Deen's Daily
Deen’s Daily: Avs Hire AHL Coach, Add AHL Depth; Who’s Still Left on UFA Market?
The Avs added another AHL depth forward and hired a new AHL head coach. Who else can they target in free agency for the big club?
All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — July 5.
Colorado Hockey Now
The Avalanche hired a new AHL bench boss, and it’s yet another guy coming over from the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.
Mark Letestu, 40, spent the last four years as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He’s also a former NHL player with nearly 600 games of experience, most notably with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and eventually the Blue Jackets.
He won’t be the only hire, as the Avs are still searching for a new assistant coach to run the power play on Jared Bednar’s staff.
The Avs are still in need of depth at forward, and it sounds like they’re trying to remake the blueline. The team signed Alex Barre-Boulet on Friday. He’ll likely be an AHL regular and a potential call-up option if injuries pile on.
As for others that can help, I released my latest Avalanche UFA Board, and honed in on five names that could help the Avs this season.
READ MORE: Avalanche UFA Board: Bottom Six Depth Options Remain on The Market
Around The NHL
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: How Nick Bonino surprisingly became an NHL assistant coach for the Pens.
NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders have a new forward core, and two prominent names on that roster are Jonathan Drouin and Calum Ritchie. Where does everyone slot in?
San Jose Hockey Now: The Sharks still need help on the wing. And a lot of the guys that could be targeted are the same ones the Avs are probably keeping an eye on.
Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers may have uncovered some more gems.
Deen’s Daily: Decentralized Draft is Staying; Kovalenko’s NHL Stint Ends
Former Avalanche Forward Is Heading Back to the KHL
Deen’s Daily: What Are the Avs Doing at 3C?; Sharks Add 2 Veterans
7 Trade Targets That Could Solve the Avalanche’s 3C Hole (+)
Deen’s Daily: Manson Re-Signs; Dallas Dumps Dumba — RHD Always Have Value
Avalanche UFA Board: Bottom Six Depth Options Remain on The Market
‘There’s One Big Goal Still’: Burns is Excited to Join Avs
Deen’s View: At 40, Burns Isn’t Done Yet — But Where Does He Fit on Colorado’s Blue Line? (+)
Report: Avalanche Used Charlie Coyle to Solve Their Miles Wood Problem
Deen’s Daily: Ehlers Heads East; Burns Itching For a Stanley Cup; Trades Coming?
What if they trade Girard to sharks.
Sign Grzelcyk to take his spot.
Girard is a better player than Gryz
That would only make them worse. Maybe if they needed the cap space but they don’t.
Letestu seems like a good Eagles hire for the moment. He was an undrafted free agent and went on to have a 14 year NHL career. That’s a solid message to his players since the Avs prospect pool is largely late round picks and undrafted college free agents
Maybe Barry Melrose will come out of retirement?