It was a bigger, stronger looking Avalanche team that reported for physicals this morning at the Pepsi Center.
The personnel on the defense are much bigger than last season – with five players listed at 6-foot-3 or taller and at least 220 pounds – but other veteran players looked to have added some bulk as well.
One of them, forward Peter Mueller, looked like his neck size had increased a few inches.
“I tried to bulk up more. Last year, I was kind of weak,” said Mueller, who missed all of last season with a concussion but said he is feeling healthy again. “I didn’t really protect myself (before), so a big concept this summer was to add some muscle, get a little bigger.”
Avs coach Joe Sacco, returning for his third season, credited upper management for adding bigger personnel for his defense. He said it will make the Avs a “stingier team” in its own zone, whereas the defense the last couple of seasons went with more a philosophy of speed and not necessarily size.
“To keep the play more to the outside, and allow our goalies to see the puck better from a distance, I think that will be an important thing for us that hopefully the added size gives,” Sacco said.
Returning veterans such as Milan Hejduk said they believe the added size on defense was a needed change.
“Those guys are going to make us stronger and tougher to play against in front of the net,” Hejduk said.
The Avs will open training camp Saturday morning at Family Sports Center in Centennial, beginning at 9.
