Deen’s Daily: Ross Colton and Miles Wood are now closer than ever, literally

The Avalanche’s preseason is officially underway, and so too, is my coverage for Colorado Hockey Now. As is often the case with a fresh opportunity at a new outlet, I’m going to take a few weeks to really see what works and what doesn’t. But I think bringing back a CHN staple is something worth investing my time into.

So, on today’s pilot edition of Deen’s Daily, I’ll dive into some of my favorite conversations with the Avs in what was a quick but beneficial training camp this past week.

1. Alexandar Georgiev will “try not to think too much about” his contract status heading into the final year of a three-year contract with the Avs. (Where has the time gone?) But admittedly, it is on his mind and he isn’t going to hide that.

Colorado’s starting goalie told me on Sunday that he hopes business will take care of itself throughout the season. He even mentioned a tidbit in there about being hopeful that the two sides start talking soon – which says to me that Chris MacFarland and Georgiev’s representatives have yet to begin extension talks at this time. If you ask me, this is not surprising at all.

But as is the way of the professional athlete, Georgiev did make it clear that he won’t let any of this get in the way of his focus on the ice.

2. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is a wonderful interview and a stand-up guy. Unless things go completely south in preseason action, I can’t imagine a scenario where the 39-year-old isn’t centering Colorado’s fourth line to start the regular season.

The veteran had a handful of great quotes during his opening availability. But none better than the one my predecessor Evan wrote about late last week.

“I’m still here, one of the first guys (on the ice), I still want it,” Bellemare told me and a handful of other reporters. “I always say to my mom that the day I stop learning is the day I’ll stop playing. It has nothing to do with the money and I’m having a heck of a lot of fun.”

3. Oliver Kylington confirmed he had several offers on the table but felt Colorado was best suited for his game. Despite having immigration issues, which kept him in a hotel room for several weeks in Canada, Kylington is excited to join the Avs and play for a Stanley Cup-contending team.

He said his relationship with fellow Swede Gabriel Landeskog helped him decide to sign here. But, did the captain need to sell him on the team?

“Not really. Great city, great organization,” Kylington said. “It felt natural to sign here and be a part of this.”

4. Loved seeing both the on-ice and off-ice chemistry continue among the trio of Ross Colton, Miles Wood and Logan O’Connor.

Bednar had them skating on the same line for the majority of camp. O’Connor did get an opportunity alongside Casey Mittelstadt on Sunday, though — something that I honestly expected on the first day of camp given the injury to Artturi Lehkonen and the absences of Valeri Nichushkin and Landeskog.

The Avs also moved Wood’s dressing room stall beside his fellow “roaring 20s” linemates at the practice rink this season. He’s made sure to use that to his advantage and interrupt the others during their press scrums.

Loved Colton’s joking response to Wood when he was interrupted mid-sentence.

“I liked it better when your stall was over there.”