The Avalanche’s final roster is set, but its lineup for Thursday’s season opener against Minnesota? Thatap going to take a little longer to figure out.
While the club announced a 23-man roster on Tuesday morning, injuries to players such as , and , who have all been placed on Injured Reserve, as well as pending status reports on regular starters , and mean the situation is still fluid.
“We’re still waiting on a couple guys, see how they came through practice today. Some guys have been off for four, five, six days — in Kamenev’s case, where he hasn’t skated with the group,” Bednar said. “So we’re still getting information from the training staff. As expected, it may look different. It just depends on some of the information we get over the next 24 hours.”
One player who appears to have made the cut and could see his NHL debut on Thursday is 24-year-old center Sheldon Dries. The Macomb, Mich., native signed a one-year, two-way contract this year after spending the previous season with the AHL’s Texas Stars.
Bednar said he’s a fan of Dries’ speed, a trait he shares with fellow center MacKinnon, and his ability to play around the net. However, Dries knows that just because he made the cut doesn’t mean he won’t be a healthy scratch against the Wild. If he does play Thursday, he’d be on the fourth line and slide to right wing with Matt Calvert and center J.T. Compher.
“Itap exciting, for sure. I’m not going to sugar coat it, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to stay here all year. I need to keep working, keep striving forward and take it day-by-day,” the rookie said. I obviously wanted to make an impression right away, and I felt like I put my best foot forward, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
While the rest of the roster is in flux, the one decision Bednar has made thus far is that longtime goaltender will get the start in net against the Wild.
“Varly is going to start, and you know what? I think we’re going to leave the game against Philly open for now and see. But I would expect (Philipp) Grubauer to play one of the first three games,” Bednar said of his plans for the goalies. “We’ll evaluate it week-to-week and try to give them a clear plan on the way things are going to go for the week and sometimes maybe even for two weeks, but we’ll keep gathering that information as the season goes on.”
Despite surrendering 21 preseason goals between the two of them, Bednar liked what he saw from his goalies during camp.
Varlamov added he isn’t concerned about any particular goal-tending dynamic. He just wants the season to start.
“I don’t think about it. Gruby’s here to do the same thing as me. We both have the same mission: to help this team play well and be successful and make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup,” Varlamov, 30, said. “ … How many games we’re going to play this year, we don’t know. We’re not making decisions. Thatap up to the coaching staff.
“I’m very excited about the first hockey game of the new season. Every year, for me, itap a new beginning. So I’m looking forward to it.”
