Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers post the Avs Mailbag every other Thursday during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.
Is it me or are Gabe Landeskog and Erik Johnson vastly overrated? Every time I hear how Kevin Shattenkirk is a very good defenseman, I get sick. How does Nick Holden get as much ice time as he does?
— Frank M., Dearborn, Michigan
Holden would be better served as the third pairing. But the Avs don’t have enough top-four defensemen, thus Holden and Tyson Barrie are on the second pairing.
As I’ve said many times this year, the Avs did not do enough in free agency the last two summers to address their blue-line needs. Yes, Shattenkirk is an excellent defenseman, Landeskog and Johnson aren’t having exceptional seasons. Landeskog, for one, should have a lot more than 17 goals.
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If players are given ice time based on turnovers and production at their position, how does Barrie get on the ice? He has more turnovers and missed passes than anyone on the team and is actually a lousy defenseman.
— Ronald Tormondsen, Saint Anthony Idaho
Barrie is very good at moving the puck. Sometimes he’s good at giving it to the other team. We’ll see this offseason what the Avs think of Barrie, who is a restricted free agent July 1.
The Avs could miss the playoffs for the fifth time in six years with most of the same core group of guys. Given the failings under two regimes now, how much longer will the organization focus on keeping that core intact? Clearly the players have done little as a team to warrant faith.
— Steve, Centennial
The “core” is mostly made up of forwards and goalie Varlamov. Yes, Johnson is in that mix, but I’m inclined to think the front office will re-shape the blue line before trading away young forwards or Varlamov.
When are the Avs going to give up on Johnson? His play has been terrible. Also, why can’t the Avs finish a game?
— Greg Lavold, Pueblo
Good teams finish. Good teams build on leads. The Avs aren’t good enough. As for Johnson, he just signed a seven-year extension at $6 million per. Unless he’s playing like an all-star, he won’t collect interest on the trade market because of the term and amount.
What is it that Patrick Roy saw in Calvin Pickard over Varlamov to make the switch in goal? I’d like to know what you have seen this season to legitimize that type of switch in starting goaltending, and if this doesn’t work out, how long of a leash does Roy have as coach of the Avs?
— Kevin L. Ray, Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Roy loves Pickard’s competitiveness and confidence. He’s a warrior in the crease. Varlamov is more athletic but not as collected between the ears.
I have to disagree with your answer to my post in the last Avs Mailbag. Roy has not put Nathan MacKinnon, Duchene and Landeskog together in a very longtime. I do agree that you can’t play one line more than a minute.
But shortening the bench to top six like you stated would get them on the ice more frequently. Duchene was getting way more opportunities to score playing on that line than he is now centering the second line.
— Lorne, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
We won’t see Landeskog with Duchene and MacKinnon until next week, when his three-game suspension expires. But in the final 10 games, the Avs will try everything to win games and get into the playoffs. Stacking that line might be an option.
I’ll admit it’s early, but I like the Mikkel Boedker addition. Any chance the Avs are able to resign him? Can they even afford another $5 million with deals for MacKinnon and Barrie coming?
— Bryan, Seattle, Washington
Of course there is a chance the Avs sign him. But it’s not looking promising. Boedker reportedly turned down a $5 million-plus annual deal with Arizona. Perhaps he just didn’t want to play in the desert. But I don’t see the Avs giving him $5 million. Thus, I think he will go down as an expensive rental.
Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers post the Avs Mailbag every other Thursday during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.