Aarif Deen
Question from JDY
Do we end the season with the same goalie tandem we have now?
Aarif’s Response
I think we do. It would probably take a 2024 Alexandar Georgiev-like collapse for Joe Sakic to consider a change. And even then, they have a third goalie option in Ilya Nabokov they’d like to try before going to the waiver well like they did with Kaapo Kahkonen. They also still have Trent Miner.
It’s almost become the norm for teams to ride .890 goaltending in the regular season without being too concerned. It’s how these goalies perform in the postseason that matters. So when you’re assessing a change before the trade deadline, it would need to be a crazy collapse from both goalies, without much coming from the AHL to offset those bad performances. I just don’t think it’ll happen.
If you were to ask me about the goalie tandem in 12 months, I’d be more inclined to say that I’m not entirely sure yet.
Question from Val Drury
Maybe it’s just my perception, but the Eagles seemed to lose more players than usual this year. Several guys seemed like they could be relatively dependable call-ups for the Avs, but they are now gone. Is it just a coincidence, a result of the Eagles’ success, new coach, etc.? Or does it signal a growing recognition that the Avs just don’t seem to be a place where AHL guys get a real shot?
Aarif’s Response
These sorts of things often come in waves. And I don’t think the franchise is too concerned with losing guys like Matt Stienburg, Jason Polin, or Jacob MacDonald. They were all good veterans for the Eagles but in terms of being dependable call ups, they’re generally pretty easy to replace.
It’s smart for an organization like the Avs to keep rolling the dice on lottery balls, which is ultimately what AHL call ups are. Anything from undrafted free agents to UFA’s who didn’t succeed elsewhere, it’s always good to try something new and see what sticks.
I look at someone like Sam Malinski who came in around the same time and the same way as Wyatt Aamodt and Polin. Now that you know what you have with the latter two, you should be trying to find the next Malinski.
That means cycling through AHL bodies like Matthew DiMarsico, T.J. Hughes, Taylor Makar, etc., to see which, if any, can carve out an NHL career from their limited opportunities.