Evan’s NHL Daily: MacKinnon’s Halifax Retirement, Backup Linked To Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are in the market for an NHL caliber goaltender to backup Alexandar Georgiev. Could they look to re-acquire one of their former draft picks to fill that need?

Nathan MacKinnon wasn’t at training camp on Friday, but he had a good reason- his jersey was retired by the Halifax Mooseheads.

All that and more in this Saturday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

Some good news, as goalie coach Jussi Parkkila is getting an extension with the Avalanche.

A recap of day two of training camp for the Avalanche, including Riley Tufte getting a big promotion to a position he’s never played before.

Ryan Johansen was brought in to be the 2C for Colorado, and he’s “super confident” he’ll be able to get the job done.

For subscribers, a nice chat with Brandon Kozun, a once highly touted prospect who has returned from 8 years overseas with a new perspective on everything.

Armed With New Perspectives, Brandon Kozun Is Back In North America, Trying To Make The Avalanche (+)

MacKinnon’s Night

Nathan MacKinnon has gotten out of some conditioning testing with the Avalanche, but I’m pretty sure the team isn’t too worried about what kind of shape their superstar is in. He was in Halifax on Friday to watch his #22 get retired by the Mooseheads.

Here’s his retirement tribute. Unfortunately, the Mooseheads lost the game, even though MacKinnon joked before the game that “they better not mess up my night by losing.” Whoops.

Not sure if MacKinnon will be back at camp on Saturday, but I don’t think he needs the practice.

Nathan MacKinnon's No. 22 gets sent to the rafters in Halifax. 2⃣2⃣

📸: @HFXMooseheads pic.twitter.com/aMDJz0ew6f

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 22, 2023

Congrats Nate. From all of us. #ThankYou22 pic.twitter.com/BWTEhxkYKt

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) September 22, 2023

NHL Goalie to Avalanche?

Remember Spencer Martin? Drafted 63rd by the Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Draft, he only played in 3 NHL games for the organization before he moved on to Tampa Bay.

The last few years, he’s resurfaced as the backup in Vancouver, and after the Canucks acquired Casey DeSmith, Elliotte Friedman wondered if Martin could find his way back to Colorado on 32 Thoughts.

“Colorado is looking for a goalie, and Spencer Martin, depending on how long Francouz is out for, seems like the kind of guy Colorado could look at as kind of, give us an option here behind our #1 guy, so I’m curious to see if that’s a fit.”

Friedman seemed to be wondering out loud if this was a fit rather than speculating, so I didn’t think it was worth of an entire article. Martin’s NHL numbers aren’t really impressive, but I can’t imagine he would cost much to get.

On Friday, Bednar said Francouz has no timeline for a return, and the team doesn’t seem super confident in Justus Annunen being the backup at the moment.

National Hockey Now

The “other guy” the Pittsburgh Penguins got in the Erik Karlsson trade.

Jim Montgomery sees improvements in Pavel Zacha‘s game.

Chris Chelios joined in on the Mike Babcock shaming.

Brandt Clark spoke to LAHN about his injury and why he’s not in Australia right now.

Former first round pick Alexander Holtz is making an impression in Devils camp.

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