Preview of the Colorado Avalanche 2011-12 Season
Posted 8:26 PM ET | Comments 0
In this upcoming season, the Colorado Avalanche will attempt to perform as if the previous season had never happened. They will take the experience from that season and utilize it in order to improve themselves and learn from past mistakes. Many changes have taken place that had reconstructed the team fundamentally. Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen, both of Boston University hockey fame, were dealt to other teams in their rookie year with the Avs, a move which was highly unexpected. One result of the trading was the arrival of Erik Johnson, formerly of the St. Louis Blues. He had been the first pick of his draft year and has been performing in a solid manner ever since. His highest achievement so far is reaching the 2010 Olympic Hockey Final and being awarded a silver medal after losing to Canada. He shows many signs of leadership and is even considered a likely candidate for the Avs' captaincy.
This past June, the Avalanche drafted left-winger Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Duncan Siemens using the pick which was part of the Blues deal that brought in Johnson. Landeskog is a young forward with a multitude of potential. His career started with him moving to Canada on his own in order to play in the Ontario Hockey League. The young Swede is yet another example of talent, leadership, and character all into one. These are attributes that are highly sought by any team and the Avalanche are certainly glad to have claimed him. He is very likely to make the team this season as the Avs need his cap value in order to reach the cap floor. It will be exciting to see what he can bring to the team if he gets the right support and can adopt chemistry.
Other acquisitions include a new goalie tandem that consists of former Washington Capitals goaltender Semyon Varlamov and the older and experienced former Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Jean-Sebastian Giguere. The Avalanche also obtained defensemen Shane O'Brien and Jan Hejda. All in all the team went through a large shuffle and the preseason practice and match-ups are certain to determine its durability.
With the new goaltending pair and new-coming defensemen and forwards, it will be hard to accurately predict how the team's performance can turn out. However, there is some optimism as the new talent combination looks fresh and eager to win.
This past June, the Avalanche drafted left-winger Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Duncan Siemens using the pick which was part of the Blues deal that brought in Johnson. Landeskog is a young forward with a multitude of potential. His career started with him moving to Canada on his own in order to play in the Ontario Hockey League. The young Swede is yet another example of talent, leadership, and character all into one. These are attributes that are highly sought by any team and the Avalanche are certainly glad to have claimed him. He is very likely to make the team this season as the Avs need his cap value in order to reach the cap floor. It will be exciting to see what he can bring to the team if he gets the right support and can adopt chemistry.
Other acquisitions include a new goalie tandem that consists of former Washington Capitals goaltender Semyon Varlamov and the older and experienced former Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Jean-Sebastian Giguere. The Avalanche also obtained defensemen Shane O'Brien and Jan Hejda. All in all the team went through a large shuffle and the preseason practice and match-ups are certain to determine its durability.
With the new goaltending pair and new-coming defensemen and forwards, it will be hard to accurately predict how the team's performance can turn out. However, there is some optimism as the new talent combination looks fresh and eager to win.