Avalanche Mailbag: Faceoff Issues, 2C Inquiries, Goaltending Depth and More

The Colorado Avalanche’s dramatic season has sparked several questions from fans and the media. My colleague Aarif Deen tackled some inquiries from our readers, and I’m taking on a handful as well.

With 57 games down and only 25 more to go, this team is still a work in progress. There has been a metamorphosis since the start of the season but when the Avs play to their identity, they win games. The consistency of doing that is the biggest issue at hand.

Let’s address some of the problems and possible solutions, shall we?

Avalanche Mailbag: Replacing Mittelstadt, Rantanen’s Next Contract, Wood’s Penalties & More

Question from SJavsfan:

How much priority do the Avs put into practicing faceoffs? They lose so many big faceoffs and yet, it feels like nobody says much about it, or tries to do anything to get better. How much of that is the current personnel vs. the team not making it a priority to improve?

Colleen’s response: 

Faceoffs are certainly an issue. The Avalanche are 30th in the league with an abysmal 45.4%, only ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks (45.3%) and the Anaheim Ducks (44%). Nathan MacKinnon has taken the most faceoffs this season and is not even at 50%. I have not recently spoken to him about it but when I asked him last season, he said he needed to improve.

I have rarely seen players work on that particular aspect of the game but that’s not to say they aren’t putting in the work. That is a question I have in my queue for head coach Jared Bednar, who has spoken about the importance of faceoffs in the past.

Although new to the team, Jack Drury has been successful in the dot with a 58.8% in 39 games with the Carolina Hurricanes. In his eight games with the Avs, he has taken 90 faceoffs and won 43 of them. But the team should not rely on one player to excel at those.

Faceoffs should be more focused on in practice. Could be a game-changer for the team’s strength.

Question from Ed:

I read online that refs were retaliating against the Avs after Jared Bednar was critical of them for not stopping play after Scott Wedgewood was hurt in the net. Is there any truth to that?

Colleen’s response:

To my knowledge, there is no truth to that statement. Bednar was open about his dismay with the officiating of that game and he knew his comments could get him fined or worse. But he did not suffer any consequences.

Colorado’s coach was poised in his response and cited the same miscalls in previous games. He stated his case for how it has been a pattern and said he spoke with the league about it after that game.

Have there been questionable calls from the refs in other Avalanche games since? Yes, but there have also been similar ones for other teams as well. It does not appear to be targeted at Colorado.

Question from Justin H. 

Can we please get a 2C who can contribute? That second line with Casey Mittelstadt is more of a liability than anything else at this stage. He fell into a black hole, and just can’t find his way out.

Colleen’s response: 

Mittlestadt has struggled to produce and he is well aware of it, as is the rest of the team. He is not the same player he was last season but has the potential to be which is why the coaching staff has been patient with him.

With that said, Bednar has had to shuffle players around for different reasons and didn’t hesitate to drop Mittelstadt down the line. He had some success with Jonathan Drouin and Juuso Parssinen as the second-line center, but the chemistry did not last long.

Drury is an option for the 2C position but has found chemistry with Ross Colton and Miles Wood on the third line. Other options are Colton (see previous sentence) or Parker Kelly who is not a fit for that spot.

The second line will change when Valeri Nichushkin returns and Mittelstadt may develop chemistry with him and Artturi Lehkonen if Drouin moves up to the top line with MacKinnon and Martin Necas. If he doesn’t, Drury may get the opportunity and Mittelstadt will have to work on gelling with Colton and Wood.

Question from Joe Murphy

Is Mittelstadt secretly hurt? His lack of performance just doesn’t add up.

Colleen’s response:

He is not physically injured, or at least hasn’t been reported as such. He has admittedly been battling his slump in a mental way which can hinder a player’s ability more than a physical injury. The longer it goes, the harder it is as his confidence dwindles and that is the toughest thing to regain.

The coaching staff has worked with him in the hope of helping him out of his funk but it has not been a successful attempt. At this point, Bednar said it is up to him to work his way out and the team is being as supportive as it can.

Question from Thundergoalie35:

Suggestions for a cheap and easy depth goalie addition for the stretch run and playoffs? Thinking of years past… Hamburglar, Hutchy, Dubnyk, Kinkaid, etc. It doesn’t look like the brass is willing to trust Miner to start any more games, but if one of our Lumbermen go down again we might want to have additional depth between the pipes.

Colleen’s response:

While Miner is not quite NHL material, there are not many options for that position. Who could the Avs bring in as the backup to the backup? Anyone decent would probably be more costly than the team is willing to spend (trade or monetary) at this point in the season.

Question from Andy:

Calum Ritchie, I think last we heard he was lighting it up back in the minors. Anything new there? We still think he’ll be the future 2C? Do you think his future presence affects how the front office looks at trade options right now?

Colleen’s response:

Ritchie is killing it in the Ontario Hockey League for the Oshawa Generals with 62 points in 34 games. He is tied for the team’s No. 2 spot in points and leads the team with 48 assists and six game-winning goals.

He is still expected to make the lineup and could earn the 2C spot but not just yet. He is only 20 years old and is not quite NHL-ready but may be a possibility next season.

Avalanche management has a lot of faith in Ritchie’s development which is a factor for the trading block. While the organization has high hopes for the young forward, he is not untouchable as a trade piece — but unlikely. Many were surprised when Chris MacFarland moved another Avs top prospect, Nikolai Kovalenko, so there is always a possibility.

Question from Drew:

How’s Ilya Nabokov doing overseas, any news?

Colleen’s Response:

The 21-year-old goaltender has had a successful season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League with a save percentage of .925 in 40 games played. He has a 2.20 goals-against-average and has posted three shutouts. 

While the KHL is quite different from the NHL, Nabokov is young and would need some time to adjust to North American hockey. I do not know what his intentions are after this season as far as where he will play next year.