Evan Rawal
Were the Colorado Avalanche a flawed team this season? Absolutely.
Should they have done a little better than a first round exit? I think so. Seattle deserves credit, because they played fantastic, but it was a very underwhelming playoff run for a lot of players on Colorado, which is a big reason why the offseason for the Avalanche has already started.
Goaltenders
Alexandar Georgiev – C+
I don’t think Georgiev was bad. I also don’t think he was great, either. He was just…fine. He didn’t lose any games, but he didn’t win any either. The team in front of him wasn’t great, but there are some goals he probably wants back. If you look at his numbers compared to the rest of the goalies in the playoffs, he’s middle of the road. Of the 24 goalies that have played in the postseason, he sits 13th in even strength goals saved above average (-0.41), and 12th in even strength save percentage. His best game might have been Game Seven, where he gave up one legit goal, with the other being a complete fluke. Beyond that, he gave the team a chance to win. A fantastic regular season, and a lot to build on for him.
For once, goaltending isn’t an issue heading into the offseason.
Defensemen
Josh Manson – D
This is a tough one, because Manson clearly was not 100%. I’m not even sure he was close to 100%, to be honest. He left Game Five and never returned, but should he have even been playing? When he was in there, he wasn’t good. Took a lot of penalties and struggled to move. Needs to get healthy over the summer, as the first year of that new contract didn’t go so well.
Erik Johnson – C-
The big goal in Game Six could have been his last in an Avalanche uniform. Beyond that, he was just okay. He played physical but the limitations are just there at this point in his career. It’s interesting that he was likely a scratch for Game One if Jack Johnson didn’t get injured.
Jack Johnson – C-
He came in and was just okay, nothing special. Only played three games, but his possession numbers were the worst on the team. That’s kind of par for the course with him, though. Is he someone they try to bring back for one last season?
Cale Makar – C+
The bar is just so high for Makar. The Avalanche dominated shots with him on the ice, and outscored the Kraken, but the burst that he typically has was not there. He said before the playoffs that he was “as close as I can be” when asked if he was 100%. He struggled to get his shots through to the net, and the Kraken shadowed him pretty closely at the point. Is he one of the guys getting offseason surgery? I don’t know, but he wasn’t himself.
Devon Toews – C+
Talk about a very up and down postseason. The giveaway to start the series was tough, and he had some questionable pinches throughout the series. He also finished second on the team in 5-on-5 points, and was the best player on the ice in Game Six. His future will be a point of discussion throughout the summer.
Samuel Girard – C
I thought he was steady throughout the series. He just isn’t going to be the type of defender who defends the front of the net well, but when the Kraken played him physical, he tried to come back at them. Didn’t chip in enough offensively.
Bowen Byram – C
“Underwhelming” is the word I would use to describe his playoff run. I had high hopes for him entering the series, and it started off pretty well, but he faded as the series went on. He was the only defenseman who managed to get his shots through to the net, though.
Forwards
Evan Rodrigues – B
The one secondary player who at least was picking up points along the way. He had a point in Game 2-6, so at helped chip in, and definitely upped the physical play. His lack of finish was an issue, as he had some high-end scoring chances that he couldn’t bury. Really seemed like a guy who wants to come back to Colorado.
Nathan MacKinnon – A
Took over a few of the games to get the team some wins, and they dominated with him on the ice, outscoring the Kraken 12-3 at even strength. Had a goal taken back in Game Seven, but also missed some great scoring chances in the slot. Still, not exactly his fault that he got little to no help from the rest of the forward group.
Andrew Cogliano – D+
His playoffs ended in the worst way imaginable, with a check from behind fracturing his neck. He’s been used as a third line player all season long, and the reality is, he just isn’t that anymore. Even before the check from behind, he entered the playoffs banged up, and missed the first two games. A single shot on goal at even strength.
Logan O’Connor – D+
A lot like Cogliano, in that he’s been punching above his weight class all season long in a role he’s not best suited for, but just like the second half of the year, there just wasn’t any offense to speak of. The penalty kill was pretty solid most of the series, and the Avalanche did go even in terms of goals with him on the ice. Like the majority of the team, his best performance was in Game Six.
Lars Eller – C+
He was fantastic in the face-off circle, sound defensively, and tough on the boards. That’s why he was brought in. But he was also brought in to be the third line center, and if you are going to play in that spot, a little offense is needed. They got none. I could see the Avalanche wanting to bring him back, but it would have to be at a big discount.
Alex Newhook – D-
I struggle to give anyone a big “F” as a grade, but it was close. I actually felt Newhook was decent in Game Six, and had his chances in Game Seven, but two shots on goal in seven games is not good enough. The Avalanche also barely played in the offensive zone when he was on the ice. The lack of shot generation has been an issue for him since entering the NHL. The talent is there, but when Eller came to Colorado, he lost any sort of role he had on the team. I don’t know what to think of his future, at this point.
Mikko Rantanen – A
Led the team in even strength scoring, and when the team needed a goal, it came from Rantanen. There were some moments inside of games where he didn’t look like an elite player, but in classic Mikko fashion, when he got an opportunity, he did a good job finishing it.
Denis Malgin – D
Like Newhook, was one of the guys in the bottom six with talent, but struggled to produce. He was not on the ice for a single goal for the Avalanche, and was not trusted with much ice-time in the series.
Oh boy, this is a tricky one. He was fantastic in Game Two. And then he was gone, never to return. There’s a lot of unknowns around his absence, and the reality is, we don’t know much. The speculation with him is a bit much for me, just because we don’t really know what’s going on. But he wasn’t there to help his team, and it definitely had an impact on the rest of the series.
Darren Helm – INC
What a nightmare season for him. He came back for one last run, and he never was able to help the team. Even in this series, he returns for one game, and takes a cross-check to the head. If this is the end of the road for him, I wish him well, because he had a legendary postseason run in 2022.
Artturi Lehkonen – C+
I used the word “underwhelming” for Byram, and that’s kind of how I feel about Lehkonen. When he was good, he was really good, like in Game Six. But he was quiet a lot of the series, and missed some great scoring chances. There’s also the offsides play in the third period of Game Seven. Those things happen in a game, but it stung.
Matt Nieto – D+
The fact the Avalanche had to move Nieto into the top six tells you all you need to know about where they were at in this series. It’s not Nieto’s fault he was put into that role, and role he isn’t suited for, but they didn’t really have any other options. Pretty ineffective series for the veteran.
J.T. Compher – D
A fantastic regular season for Compher, filling a role the team really needed, but in the playoffs, he just wasn’t good enough. Zero points at even strength, and only seven shots on goal. You just aren’t going to win a round with a second line center producing nothing at even strength. He was even moved to wing in the final two games.
Ben Meyers – C-
I actually really liked Meyers at times in the series. The goal against in Game Seven was flukey, but I don’t know what I expected. Every single goal he was involved in this year seemed to go off some random body part. I’m happy he’s back with the Eagles for their playoff run.
Brad Hunt – The biggest INC you can think of
One shift, 41 seconds.