The Avs were a playoff team for half of this past season. Then the injuries caught up with them, and basically everything on their team imploded and they battled Edmonton to be the worst team in hockey for the final few months.
It would be surprising to see the team face the same kind of injury woes they faced last year. Literally nobody on the team played all 82 games, and only two (Duchene, Winnik) reached 80. For a team already thin on winger and defense, both of those positions were dropping like flies for them. Mueller never played, Flash was sidelined halfway through the season, they only got 35 games out of Galiardi, 18 games out of Cumisky, they lost Quincey after he suffered a shoulder injury against us in December, their captain (Foote) played only 47 games, and even Chris Stewart was banged up before they traded him. The odds of that kind of injury ravaged season to happen again are pretty slim.
If everything goes right, they can push for the 6-8 seed in the west, and the pick will likely be in the 10-17 range. If they slip up it likely won't be as bad as last year, but could still result in a 6-10 pick.
I don't think the Avs would have traded their 1st if they thought it was a lottery pick.
I'm sure that's what EG thought when he made the moronic trade for Mike Miller and the other stiff two years ago, and what Shanny thought when he made his horrible McNabb trae last year.
I have a hard time seeing the Avs make the playoffs next year, there are definitly some crummy teams in the west, worse teams, and a few that will probably stink worse in the east but I still think we'll have at worst, a pick in the top 10-12.
I'm sure that's what EG thought when he made the moronic trade for Mike Miller and the other stiff two years ago, and what Shanny thought when he made his horrible McNabb trae last year.
I have a hard time seeing the Avs make the playoffs next year, there are definitly some crummy teams in the west, worse teams, and a few that will probably stink worse in the east but I still think we'll have at worst, a pick in the top 10-12.
The boys on the NHL on the Fly show this morning were saying it will probably be around the 10th pick but could be as high as 5. In a nice general way they were saying what everyone else has...nicely saying what was Colorado thinking making this move.
It's moot if Varly becomes a superstar for them, but that's of course if he stays healthy for longer than a week finally.
I'm sure that's what EG thought when he made the moronic trade for Mike Miller and the other stiff two years ago, and what Shanny thought when he made his horrible McNabb trae last year.
I have a hard time seeing the Avs make the playoffs next year, there are definitly some crummy teams in the west, worse teams, and a few that will probably stink worse in the east but I still think we'll have at worst, a pick in the top 10-12.
In a perfect world the Avs would have a horrible year and finish bottom 5 and win the lottery. More likely is they finish in that 10-12 range give or take a couple of spots. The other thing to hope for as CAPS fans is that someone in the top 3 decides to do a proper rebuild and tanks badly due to the deep draft and is willing to take lots of picks for that 1 top 3 pick.
In a perfect world the Avs would have a horrible year and finish bottom 5 and win the lottery. More likely is they finish in that 10-12 range give or take a couple of spots. The other thing to hope for as CAPS fans is that someone in the top 3 decides to do a proper rebuild and tanks badly due to the deep draft and is willing to take lots of picks for that 1 top 3 pick.
I'm becoming to attached to the idea of Yakupov but how can you not like this guy. He's a 5'10 170 pounder that thinks he's 6'2 230 like a certain Russian?
Quote:
RW Nail Yakupov #10 Sarnia Sting 5’-10” 170 Lbs – 2012 Eligible Stats Line: Finished the night with 1 goal and a plus -1. Notes: Absolutely pure offense…has great speed and two-step acceleration…his cuts and change of direction threw off defenders all night…possesses an absolute rocket of a shot…hug around the redline most of the night looking for breakaway passes and ventured into his own end only on occasion…has the awareness of where to be on the ice and consistently get open for his teammates…was all over the ice and dangerous on each shift…physical despite his lack of strength…was involved in a couple after whistle skirmishes…tried to lay the body a couple times and did not pick smaller opponents to do so against…attacked the net every time he had the puck…a pure finisher…high energy level.
Projection: Top five selection in 2012.
Ahhhhhhhh I'm setting myself up for disapointment.
Yeah, takings has a lot of Ovechkin in him. Frk is another guy that might be a nice fit for what the Caps are doing going forward, unless he pulls a Victor Rask.
There's also something oddly appealing about having a player's jersey with no vowels.
In regards to Yakupov, I've been searching for a way to describe him that doesn't compare him to Ovechkin, but it really is the best comparison. I was even going with Kovalchuk meets Perry for a little while, then realized that player is basically Ovechkin.
He won't be as good as Ovechkin, but the archetype is the same. Fast, physical winger who can score from anywhere. He is smaller than Ovie, though I don't really believe the 5'10" accounts (there are pictures of him next to Larionov, and he's at least a few inches taller, though Larionov was only 5'9"). So the physicality might die down a bit at the NHL level due to size. While he's quick, I don't think he's quite like Bure (the other Russian he's compared to). Still think he has the potential to be an offensive start at the NHL level, though.
You guys are getting excited for nothing, Avs won't be in the lottery next year. It's funny how no one remembers that Avs where deep in the playoff mix, before all those injurys kicked in, and basically ruined our season, and don't forget that Avs led the NHL in goals per game until the all-star break. With Mueller, Galiardi, and Quincey back, with full season of EJ, healthy Stastny, a year older Duchene and O'Reilly, decent goaltending from Varly and JSG (as opposed to Andy's, Elliot's, and Budaj's terrible goaltending), and with the addition of Landeskog, Hejda and Lindstrom signing, possible rookie additions in Elliot (WHL D-man of the year), Barrie (WHL D-man of the year runner up, and 2010 WHL D-man of the year), Gaunce, Hishon, and Malone, most of Avs fanbase believe that we'll be in the playoff mix.
You guys are getting excited for nothing, Avs won't be in the lottery next year. It's funny how no one remembers that Avs where deep in the playoff mix, before all those injurys kicked in, and basically ruined our season, and don't forget that Avs led the NHL in goals per game until the all-star break. With Mueller, Galiardi, and Quincey back, with full season of EJ, healthy Stastny, a year older Duchene and O'Reilly, decent goaltending from Varly and JSG (as opposed to Andy's, Elliot's, and Budaj's terrible goaltending), and with the addition of Landeskog, Hejda and Lindstrom signing, possible rookie additions in Elliot (WHL D-man of the year), Barrie (WHL D-man of the year runner up, and 2010 WHL D-man of the year), Gaunce, Hishon, and Malone, most of Avs fanbase believe that we'll be in the playoff mix.
The Avs were healthier than the Caps last year and they made a **** trade.
If they aren't a lottery team it's because their youth breaks out and Varlamov does something he's never done before.
The Avs were healthier than the Caps last year and they made a **** trade.
If they aren't a lottery team it's because their youth breaks out and Varlamov does something he's never done before.
You do realize that this team made the playoffs in 2009/10, and they have Landeskog, EJ, Mueller, Hishon, Elliot, Barrie, Varlamov, JSG, Gaunce, O'Byrne, and Hejda on top of that.
You do realize that this team made the playoffs in 2009/10, and they have Landeskog, EJ, Mueller, Hishon, Elliot, Barrie, Varlamov, JSG, Gaunce, O'Byrne, and Hejda on top of that.
craig andersons god mode is no longer here to save you. sorry.
You do realize that this team made the playoffs in 2009/10, and they have Landeskog, EJ, Mueller, Hishon, Elliot, Barrie, Varlamov, JSG, Gaunce, O'Byrne, and Hejda on top of that.
You owe us a number one overall pick. We gave you the greatest goalie of all time.
