Avalanche final roster analysis: This is the deepest team in 15 years

Final cuts were made this afternoon over at Avalanche headquarters, with the team getting down to the 23-man limit. A couple of days before, Jared Bednar said this about how he’d make the final determinations on who would stay and who would get a pink slip:

“It’s gonna go back to what I said in my opening meeting of training camp; When I set a lineup, it’s because that’s how I see it that day. Players are going to have to perform to stay slotted where I see them. That’s going to be a fluid thing all year. The guys that are playing the best and the hardest and the chemistry we like are going to play. And, honestly, it doesn’t matter to me if you’re a young guy, an old guy, been around, haven’t been around. You’re gonna have to earn it.”

Conor Timmins, Val Nichushkin, Ryan Graves, Vladislav Kamenev – guys who were considered question marks to make the club – well, they all apparently have earned an NHL job.

Timmins, Nichushkin, Graves and Kamenev were the survivors of the final cuts Tuesday, with Colorado sending Kevin Connauton, Jayson Megna and Calle Rosen back to the Eagles of the AHL.

The Avs will start the season with 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies. A source tells Colorado Hockey Now that Timmins – who missed all of last season with concussion symptoms – will play in Thursday’s home-opener, with Mark Barberio the likely healthy scratch.

It was a remarkable achievement by Timmins to make the big club out of training camp. Conventional wisdom, to which I admit I subscribed in this case, was that Timmins would need more seasoning at the AHL level before becoming an NHLer. But he just kept looking better and better in camp, to the point where he was actually the quarterback of the first power-play unit at Tuesday’s practice. (This is because, as noted earlier, Cale Makar missed practice with a “tweak” of something, but Bednar called it more of a maintenance day more than anything and said Makar should be “good to go” for the season opener).

Still, the fact that it was Timmins manning the first PP unit in his stead – and not someone like Sam Girard or Erik Johnson – was proof positive of how impressed Bednar and the rest of his staff have been with the former second-round pick from the Ste. Saint Marie Greyhounds.

I talked to Timmins after practice – but before the final cuts were announced – and here is the audio of that. In short, Timmins feels confident he can stay at this level, given the chance:

I think it’s an awesome story, and although the kid is a bit low-key and monotone with us media folk, I couldn’t be happier he’s on the club. He EARNED it.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS AND CONSTABULARY NOTES

• I gotta admit, I’m a bit surprised Ryan Graves made the final cut and Calle Rosen didn’t. I thought Rosen looked very good in camp. That said, I think Graves is a still a potential diamond-in-the-rough. His footspeed is still the thing you worry about with him, but it’s not like he’s sloooww. Graves is just so much bigger than Rosen, so that might have been the deciding factor in why Bednar kept him. The Avs definitely wanted to get bigger as a team over the summer. They just feel they were too small last year. But, we all know that size isn’t everything in the game today. It’ll be interesting to see if Graves can maintain a roster spot, but for now he’s a full-time NHLer.
• Keep in mind: Ian Cole, when he comes back, will force the demotion of someone on the current active roster. It’s still seeming like it’ll be next month, at the very earliest, that Cole will return, but he HAS been on the ice most every day during camp.
• Mikko Rantanen said he felt “great” after his second full practice since signing for six years and $55.5 million on Saturday. A reminder: he will play Thursday.
• So, about Nichushkin making the team AND being among the top 12 forwards to start the year: I gotta say I’m surprised by that too. Especially, because Colin Wilson is back to being an active forward. I talked to Wilson for a couple minutes yesterday, to talk about re-signing with the club for one year, but not being quite sure where he’ll slot in:

• Nothing new on the Altitude front today.
• So, the media is invited to come to the Pepsi Center Friday and try out all the new food offerings they will have this year, with their new concessions vendor – Legends. I will save a piece of sushi for you (hint).
• This is definitely the deepest team the Avs have had, I feel, since the 2003-04 season when they had Kariya and Selanne. Let’s hope this team has better health than that one did.
• Some site stuff: We’re at 115% of our one-year subscription goal – in less than four months. THANK YOU, and keep spreading the word.
• Cale Makar will sign autographs from 7-8 p.m. at Bender’s (104th and Boulder Turnpike, Westminster) next Tuesday. Admission is $20. That gets you: one autograph from Makar, either on a free 8×10 glossy photo of him provided, or one piece of your gear. It also gets you a free Coors Light or a soft drink. See you THERE!
• Remember, I will be on 104.3 The Fan after EVERY Avalanche weeknight game (Monday-Friday), breaking it all down. Set 104.3 The Fan on your presets. I will also be on every Wednesday morning at 9:50 a.m. (subtle message there) with Sandy Clough and Orlando Franklin.