OFFENSE
Alex Tanguay is gone, and so is Rob Blake. Together, they accounted for 43 goals and 86 assists for the Avalanche last season, which was the team’s highest-scoring campaign since 1995-96.
Their losses will hurt. But there still is a lot here offensively. Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, Marek Svatos, Andrew Brunette, Wojtek Wolski, Tyler Arnason and Ian Laperriere can score with regularity. Then there are complementary players – such as Antti Laaksonen, Brett McLean, Pierre Turgeon and Brad Richardson – who can chip in.
If Wolski and Arnason can have good years, it should more than adequately replace Tanguay’s lost offense. And maybe Steve Konowalchuk can regain his health and return, or a player such as Paul Stastny can make the leap and stick at this level.
DEFENSE
Losing Blake probably will hurt more at the defensive end, where he was a workhorse and the Avs’ most intimidating physical presence.
For things to go well, newcomer Jordan Leopold must be steady with the puck and players such as Brett Clark and Karlis Skrastins need to be as good or better than they were last season. The Avs would like to see John-Michael Liles cut down on his turnovers but still continue his fine offensive progress, and they hope Patrice Brisebois has another decent season in him. A wild card to how good the Avs might be defensively is veteran Ossi Vaananen. He’s big (6-feet-4, 215 pounds) and needs to be physical to help offset Blake’s loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Blake manned the power play for more than four seasons, and his big slap shot will be missed. But Liles and Clark should do a good job at the points, and Leopold might surprise there, too. Down low, Sakic, Svatos and Hejduk form a solid trio.
On the penalty kill, things should be OK, although not as good if Konowalchuk can’t play. But Laaksonen and Laperriere did a good job last season, and Leopold was outstanding on Calgary’s penalty kill the last two seasons.
GOALTENDING
Jose Theodore looked superb in the preseason, and proclaims himself ready to regain his status as an elite NHL goalie.
He always has had some of the quickest reflexes in the game. He came into training camp in top condition, which he wasn’t in last season, and that caused his play to suffer. He is the biggest key to the Avs having a playoff season.
Backup Peter Budaj is young and proved himself a capable NHL goalie in his rookie year.
COACHING
The Avs have one of the best in Joel Quenneville. He got the team to play with cohesiveness last season, especially in the second half. He is one of league’s best-liked coaches by his players, but that doesn’t mean they take advantage of niceness. Quenneville can and will crack down on any player he feels isn’t giving 100 percent, but his commanding respect means that usually isn’t a problem.
OUTLOOK
Nobody thought the Avs would do much last season, but they had better seasons than 22 other teams. Nobody believes much in this team again, especially after losing Blake and Tanguay.
Don’t count these guys out just yet. There still are plenty of good players left, some of them very young, and if Theodore returns to the level of a few years ago, this could be a dangerous team again.
PREDICTION
Eighth place, Western Conference.
2006-07 Colorado Avalanche
