10 Observations
10 Observations: Reflecting on the Avalanche’s Emotional Road Trip

Following a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday, the Avalanche return home with all kinds of issues that need to be sorted out.
Their depth has struggled to produce, the inconsistencies on defense are glaring, and the goaltending hasn’t quite stolen games in recent weeks. Also, is Valeri Nichushkin any closer to returning?
Having Wednesday off will help after the emotional roller coaster of the past four days. The team boarded a flight to Boston early on Friday with Mikko Rantanen only for him to be traded less than 12 hours later. They followed that up with two 1 p.m. ET puck drops in a row on Saturday and Sunday before closing out the trip on Long Island two days later.
Rather than diving into the Islander’s game specifically, I figured a full trip assessment would make more sense. After all, the team boarding the flight back to Denver late Tuesday night looked quite different than the one that left four days prior.
READ MORE: Good & Bad: Third Period Gets Away From Avalanche in Loss to Islanders
10 Observations
1. I like Martin Necas. A lot. And I think it’s okay to say that without comparing every aspect of his game to Rantanen’s. This player fits what the Avalanche do. The way Jared Bednar is relying on him to pretty much be the main guy who gains entry into the offensive zone speaks volumes about how well he possesses the puck. Necas has four assists in three games — all of which have come in the last two after the quick turnaround in Boston. I’m excited to see how the rest of his season unfolds.
2. I’d like to see Valeri Nichushkin playing with Nathan MacKinnon and Necas when he returns. He was always the second-best winger option after Rantanen (with Gabriel Landeskog injured) and was best suited on the top line. But even more now, I’m genuinely intrigued by how well his net-front presence could complement Necas and MacKinnon skating circles around other teams at five-on-five. He’d also give that duo a much-needed finisher.
3. The depth on all four lines looks a lot better now than it did a week ago. Trading Rantanen for two players and having Miles Wood back has given Bednar 12 playable forwards who could be trusted at all times of a game. But, hear me out. I don’t believe Parker Kelly, Joel Kiviranta, and Wood should automatically be given full-time spots. When Nichushkin gets back, Juuso Parssinen isn’t the easy odd-man out. And if Chris MacFarland adds another forward or two, it should only create more competition.
4. Mackenzie Blackwood has given up at least three goals in five straight games with a sub .900 save percentage each time. He’s 1-3-1 in this stretch.
5. Wrote about this in my Good & Bad article following Tuesday’s loss, but Jack Drury is doing an excellent job showing that untapped offensive potential that both Bednar and MacFarland referenced over the weekend. His first goal was off a deflection and the second was a sweet wrister past Ilya Sorokin. I’d love to see him continue to produce in different ways.
READ MORE: Rantanen Traded, What’s Next? — Avalanche Trade Board 2.0
6. Sam Malinski’s all-around game has dipped as the season has gone on. But his offensive touch hasn’t been there at all. I feel bad for the kid, he showed some great potential last year as a confident puck mover who can produce. But one goal and five points in 49 games isn’t going to cut it. The concerning part is, he’s the better half of the third pair. It’s a shame the Erik Brannstrom and Oliver Kylington experiments didn’t work out (for different reasons). That was my pick for the ideal third pair when training camp began.
7. I can’t believe it took more than 500 words to mention the beautiful goal Artturi Lehkonen scored while seated on the ice. Kudos to him for finding a way to stay in the play and still receive that pass right on his tape after losing his balance.
8. That was Lehkonen’s 21st of the season, which ties his career high from 2022-23. That year, he had 21 goals (and 30 assists) in 64 games. He’s only played 40 games this year and is well on his way to shattering that record. His eight assists in 40 games have to be one of the biggest statistical outliers I’ve seen in quite a while.
9. MacKinnon hasn’t scored on the power play since October. It’s been 42 games. That says a lot about how the PP has operated since the first 10-game segment of the season.
10. Six straight games without a point for both Logan O’Connor and Kiviranta. Seven games for Kelly. I know the line has developed some good chemistry but it might be time to entertain splitting them up for a little while. I’d like to see O’Connor back with Ross Colton and Drury for a stretch. They only got one game together before Wood re-entered the lineup and pushed O’Connor back to the fourth line with Kelly and Kiviranta.
READ MORE: Did Mikko Rantanen Force Chris MacFarland’s Hand?
Not to be overly dramatic, but at this point, I think we sell the team to Hartford, let them bulldoze Ball Arena and extend the Riverfront development, then in five years we put together a compelling Pickleball team.
Ummm….you’re being overly dramatic.
😀
You’re selling the wrong team. Have Monfort and his minions move to Nebraska (call them the Nebraska Packers) and then get an expansion team with real owners for the Rockies.
