Question From Avs21
Who is the second biggest threat to the Avs in the playoffs? The Dallas Stars being first, obviously.
Aarif’s Response
The easy answer to this question is Minnesota, given that the Avalanche facing them in the second round would mean the Wild got through the Dallas Stars. And I’m sure Quinn Hughes would have played a big part in that.
But, I also don’t want to rule out the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers team that the Avs faced in the 2022 Western Conference Final isn’t the same as the one we see today. This is an Oilers team that, despite goalie issues, depth problems, and defensive mistakes, have beaten the Stars two years in a row in years where the Avs couldn’t. It’s a team with far more experience.
Some teams have a cryptonite, and it’s very possible Edmonton has Dallas’ number, which has Colorado’s number. But perhaps the Avalanche, if they get far enough and face the Oilers, could be the team that has their number.
Question From Sol
With mostly healthy forwards, are the Avs done tinkering lines? We need stable solid lines in the postseason and deep into the playoffs.
Aarif’s Response
I wrote about this after the St. Louis road game, but I am a big fan of head coach Jared Bednar putting Ross Colton with Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin. Bednar reunited that trio on Tuesday and it worked. That left Artturi Lehkonen on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, while Gabe Landeskog was on the the third line with Nazem Kadri and Nic Roy.
The way I see it, the Avs have three duos that almost for sure set in stone. MacKinnon-Necas, Nelson-Nichushkin, and Kadri-Roy. That third one is a bit newer but the early returns are that they work well together.
When Landeskog, Lehkonen, and Colton were all hurt, Bednar mentioned that he wanted to try Lehkonen on the Kadri line. I was always a believer that Landeskog suits No. 91 more. And I’ve loved Lehkonen with the top line.
So to answer your question, Bednar could be done tinkering if these lines hold up. But in the end, you have three left-wingers that are all interchangeable to a certain extent. And if Colton struggles, you still have Parker Kelly or Logan O’Connor that could be elevated and Joel Kiviranta as a security blanket to fill in on the fourth line.
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What makes this roster even more fascinating is the number of guys who could play center or wing. If things are going completely wrong, you can always put Kadr back on the wing with MacKinnon and Necas. He could also play with Nelson and Nichushkin. And you can easily do that because you have Roy, who can center the third line. The options are endless, and we’re going to see quite a few different scenarios play out if the Avs do in fact go all the way.
I will also add, they don’t have to have it 100% figured out by Game 1 of the first round. In 2022, the fourth line was centered by Nico Sturm with Andrew Cogliano and Darren Helm as the wingers when the playoffs began. It took a little bit of time before Helm was moved to center and Logan O’Connor was added to that veteran pair. They also started that Nashville series with Valeri Nichushkin playing with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. That eventually became Lehkonen’s spot.
Question From CEEgee
What do you think the goalie rotation will look like throughout the playoffs?
Aarif’s Response
I don’t believe rotation is the right word because it makes it sound like the goalies wold have scheduled starts regardless of how the game before it went.
If, when Game 1 begins, Scott Wedgewood is the guy they trust more, then he’ll get the nod. And he’ll remain the guy until there’s reason to believe he can no longer get the job done. If that happens, Mackenzie Blackwood will have an opportunity to come off the bench and do his thing. He’s proven in the past that he can get hot and the Avs would be banking on that.
It’s no different than in 2022. Pavel Francouz took over the Edmonton series because of an injury to Darcy Kuemper. But when Kuemper got healthy, Bednar still allowed Francouz to start Game 4 and finish the series. Francouz was leaking quite a bit in Games 3 and 4 after that epic Game 2 shutout, which, to me, is part of the reason why he went back to Kuemper for the Stanley Cup Final. But if Francouz had two more epic games on the road, would Bednar have moved away from him? I honestly don’t think so.
Bednar has done this before, and it worked. He’ll do it again if he needs to.