Avalanche Mailbag: Is Evan Rodrigues The Next 2C? Do Players Get Their Own Rooms On Road?

Haven’t done a Colorado Avalanche Mailbag in a while, so let’s do one now. First question, about newly-acquired Evan Rodrigues:

Do you think it's Newhook as 2nd line center or AVS add Rodrigues to fill that spot?

— Andrzej Kubis (@raistlin76) September 14, 2022

I think ERod will be the new 2C. At least, I expect him to be given the best chance at getting it and keeping it.

He’s coming off a 19-goal, 43-point season. He’s at an age (29) where his experience should be an asset for the next year, especially over a youngster like Newhook. There will be injuries and Jared Bednar has certainly been known to mix up his lines a fair bit, but I think the point of getting Rodrigues was to better fill that 2C spot vacated by Nazem Kadri. I also think it’s just a better thing if guys like Mikko Rantanen and Gabe Landeskog play their natural wing positions.

Who is the weirdest player you’ve interacted with in the locker room? Or what’s the funniest interview you’ve ever gotten from one of the guys?

— Jordsy (@Letsgoavs33) September 14, 2022

Well, I won’t use the word “weirdest”, but maybe most eclectic or unique personality? Greg Zanon, I recall, was a bit of a different bird. He once screamed at a fellow media member for stepping on the Avalanche logo in the dressing room. That didn’t go down too well. (It wasn’t me).

I remember Dean McAmmond being an interesting interview. He was a deeper thinker than your average player probably. He had a routine with his skates that was different too. They had to stand up on their own before he could finish his locker-room routine, or something like that.

Claude Lemieux used to sit and read the stock market charts with a real newspaper in the locker room.

I had a funny interview with Patrick Roy when he first came to the Avalanche in 1995, but the laughs were at my expense. One of his idols was Jacques Plante, the first goalie to ever wear a mask. I asked him if he still talked to Plante for advice or whatever. Roy looked at me like I had two heads. Jacques Plante left us in 1986.

Woops.

Avs are already better than the Broncos

— Random hero (@drRandom311) September 14, 2022

Man, was I ticked off by that ending the other night, just like the rest of you. I may or may not have had a wager on the game. Let Russ cook, dammit!

Do the players have to share rooms on away trips?

— Jennifer Fisk (@JennFisk) September 13, 2022

Most players get their own rooms on the road now. Only players on their entry-level contracts have to have a roommate. But if they are the only guy on the team on an entry-level deal? I believe they get their own room too.

It used to be that the only players who got their own rooms were ones with 600 games (or 10 years) experience. That got revised down to any player out of their entry-level deal. Roommates in hockey were a long, proud tradition. Even in the Avalanche glory days of 1996 and 2001, everybody had a roommate. Adam Foote and Patrick Roy were longtime roommates. Joe Sakic roomed with Chris Drury. (Sakic also roomed with the late, great Guy Lafleur when they played in Quebec).

Non Avs question more of a Dater question what album if you could only pick one and it can’t be Kiss which would you choose. Honorable mention are allowed lol

— Tim Hewey (@Hewey88) September 13, 2022

Hmmm. Tough, especially with no Kiss. But I’d probably say “Magical Mystery Tour” by the Beatles.

How will the Avs Core approach this season? Will they be, perhaps less focused on having the best regular season record and try to be healthy and fresh for the playoffs, or will they stick with the more intense approach of the last few years which obviously worked?

— Greg Baldwin (he/him/his) (@gjbaldwin) September 13, 2022

Good question, and that’s something I’ve been thinking about as well. I think it’s human nature to just get a little more complacent after a championship. They used to call that the Cup Hangover. I don’t think anybody like Nathan MacKinnon or Gabe Landeskog is ever going to get “complacent.” But maybe they’ll consciously or sub-consciously try to pace themselves a bit more, especially after such a short summer.

Let’s get real: the playoffs are what it’s all about, not the regular season. Remember when we all got a bit worried when Florida won best record in the NHL regular season, thanks to some Colorado Avalanche stumbling down the stretch? The Presidents’ Trophy Jinx struck again.

I think players are smart, and if they feel like they’re burning themselves out too much on a thing like the Presidents Trophy, they’ll dial it back. Because, it’s all about who wins that last game.

What current Avs player would make the best coach?
What current Av would make the best GM?

What three Avs, current or past, would you invite to a dinner party?

— 🔥🐺Fenrir Vargar🐺🔥 (@SicLuceatLux666) September 13, 2022

Good questions. Best coach would be Andrew Cogliano I think. Best GM? Gabe Landeskog.

Three Colorado Avalanche, current or past, over for dinner? Patrick Roy, Peter Forsberg and Landeskog.

How would Larry Bird have done as a hockey player?

— Terry Frei (@TFrei) September 13, 2022

Hart Trophy winner, no question.

Thanks for the questions people.