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 Avs Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Bonjour! The Avs need to get Chris Drury back in Colorado. He would be the best second-line center to complement Joe Sakic and would take away pressure from the first line by scoring the big goals. If not Drury, who else could take that role (scoring the big goals) while staying at a reasonable price? Is Pierre Turgeon OK?
— Guenael, Aix-en-Provence, France
Well, right now Turgeon is doing a pretty good job. Of course, getting Drury back would be nice, though. I’ve been critical from Day One of the deal that sent him to Calgary. Drury is not having a great year so far with Buffalo, but he’s still a guy I’d want on my team, and the Avs have missed him in the playoffs. He’s a winner and a gamer, and you want guys like that on your team. Obviously, he proved that here. Why he was dealt will go down as one of the bigger mysteries in Avalanche history.
Adrian: Longtime hockey player and fan here. I have read your positive take on the new rules and the enforcement of obstruction. I like the flow of the game, BUT some of the games look a lot like no check. It seems the players are more afraid to lay someone out with a check for fear of getting a penalty. What’s your take?
— Doug Stewart, Louisville
Doug – There’s no question you’re right in some ways. The players are more tentative about making big hits, for fear of a penalty. A couple players I’ve talked to don’t like that, and have said they’re not playing their hardest in some ways because of that. Or, they’re not going at it as hard physically as they could.
But I’ll take a little less hitting and checking for a lot more scoring and flow that we’ve had. The NHL simply had to change from its clutch-and-grab ways. It had to have a sport where the game wasn’t over anymore after two periods, with one team having a lead.
You have to give a little to get a little, and right now I think the benefits of the new rules far exceed the price paid for it.
Why is Marek Svatos considered a rookie this year? I remember him playing (and scoring a game-winner) against Dallas in the playoffs before the lockout. Thanks.
— Robert Oleskevich, Los Angeles
Robert – It’s just because he hadn’t played enough games to be considered a second-year player. He only played four regular-season games his first year in the league. So, this is still considered his rookie year.
Adrian – I follow the Avs Mailbag all the time. Thanks for the updates. Are the Avs or Altitude going to release a DVD compilation of either the Stanley Cup years or a 10-year history of the Avs any time soon? This would make a nice stocking stuffer, eh?
— Clyde Lutton, Severance
Clyde – Altitude, in fact, ran a show commemorating the Avs’ 10 years in Denver. It ran a lot during the lockout, and might still run from time to time. I doubt you’ll see it in a DVD, though. If you’re looking for memories of the Avs’ two Cup-winning seasons, the NHL put out hour-long videos of each soon after they won. The first, in 1996, was called “Landslide” and the 2001 video was called “Mission Accomplished.” They’re both very good and are available online or in most video stores in Denver.
I am a former season-ticket holder now living overseas. I am trying to find where I can buy a copy of the Avs’ “The Season.” Any help appreciated.
— Nicki, Melbourne, Australia
Nicki – I think you’re going to have to explore the underground market for it. There was talk that a DVD would be made of the show, but that appears to have gone by the boards. Try to find someone who taped it and barter for a copy. That’s my best advice. It was a good show and worth seeing.
Do the Avs have a blackout area for their home games?
— Bill Appleyard, W. Bloomfield, Mich.
Bill – Yes, but thankfully for Avs fans they haven’t had to exercise it thanks to the record number of sellouts they’ve had. If you get Altitude, you can see the Avs wherever you are. Some cable systems still don’t offer Altitude, though, which has drawn some grumbling in the Mailbag.
Hey, Adrian. For which country is Wojtek Wolski eligible to play in international events? I know he was born in Poland, but he has lived in Canada for almost his whole life. Is he eligible to play for Canada or Poland or both?
— Raelyn, Radville, Saskatchewan
Raelyn – That’s a good question. Wolski has Canadian citizenship, and has played for Canada in various world junior tournaments. He was a linemate of Sidney Crosby, in fact, for Canada during one under-18 world tournament. Obviously, playing for Canada is a more prestigious team to play for than the Polish national team, and that is the one Wolski will play for in future tournaments, if he is selected.
Hi! Love the Avs Mailbag! I think it’s funny that you and my boyfriend have very similar analyses of the game and players. He’ll give his game commentaries (quite colorful and visual), which are almost identical to your column(s). Are you guys related?
— Irene, Diamond Bar, Calif.
Irene – I knew I had a twin brother out there somewhere. I have a brother, but he lives in Vermont and isn’t all that into pro sports, though. He likes skiing and boarding and “extreme” stuff like that. He did watch Martin St. Louis a lot when he went to the University of Vermont, though.
Glad to hear there’s another like-minded mind out there. On second thought, maybe that’s not such a good thing for the planet.
Hi, Adrian. I don’t know if you know the answer to this at all, but I didn’t think it’d hurt to ask. Do you know of any e-mail or address where fans can send mail to Steve Moore? I’ve always supported him 100 percent. My sister and I sent him a get-well card right after that unfortunate incident took place. We wanted to send him another letter or card for support. Also, I liked your idea of wearing Moore jerseys to the games. Since games are so expensive, however, someone should make T-shirts that have “MOORE” and a No. 36 on the back, to look like jerseys. Anyway, thanks a lot, Adrian, and I’m
crossing my fingers in hope of a reply.
— Alicia, Lincoln, Neb.
Alicia – Well, unfortunately I don’t have Moore’s e-mail address. Even if I did, I probably couldn’t give it out here.
I’d say the best thing you can do is keep hoping for his recovery. You could send a card to the Avs and they might forward it on to Moore, but he’s not their “property” right now and they might not do anything with it. Moore has kept a very low profile through all this, and unfortunately he’s just not very accessible to fans and media now.
Adrian Dater has covered the Colorado Avalanche since the team moved to Denver in 1995. To drop a question into his Avs Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
