
Chris: https://twitter.com/c__micieli
Zach: https://twitter.com/XavierSuperfly
Show Page: https://twitter.com/LOPN_Avalanche

#NHL #coloradoavalanche
_____________________________________________________________
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
DripDrop
Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order.
Go to https://dripdrop.com and use promo code LOCKEDONNHL.
Indeed
Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/lockedon right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

Monarch
Take control of your finances with Monarch. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at https://monarch.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.
FanDuel
Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)