Denver Post sports writer Adrian Dater posts his Avs Mailbag each Monday during the 2005-06 NHL season on DenverPost.com.
To drop a question into the Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Adrian – I keep hearing all the talk about David Aebischer and his horrible numbers, blah, blah, blah! Frankly, I am sick of hearing about how terrible he is doing. Your analysis is welcome.
— Vivian, Jefferson, Md.
Vivian – Well, things have picked up a lot for Abby. Entering Saturday, he’d won four straight and was keeping his goals-against average down. There were some ready to throw Abby under the bus after a poor first few starts, but I wasn’t one of them. He’s a good goalie, and you can’t expect goalies to have mastered the “new” NHL yet. Look at some of the other goalies around the league and how they’ve struggled. Nikolai Khabibulin in Chicago is Exhibit A.
Adrian – Joel Quenneville does not look like a so-called “player’s coach.” Is this opinion correct? His style reminds me of Bob Hartley in a lot of ways. Do you see it also?
— Kevin Momot, New Baltimore, Mich.
Kevin – I think Joel is a player’s coach, but he’s not a pushover either. I think he speaks more of a “players language” than Hartley ever did, probably because Quenneville played in the league so long. I think Coach Q is well respected by players. Hartley always battled the “he didn’t play the game” label, which wasn’t fair. Quenneville hasn’t hesitated to make some tough decisions already, such as scratch Bob Boughner almost every night. He knows Boughner isn’t happy about that, but he’s still doing it.
Commenting on the Omaha and now the Lincoln readers who cannot get the Altitude Network in their areas. Tell them to switch to DirecTV. I have DirecTV and have the privilege of seeing every Avs game on, and it is cheaper than cable! To heck with the cable company! GO AVS!
— Keith Jackson, Ashland, Neb.
Keith – Are you sure you’re not the marketing spokesman for DirecTV? Thanks for the tip, though.
Are the Avs going cheap? It seems that they are trying to save money cutting Wojtek Wolski, declining Rob Blake and Joe Sakic their options, but more importantly cutting ties with the AHL’s best franchise, the Hershey Bears. Now they are splitting a team in Lowell, even farther away from Denver.
— Joseph Jachowicz, New Tripoli, Pa.
Joseph – Well, by necessity the Avs had to go cheaper, from a payroll of $62 million to $39 million. Lots of tough choices had to be made, as we’ve seen.
I said last week I would have kept Wolski, and I stand by that. They recalled Paul Healey in his place, and he didn’t get a point in his two games before being sent back to Lowell. Wolski was close to a point a game in his stay here, and I think his development would be more enhanced here than Brampton.
The Sakic-and-Blake thing isn’t as big a deal, I don’t think. It was unlikely Blake would be brought back at his current salary. Sakic might still get what he’s making now, but probably not. He’ll probably have to accept a little less next year to stay – and I think he will.
As for Lowell, it’s unclear why the Avs moved from Hershey to set up shop there, but I’m sure costs played a role.
Hi, Adrian! What is your take on the NHL being on the Outdoor Life Network this year instead of ESPN?
— Jim, Fort Collins
Jim – Well, I don’t think it looks great on paper, but it’s better than nothing. ESPN wasn’t taking the NHL back at the same money, so the league had to get the best deal it could elsewhere. Whether it’s on OLN or C-SPAN or the No. 925 channel that normally broadcasts Latin Salsa music, I don’t think really matters.
It’s on TV, and hockey fans will find it. The announcers are good and the production seems fine, although maybe not up to ESPN quality. By the way, it’s no longer referred to as Outdoor Life Network – just OLN.
Question from a Quebec ex-pat. How much has the team changed in your opinion, other than in player personnel, since that sad day the Nords left home? (Sorry, but truth must be told). Has it maintained any of its francophone character? Thanks from Turkey.
— Ryan, Istanbul, Turkey
Ryan – Yes, it still has a good francophone flavor. Of course, Pierre Lacroix is still the general manager. And the team’s director of media relations, Jean Martineau, remains a Quebecer at heart. You can also find many Nordiques jerseys for sale in the team’s apparel shop at the Pepsi Center, so that’s a nice nod to the past by the Avs. The statistics from the Quebec days still figure into the Avalanche’s as far as franchise records go, as well.
With the way the Avs have been scoring in the first month, is there a feeling of “Peter Who” among the fans, or is there still a feeling of something big still missing without No. 21, even with the current lineup?
— Bob Herpen, Philadelphia
Bob – Good question. I would say the scoring explosion has lessened the yearning for Forsberg around here, but he’s still on the minds of Avs fans. I think when the playoffs near and the games get big is when Forsberg’s absence might get talked about more.
Of course, seeing Forsberg get two or three points every night for the Flyers hasn’t felt great for Avalanche fans. But I think the general attitude has slowly become one of, “Let’s move on and give these new guys a chance.”
Could you please give us a rundown of the Avs players’ team nicknames? Every once in a while, I hear a nickname used in an interview (Abby, Blakey, Hejdie, Breezer, etc.), and I’m curious about the nicknames of the rest of the team (particularly since there are so many new players this season). Thanks, and keep up the great work on the Avs Mailbag!
— Richard, Parker
Richard – OK, here’s a rundown to the best of my knowledge: Karlis Skrastins is “Scratch.” Bruno is Brunette, Laaksy is Laaksonen, Saks is Sakic, Tanger is Tanguay, Clarkie is Clark, Boogie is Boughner, Kono is Konowalchuk, Lappy is Laperriere and Maysie is May.
Imaginative nicknames, I know.
Adrian – Can a team change its goalie for the shootout after the overtime has finished? Seems like this would be a strategy to help get the extra point if the backup goalie in net has issues stopping breakaways against a team like, say, Chicago.
— Steve, Denver
Steve – Good thought, but the answer is no. Only if a goalie is injured after regulation or at any point in the shootout can he be replaced.
Adrian Dater has covered the Colorado Avalanche since the team moved to Denver in 1995. To drop a question into his Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
