Denver Post sports writer Adrian Dater posted his Avs Mailbag each Wednesday during the 2006-07 NHL season on DenverPost.com. This installment is the season finale. Thanks to everybody who submitted a question this season.
To drop a question into the Avs Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
I’m not a huge Joel Quenneville fan, but I must give it up for his decision to go defensive. The Avs have been playing a 1-4 lately, and it’s translated into a lot of wins. Even better, offense hasn’t suffered. I’ve always admired the Avs for their “run and gun” style, but maybe they should keep this defensive strategy for seasons to come? Your thoughts?
— Peter, Arvada
Peter – If it results in more 15-2-2 runs, then I say, “hell yes.” It’s obvious they should have gone to more of this kind of a strategy earlier in the year – and I’m sure Quenneville is probably kicking
himself a little over it.
The Avs were just too loose defensively in the first half. Way too many odd-man rushes and great chances in front of their net. The new system cut down on those drastically. For their sake, it’s too bad they didn’t do it sooner.
Adrian – I’m not worried about Wojtek Wolski’s lack of scoring lately but his lack of toughness. He doesn’t seem to contribute defensively at all. Wouldn’t we be better off with a more defensive forward in his spot?
— Mike Brown, Denver
Mike – It’s a valid point. Wolski seemed to go into a bit of a funk in the final third of the year – the one player that didn’t seem to elevate his game in that great final run. He was a healthy scratch for one game, which tells you what the coaching staff thought.
But, look, I think overall it was a pretty good rookie year for Wolski. He had 22 goals – not bad at all. But you’re right, he’s not much good to a team when he doesn’t use his considerable size more to
his advantage, and that means playing a meaner kind of game. He was at his best when he knocked guys off the puck on the forecheck, or mucked it up more in front of the net. Defensively, he’ll probably never be confused with Frank Selke, but he does need to get better in that department. He’s got to work harder on the backcheck. As they say in hockey, “backcheck plus forecheck equals paycheck.”
I couldn’t help but notice that we picked up a young goalie prospect at the trade deadline. Seeing as though we already had another young goalie “in the pipe” (Tyler Weiman), how do you think this bodes for Jose Theodore, especially considering his lack of production this year?
— Ryan, Denver
Ryan – That goalie is Michael Wall, acquired from Anaheim for Brad May.
Who knows what will happen with Theodore. It sounded the other day like Francois Giguere might actually consider bringing him back. But, I still have my doubts he will. I just don’t think his presence in the locker room – should he stay the backup next year – would be a good thing.
He was a good teammate throughout his demotion, but everyone could tell he was down in the dumps about his situation. People kind of walked on eggshells around him, and if he were around another year and only playing 15-20 games, I think it would be counterproductive, especially when he would still be the second highest-paid player on the team.
I think the Avs should cut him loose and just admit that it didn’t work out.
Adrian: If the Avalanche is so high on T.J. Hensick of Michigan, why hasn’t the team signed him to a contact?
— Terry Luce, Detroit
Terry – Could be for a number of reasons. But, I think you’ll see his signature on a deal soon. Giguere hinted that some top prospects would be signing soon, and Hensick would be a logical choice to be one of them.
I’ve never seen the kid play, but his numbers look good and people say a lot of good things about him.
Hey, Adrian. Just wanted to know if you have noticed more fair-weather fans this year because of the Avs’ struggles? I was a little disappointed. I really felt like this was a hockey town.
— Sean, Denver
Sean – Sure, the Avs had their share of fans who jumped off the bandwagon. Then, they started coming back at the end of the year. There will always be a certain segment of a team’s fan base that only tunes in carefully when it’s winning. That’s the way it is in every sport, and always will be.
Football is a bit different, in that there are only eight home games a year. If the NFL had to sell 41 home games a year, I guarantee there wouldn’t be 80,000 fans in the seats every game.
I think this is a good hockey town, and I don’t think fans can be blamed for not selling out every single night, year in, year out. The building was still 90-95 percent full most nights. We all knew there would be a dropoff this year, though. It happens, to everybody.
Hey, Adrian. I just read your Avs Mailbag reply about hockey players in movies. I thought I’d mention you forgot about “The Rocket.” Both Sean Avery and the great Ian Laperriere are in it! That’s a pretty good hockey movie. Thanks for the Avs Mailbag. It’s always great.
— Sandie, Rimouski, Quebec
Sandie – Thanks for the update. Yes, I forgot about Lappy being in “The Rocket,” which I still haven’t seen. A couple of readers have written to say that Joe Sakic is in “Happy Gilmore” – or was supposed to be. I can’t make him out anywhere in the film, however. Maybe I need to slow it frame by frame, but I haven’t seen him.
There have been some pretty good hockey movies, surprisingly. I thought, “Miracle” was excellent, that Kurt Russell could have gotten an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Herb Brooks. “Slap Shot” is an obvious one, and then there’s “Mystery, Alaska” – which I liked.
There’s another movie with a hockey theme, one called “Touch and Go” with Michael Keaton, that I thought was very good and underrated. Keaton plays a hockey player, who gets involved with some single mom or whatever.
My all-time favorite sports movies, though, are: “Eight Men Out,” “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh” and “Semi-Tough.” If you ever get a chance to watch “The Fish …,” you should. Julius Erving actually has the lead role in the film, and it’s hysterical watching some of the game footage, with all kinds of NBA stars playing villainous opponents.
Adrian – Do you think the Avs will stick with goaltender Peter Budaj as the starter next season or do you think the Avs will go in another direction?
— Geoff Monson, Littleton
Geoff – Yes, Budaj is the starter. No question about it. He earned it, and that’s the way it will be, I’m sure.
Thanks to all for another good Mailbag season. And thanks to the 15 or so people that showed up to CB and Potts last Friday night, to have me scribble my name in copies of my book about the Avs-Red Wings rivalry, “Blood Feud.” I met some nice and interesting people, including a couple from the Detroit area that had me sign their books with the words, “Go Wings” in red pen.
Hey, I’ll write anything to sell a book.
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 .
