Sakic Out...Options?
Posted 9:19 PM ET | Comments 8
The Colorado Avalanche suffered a big loss today, announcing that our heart and soul, our captain, Joe Sakic, will be on the shelf for AT LEAST 6 weeks with a herniated disk in his back. Ouch.
Alright, so let the rumors begin. With Joe out, the Avs have to shake things up...but how do they go about this?
One option is to stick with the current team and promote from within. For example, Stastny stays as the #1 center, add Wolski as the #2, and then have either Arnason or Hensick as the 3rd, and McCormick as the 4th. The Avs could even dip into their deep prospect pool and pull up a guy like Ledin or even Stoa, who's having a terrific year.
Should the Avs decide to make a trade instead, who should they consider? It depends.
If the team feels they can score but will need help replacing Joe's defensive game, then you might seem them go after centers like Stephane Yelle, Sammy Pahlsson or even John Madden.
If the team feels it needs offensive help I could see them looking at centers like Robert Lang, Jarret Stoll or possibly even Mike Cammalleri.
Any of the guys listed above would provide some much-needed leadership to this team too; something we're missing a lot without Joe, Darcy, and Adam in the lineup.
I know there are rumors out there that claim the Avs are interested in Max Afinogenov. As much as I would love to get this kid, is another inconsistent-type player one that we need? I would say no, unless he is part of some sort of package deal or something. To give up a guy like Brett Clark, our current shot-blocking leader, for Max...I hope not.
Anyways, what do you guys think? Should we keep the current team, reshuffle things and see how it plays out? Or should we try to pull the trigger on a trade? If so, who do you think they will target?
as always: go avs go!
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First, I have two things:1. We can't call up Stoa. He's not under contract and we can't sign him until his season is over with the Gophers.2. Ledin is not a center, he's a wing.3. Stoll, Cammalarie and Lang are all unobtainable or would at least be expensive. If we want to acquire a center, I vote for Boyd Gordon from Washington.However, for now, I would make Stastny the number 1 center, Hensick the number 2 between Wolski and Svatos, Arnason the third line center and McCormick the fourth line center. Then, in about two-three weeks when I expect Guite to be healthy, I would make him the fourth line center and have McCormick replace Arnason. I won't speculate about the return of Sakic. We have to learn to play well without him.
Yelle is playing too well in Boston, and why trade when things are going so well there? The only way anything is going to New Jersery from the Avs is if they can score. We have players that can do that, but none of them are going to get moved because they have NTC, such as Hejduk and Smyth. Stastny is now untouchable. Svatos might be movable, but his knee makes it tougher to do that and he is now playing too well to let him go. Anaheim might give up Pahlsson, but at what cost? We need to restock our draft picks, even possibly trade assests to get more out of the first round. Wolski is a natural center who has been playing a will. Guite will be back sooner than Sakic, so that may now be an issue either.
martok, I am aware Ledin's not a center, just saying if we keep the guys we have now, we may need winger replacements...as for the trade guys, I don't think Lang is unobtainable - I think he could be moved before season's end, but we may not need to if Sakic progresses well. I mentioned those specific players more for leadership than anything else. Sreekers, agreed about the draft stuff. thanks guys!
I just posted, and refreshed, but it never appeared.. and Im too lazy to type my speach all over.. ( lucky you)Basically , With sakic out and on LTD ( not paying for him out of cap space), Lets wait a bit and see how the team reacts in his absence. IF we do need a leader, Be prepared for the Sundin rumours to resurface, He would be a great fit in the team to lead in sakics absence, and will also provide great leadership when sakic and foote return, Also with the possibility for forsberg returning, it would be a good chance for them to play together before they start to retire, as soon as next season for some of them.What a team, with 5 good leaders that would be, Sakic, Forsberg, Sundin, Foote and Lappy,
How about Afinogenov? He's got a whopping ONE GOAL this year! Great replacement.
I doubt Sundin will end up in Denver. Forsberg would be an unwise signing, too injury prone, and he had another surgery to tweak his foot. Unlikely for him to return. The new NHL is all about a balance of youth and veterans. Keeping youth locked up for the long enough to win, and buying the right free agent veterans. Got to have a goalie in there too. This season comes down to how hard the team works, and how bad they want it. They may not have the most talent, but for sure have enough to be competitive. If the guys will/cant work for Granato, it's time for a change there. I think that will do more good than anything else.
sreekers, I agree about draft picks. I'd take one top five and another in the late first. With those picks, I would take a playmaker (Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson) and a defensive defensman (Taylor Doherty).
Robert Lang is doing great for Montreal having 8 goals so far playing on the third line more often than not... He's not going anywhere...