Thank God you have nothing to do with everyday operations of out team in Co. ah
he’s an Isles fan that’s trolling
Lol…And make CMac CEO of the pickleball club.
I dig the sarcasm!!
Looks like a year of struggle and mediocrity for all Denver teams (the Rockies remain in a class by themselves).
The Broncos made the playoffs after 9 years of disappointment, and with a rookie quarterback to boot. The Nuggets sit at a firm 4th in the West, sitting closer to 3rd than 4th, and with Jokic reaching yet another level no one thought possible. The Avalanche are firmly in playoff position, and have both the Art Ross leader and Norris Trophy favorite on their team. The Avs are only 3 years separated from a Stanley Cup win, and the Nuggets just 2 years from their NBA Championship. What more do you want?
The forward depth does look better, but other than Colton, the bottom 6 are basically all 4th liners. Hopefully Drury can become a true 3C, but he is playing with 4th liners. Colton has the talent and scoring ability to be a good offensive middle sixer, but he has not been up to that level since returning from injury. The Avs could use a few new forwards, not just for competition, but for ability. Kelly, O’Connor, and Kiviranta are basically good for 15-25 points. They are fast and gritty, but lack size and consistent scoring. I would still rather have… Read more »
Great points. That’s a LOT to correct via trade(s) or just improved play in 30 plus games.
My expectations for this season have been immensely tempered.
Let’s see what CMac has up his sleeve before the deadline. A strong established 2C may be a reach too far, but we shall see.
Really like Necas and Drury so far.
As far as the D goes….oof. With the sole exception of Makar, they need to start morphing into something that looks more like the ’21 Canadiens lumberjack crew, if we are to get a sniff of a cup. More Tanev-esque, less like the US Men’s synchronized skating team.
Probably will be an unpopular opinion: I think I’d rather get the 1st wild card spot than the 2nd or 3rd spot in the Central. Hear me out: I’d much rather go through the suspect Pacific Division than the stacked Central in the playoffs. Yeah, playing likely Vegas first round could be rough, but we’ve proven we can beat them this year – and they’ve struggled with consistency as of late, with really no great explanation. Obviously, they’ll also make some (likely questionable in how they actually fit under the cap) moves before the trade deadline, but personally I’d feel… Read more »
Agreed. You’re on to something here.
Hellebuyck is just a menace i say it every year. Yet last year we punished him in the playoffs. But you might be righr with this take
It’s interesting, because the Rantanen trade was such a huge surprise, but I think it was also a fit move. Yes, Rantanen is an absolute stud and will be a stud for years to come, and he did amazing things here, but his skating always left something to be desired. His style and MacKinnon’s style never particularly meshed in terms of speed and tenacity. Necas has that speed, he seems to be able to control the puck better at speed, and he and MacKinnon look like they’re set up to absolutely terrorize teams with their speed. Drury looks like he’s… Read more »
No first round pick is where I think many of us see the deal as not as great. Beyond that, I have been saying since training camp that Mikko was the guy to go because his perceived value is greater than his actual value. We sold high here and moved 1 piece to gain 4. If you want your team to stay at the top of the league,(in the playoffs) you have to make these kinds of moves along the way. Otherwise, you go from cup window to bottom feeder very fast. Then it becomes a long tedious process to… Read more »
There was no chance they were going to get Necas, Drury, plus a 1st for an unsigned Rants; even if they took Drury out, that wasn’t going to happen.
I agree, just saying that is the missing piece from this being another Avs coupe. Forsberg was the most lopsided deal in the history of sports, cup team built from it. Duchene was not of that scale but still lopsided, cup team built from it. This year will take a bit more than what we have done so far, but with a couple more tweaks and a healthy Val, cup is still possible. All that said, I don’t truly see another cup until we have a Captain and new coach. Will happily eat crow on that last part, many of… Read more »
I think the fact that Mikko is on an expiring contract tempered the ability to include a 1st. If the Avs signed him before trading him they would have had to go through significant roster gymnastics to make the cap work pre-trade. They got a 2nd instead of a 1st but they avoided that whole cap mess
The defense around the goalie is always chaotic and not in a good way. They even turned Blackwood into another Georgiev seive.
Blackwood himself has also lost focus and is letting in easy goals last 5 games. No bueno.
What would all the offense do, if you can’t stop pucks at your own end? Go Avs!
Try to get Jared McCann from Seattle.
Nice, that won’t cost much! Have him room with Cale on the road?
I thought the Avs looked good last night. Just their normal stupid stuff (that only Blackwood can mitigate so much, how about that save % btw last night!):
Not only does Blackwood suck at his job, but his bloated contract is a major reason for the one-sided Rantanen trade. Gimme a superstar forward over a retread goalie any day of the week. Bottom line: This team doesn’t scare anyone any more.