I've kind of doubted the interest in these things, but it looks like there is a fair amount, so I thought it'd be cool if I started one up. I'll be using the Avs on all star with Flyermania's sliders. I tweaked them a little in my favor. I tried and tried but I was completely overmatched the way they were. I'll do a preview and post the first game tomorrow morning.
Avalanche '09-10 Season Preview
The Colorado Avalanche saw a fair amount of success since the move from Quebec and the Nordique days, with two Stanley Cup wins and six conference championship games, but the last handful of years have seen the team turn a bit towards the wrong direction. They've missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons and posted just a 32-45-5 record last season, the basement of the West last season. There is a plan in place to stop any further slide (no pun intended), but it's going to take some work after losing the core of the team.
Departures
Joe Sakic - One of only two left from the teams time in Quebec City, and most of the Avs veteran leadership, has retired. He takes with him 1641 career points.
Ryan Smyth - Smyth, another veteran, is off to LA's 1st line now. His two seasons in Colorado were marred by injuries, but he still managed 40 goals and 56 assists.
Ian Laperriere - 40 goals, 72 assists during his Avs tenure, Laperriere is yet another veteran forward whose loss will have to be made up for.
Joe Sakic - One of only two left from the teams time in Quebec City, and most of the Avs veteran leadership, has retired. He takes with him 1641 career points.
Ryan Smyth - Smyth, another veteran, is off to LA's 1st line now. His two seasons in Colorado were marred by injuries, but he still managed 40 goals and 56 assists.
Ian Laperriere - 40 goals, 72 assists during his Avs tenure, Laperriere is yet another veteran forward whose loss will have to be made up for.
Arrivals
Craig Anderson - After sub .500, sub 90% goaltending between Peter Budaj and Andrew Raycroft last season, the Avs look to Craig Anderson, who started only 40 games the last two seasons with Florida and won 23 of them. Budaj stays on board as his backup, but Goaltending will be a big question yet again.
Matt Duchene - The speedy 3rd overall pick from the 2009 entry draft is expected to be with the team from the start this season. He's a fast, heart and soul player playing for his favorite childhood team with a mechanically sound wrist shot.
Craig Anderson - After sub .500, sub 90% goaltending between Peter Budaj and Andrew Raycroft last season, the Avs look to Craig Anderson, who started only 40 games the last two seasons with Florida and won 23 of them. Budaj stays on board as his backup, but Goaltending will be a big question yet again.
Matt Duchene - The speedy 3rd overall pick from the 2009 entry draft is expected to be with the team from the start this season. He's a fast, heart and soul player playing for his favorite childhood team with a mechanically sound wrist shot.
What The Avs Have Going For Them
Defense -It's not all doom and gloom in Denver, not yet anyway. The defense is going to be the main source of leadership this year, and fans don't think that should be too much to ask. Veterans like Adam Foote and Scott Hannan have not been the defenders they were in years past, but there is hope the Joe Sacco's defensive philosiphy can revitalize them, and John-Michael Liles led Colorado's blueline scoring with 39 points last season.
Milan Hejduk and Wojtek Wolski - This is not by any means an inexperienced offense, and the first line is expected to be a competetive one. Hejduk and Wolski accounted for 101 points last season. Paul Stastny scored 36 points 45 games in his injury plagued 08-09 season. He hopes to play a full season on the line with Hejduk and Wolski this season. This offensive attack may not wow anybody, knowing the defensice style of play Sacco will instill, they have the ability to do just enough.
Defense -It's not all doom and gloom in Denver, not yet anyway. The defense is going to be the main source of leadership this year, and fans don't think that should be too much to ask. Veterans like Adam Foote and Scott Hannan have not been the defenders they were in years past, but there is hope the Joe Sacco's defensive philosiphy can revitalize them, and John-Michael Liles led Colorado's blueline scoring with 39 points last season.
Milan Hejduk and Wojtek Wolski - This is not by any means an inexperienced offense, and the first line is expected to be a competetive one. Hejduk and Wolski accounted for 101 points last season. Paul Stastny scored 36 points 45 games in his injury plagued 08-09 season. He hopes to play a full season on the line with Hejduk and Wolski this season. This offensive attack may not wow anybody, knowing the defensice style of play Sacco will instill, they have the ability to do just enough.
Projected Lines
Forwards
Wojtek Wolski - Paul Stastny - Milan Hejduk
Cody McLeod - Matt Duchene - Marek Svatos
Darcy Tucker - David jones - Tom Preissing
David Koci - Ryan O'Reilly - Chris Stewart
Extras: TJ Galiardi, Matt Hendricks
Defensemen
John-Michael Liles - Adam Foote
Ruslan Salei - Scott Hannan
Kyle Quincey - Brett Clark
Extras: Kyle Cumiskey,
Goaltenders
Craig Anderson
Peter Budaj
Forwards
Wojtek Wolski - Paul Stastny - Milan Hejduk
Cody McLeod - Matt Duchene - Marek Svatos
Darcy Tucker - David jones - Tom Preissing
David Koci - Ryan O'Reilly - Chris Stewart
Extras: TJ Galiardi, Matt Hendricks
Defensemen
John-Michael Liles - Adam Foote
Ruslan Salei - Scott Hannan
Kyle Quincey - Brett Clark
Extras: Kyle Cumiskey,
Goaltenders
Craig Anderson
Peter Budaj
Don't get your hopes up for a playoff run just yet. Let's just focus on getting out of the cellar for a while. The season starts out tough with two home games against San Jose and Vancouver.
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