Colorado Avalanche

[mapletreemarty]

Hey Everyone. I'm Marty. 28 years old and living in Thunder Bay. It's only a six hour drive South to go see an NHL hockey game I've been a huge Nordiques and Avs fan ever since I moved to Canada and remember watching hockey on TV. Joe Sakic kind of roped me in and well the rest is pretty much history. Not a bad guy to watch play hockey and I've been fortunate to watch the team hoist two stanley cups in my lifetime (take that Leafs fans).

I hail from a country that brought you such "greats" as Peter Sidorkiewicz, Marius Czerkawski, and more recently Wojtek "I'm too much of a sissy to get the puck off the boards" Wolski. On a side note... Sidorkiewicz made the Memorial Cup All-Star team back in '83. He made the NHL All Star game in '93 with a 4.46 GAA haha, and the only season he posted a winning record was in his rookie year

Anyways, I look forward to bringing you all information about the Avs. Off season news. Trades, injuries, player profiles, prospect news down in Lake Erie... luckily we don't have any noteworthy prospect forwards so that should cut my research time in half. I'll dig up any news, and provide analysis of any of the games I catch on TV.

If you have any questions pop on by and I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers!

[Dean Youngblood]

Joey Hishon? I would say he is noteworthy (unless you mean in Lake Erie only )

[newper114]

haha welcome to the boards. love the love/hate relationship you have with your team. always great to have another team covered by a knowledgable guy.

So i will get the ball rolling: whats the offseason plan for fleischmann?

[4T2]

Nice to see Colorado represented now. Welcome to the Black Aces mapletreemarty, nice to have you on-board.

[Reddawg]

I'd love to hear anything known/speculated about Stefan Elliot and Tyson Barrie's chances for making the roster and any potential fantasy impact for next season.

[indianapwns]

Thanks for doing this - I'm looking forward to reading this thread all summer.

I'd love to hear any developments with regards to Calvin Pickard. I'm hoping he is the long term plan for Colorado in net though I know its almost impossible to say one way or the other...

[mapletreemarty]

Joey Hishon? I would say he is noteworthy (unless you mean in Lake Erie only )

Yeah, I was only referring to Lake Erie haha. Hopefully he is there next season. Not much left to prove in junior.

[mapletreemarty]

haha welcome to the boards. love the love/hate relationship you have with your team. always great to have another team covered by a knowledgable guy.

So i will get the ball rolling: whats the offseason plan for fleischmann?

He is still seeing spe******ts on the East Coast as he has not been cleared to play yet (as of last week). The Avs would love to re-sign him as he put up 22 pts in 23 gp. Him and Duchene had great chemistry and he had 21 pts. In 22 gp while playing with Flash.

[mapletreemarty]

Nice to see Colorado represented now. Welcome to the Black Aces mapletreemarty, nice to have you on-board.

Thanks very much, looking forward to keeping up with you guys in terms of the quality of info I provide

[mapletreemarty]

I'd love to hear anything known/speculated about Stefan Elliot and Tyson Barrie's chances for making the roster and any potential fantasy impact for next season.

Last week the Avs had a fan forum. It was a conference call where season ticket holders were able to call in and ask Sherman and Joe Sakic questions.

Sakic made comments to the effect that the team will see 3 or 4 new faces next season with the big club. Sakic went on to mention that they hope the 2nd, 11th overall picks as well as Elliott and Barrie are ready to go next season. The Avs are hoping to improve the on-ice product as well gain further interest from the casual fan.

Depending on whom they draft this summer I could see the Avs having Elliott up with the team for certain. The other spot on the blue line may be up to Barrie/Larsson/Gaunce. That is of course if they draft Larsson at 2. Gaunce brings a good physical aspect to the game and I have a hard of seeing 4 puck moving d-man up with the club next season in EJ, Liles, Elliott, Barrie. Lilies could be moved at the draft to open up room for Barrie.

Also the big plan is that the Avs want to remain at the cap floor for next year to see what the new landscape will be after the new CBA in 2012. Since the plan is to sign a UFA goalie, Liles could be gone to ensure the team can spend some bigger bucks at an option in net while remaining at the cap floor.

Elliott could have a Shattenkirk type rookie year. The kid has a bomb from the point. 10 goals 25 assists wouldn't be a stretch and he would really help improve their PP. They have never really had that option from the point in previous seasons forcing them to set things up with Stastny behind the net or down on the goal line.

Barrie would have a smaller impact if he makes the team. He would be on the bottom pairing with some time on the second unit... 20-22 pts.

[mapletreemarty]

Thanks for doing this - I'm looking forward to reading this thread all summer.

I'd love to hear any developments with regards to Calvin Pickard. I'm hoping he is the long term plan for Colorado in net though I know its almost impossible to say one way or the other...

Pickard is definitely in the long term plans for the Avs and they do not want to rush him. The plan is for him to go back to Seattle where he faced 40+ shots/game last season.

[Shake]

Good Stuff Marty. Welcome to the team. I have sticky threaded this for ya. Look forward to seeing all your Ave's info

[GMGates]

Thanks Shake - was just going to do it.

Well Marty, looks like you've already made this place feel like home - love it!

Glad you decided to join the team and represent the Avalanche.

Good luck and enjoy the ride

GMG

[GMGates]

That said, how does the EJ vs. Shattenkirk / Stewart deal really affect the Avs going into next season? Do you think Jones can make up for Stewart's loss up front?

[MoreCanadianTeams]

Hey Marty,

Great to see you doing team coverage, usually my 1st stop after Ramblings. Look forward to your posts, as the Avs are an intriguing club fantasy wise.