If the Avalanche has a long playoff run this season, one of the first people on its thank you list probably should be the NHL bean counters who raised the salary cap from $44 million to $50.3 million.
That is a much more Avalanche-friendly figure, after two consecutive summers in which the team had to say goodbye to stars such as Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote and Rob Blake for money reasons.
Ryan Smyth and Scott Hannan were luxuries the Avs could afford this time around. Their presence, along with the potential of some young players already on hand, gives the Avs more hope for postseason success.
Here’s a breakdown of what the Avs should be like in the 2007-08 season:
Offense
The Avs tied with Nashville as the top-scoring team in the Western Conference last season (272 goals), and the offense looks even better now.
Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, Smyth, Andrew Brunette, Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski are a handful for any goalie. But the Avs’ offensive threats don’t end there. Tyler Arnason, Marek Svatos, Ian Laperriere and Brad Richardson can score, too, and the Avs think they found a player in Czech import Jaroslav Hlinka. Don’t be surprised if Stastny is the Avs’ leading scorer this season, and for many more to come.
Defense
The Avs ranked 11th in the Western Conference in goals allowed (251), so improvement is a must. The addition of Hannan from San Jose – and the return of a healthy Jordan Leopold – should make that happen.
Coach Joel Quenneville went to more of a trapping style down the stretch, and almost got the Avs into the playoffs. Expect him to continue a tighter system, but he still gives his defensemen the offensive green light more than many coaches.
The depth on the blue line appears much better than in the past two seasons, when the Avs were forced to go with older veterans near the end of the line. Players such as Brett Clark, John-Michael Liles and Karlis Skrastins can do good things. The defense still might lack some size and toughness, but teams have a hard time matching its speed and skill.
Special teams
The Avs’ power play was fine last season and should be even better with the addition of puck-tipping specialist Smyth. Sakic and Stastny are premier playmakers, Hejduk and Wolski excellent snipers and Leopold, Clark and Liles good point men.
The penalty kill – the Avs’ major weak spot last season – should be better with Hannan and Smyth around. The Avs could probably use another good faceoff specialist, a big help in killing penalties.
Goaltending
Peter Budaj makes more than $5 million less a year than his backup, Jose Theodore, but he figures to be the man the Avs rely on to get them to the playoffs again.
Budaj had a solid sophomore season, though he had trouble in clutch moments at times and sometimes gives up goals in bunches. Still, it usually takes a good shot to beat him.
Theodore failed to live up to his and the team’s expectations, and he missed much of training camp because of a knee injury. Still, he is a former Hart Trophy winner. The Avs are the only NHL team that can boast that about their backup goalie.
Coaching
Quenneville returns, along with assistants Tony Granato and Jacques Cloutier.
Quenne- ville is a solid, respected head coach – who might have done some of his best coaching during the final third of last season. He has more weapons at his disposal than at any other point in his Avalanche tenure. That creates more opportunities for him – and pressure.
Outlook
This should be a playoff team again. If not, something will have to go very wrong, be it injuries or other bad luck. The Avs have a high-powered offensive attack and an improved defense. The big question is whether Budaj has what it takes to be a pressure, postseason goalie. He never has played in a playoff game, but count on that to change next spring.
Prediction
First place, Northwest Division. Fourth place, Western Conference.
