Denver Post sports writers Terry Frei and Mike Chambers post the Avs Mailbag every other Thursday during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.
I feel like the Avs are a better team than last year however, we are not getting good goal tending like we really need to be successful. Why not bring Calvin Pickard up and let him give us a boost?
— Dave, Thornton
They are a better team than last season, Dave, but Semyon Varlamov has — outside his 2-1 win at Tampa Bay — struggled, and the Avs aren’t typically good enough to win the tight, third-period games.
Calvin Pickard won’t be recalled unless Varlamov or Reto Berra are injured or get traded. Pickard’s one-year contract is of the waiver-wire-exempt nature, so unlike Varlamov and Berra, he can go to the big leagues and back to the minors without being claimed by other teams.
Surely, if Varlamov continues at this rate, the Avs probably wouldn’t mind if another team picked up his $5.9 million salary off waivers, but that’s unlikely.
Do you think the Avs need to be a little tougher? I think Patrick Bordeleau should be in the lineup. Cody Mcleod has become to valuable a player to be the only one who does the fighting on this team and spending time in the penalty box. Bordeleau is a good 4th liner.
— Justin Fuller, Aurora
Toughness can certainly be a big strength but it hasn’t helped the Winnipeg Jets win many hockey games.
I don’t think the Avs are weak in this department and Chris Wagner and Jack Skille are huge improvements over Bordeleau, who is no longer needed because fighting is way down. A fourth line these days are guys who can play rugged hockey and make plays.
If Roy isn’t on the hot seat yet then why aren’t his assistants? Special teams units are below average and Roy could use some NHL coaching experience with him on the bench.
— Jackie, Littleton
Hey Jackie, thanks for the question. Patrick Roy doesn’t seem to delegate much responsibility to his assistants. Tim Army is in charge of the forwards, Dave Farrish handles defensemen and Francois Allaire works with the goalies. But based on studying practices during Roy’s entire tenure, his assistants don’t do much on-ice instruction. Roy appears to lead every drill and is the major voice in all three areas.
Hey Mike. Any rumblings around GM Joe Sakic’s office as to whether or not something’s going to be done about the defense?
The Avs need abona fide NHL defensemen. How’s that Travis Hamonic trade coming along? Thanks!
— Welby, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Well, Welby, the Avs could definitely use another top-four defenseman and the Islanders’ Hamonic would be a nice addition — despite the fact he’s a right-handed shot like Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie — but Colorado can’t afford to give up a key forward in return. The Avs want to build from their fine young forwards, not trade one of them away. We’ll see where Hamonic lands, but I’m not convinced Colorado is a good fit.
When do you think Nikita Zadorov will make it back into the NHL? Also, same question but with Mikko Rantanen? Thanks!
— Graham Rende, Denver
I believe Zadorov will get recalled if there are multiple injuries on the Avs’ blue line. He’s just 20 and still a big part of the club’s future.
Who has been the biggest positive surprise of the season for the Avalanche?
— Brad, Toronto, Canada
Reto Berra, without a doubt. The “backup” goalie has been consistently good since training camp and deserves to run with the job over Semyon Varlamov.
Denver Post sports writers Terry Frei and Mike Chambers post the Avs Mailbag every other Thursday during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.