Day 1 of training camp has come and gone, and we’re already counting down until Sunday’s preseason opener.
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Avalanche didn’t have any PTO’s at training camp. For the first time in years, they have a fully healthy top six, a nearly completely healthy lineup in general, and a lot more stability in each spot than probably any year since 2021.
But there are still several storylines worth keeping an eye on at training camp. Here are three things we learned from the long, first day of on-ice activities at Colorado’s practice rink.
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1. Center depth is not an issue. At least not yet.
Jared Bednar confirmed during Wednesday’s media day that Jack Drury would get the first shot at being the third-line center. Drury centered Ross Colton and Victor Olofsson during Thursday’s skate.
On the fourth line, Zakhar Bardakov was between Parker Kelly and Joel Kiviranta, confirming that he’s getting the first chance to be the solution to the need for center depth. Having Drury and Bardakov both excel in their roles is probably the most ideal scenario. But they’re not, by any means, the only options.
Bednar noted after Thursday’s skate that he’ll look at Colton as a center again if needed. He also referenced to other young forwards in Ivan Ivan and Nikita Prishchepov as options on the fourth line. These are guys, along with Bardakov, that he’d like to see compete for that spot.
If all else fails, Kelly shifting back to center could also happen. But that would only be if Drury solidifies his spot on the third line and the three youngsters don’t pan out.
Basically, there are quite a few different scenarios the head coach is juggling right now.
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2. Sam Malinski will have a long leash on the left side.
Jared Bednar made it known on Wednesday that Malinski would shift to the left side. He’s one of Colorado’s top-six best blueliners, but he’s fourth on the RHD depth chart. On Thursday, Bednar said he’s going to give Malinski a very long leash to get acclimated to the new position.
He’s hoping Malinski can be as effective on that side as he was on the right side late last season. But he can’t judge his effectiveness in camp, it’ll have to be in actual game action.
Where things get tricky is the injury to Samuel Girard. It still sounds like Girard is closer to returning than Mackenzie Blackwood, and Bednar still thinks there’s a big chance Girard is ready for opening night.
But if he isn’t? That means you’re likely rolling with Devon Toews, Malinski, and Keaton Middleton on the left side. And if Malinski struggles early, it’ll leave you with little help.
On a side note, I really wonder if a Girard injury means Sean Behrens gets an opportunity at the NHL level. It’s still very early, but I’ve loved his game both at the rookie tournament and in Day 1 of camp.
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3. Bednar finally has the high level talent to experiment again
Going back a few training camps, it always felt like Bednar had a clear top line, and then he had to put the scraps together after that. Last year on opening night, the second line was Casey Mittelstadt centering Calum Ritchie and Nikolai Kovalenko. The year prior was the failed Ryan Johansen experiment.
This year, Bednar has all six of his top two lines healthy and available. And none of them are new offseason additions. He knows what he has, he saw combinations that worked last year, and he’s finally able to experiment with new combinations this season.
What did that mean for Thursday? Valeri Nichushkin on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. And pushing Artturi Lehkonen down to line up with Brock Nelson and Gabe Landeskog.
My favorite part of the top six during the 2022 playoffs was that you could basically juggle the four wingers and use them in any combination on any line. Landeskog could be paired with any one of Mikko Rantanen, Nichushkin, or Lehkonen, and with either MacKinnon or Nazem Kadri.
Bednar probably wants to get this group there. That would mean a Necas and Nelson combination at some point. Baby steps.
