Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers responds to questions in the Avs Mailbag every other week during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.
What is the current status of Connor Timmins? We heard favorable things about his potential during last year’s Junior Canadian team but he seems to have disappeared.
— Roger Coe, Edwards
Timmins has had concussion-like symptoms since the summer but seems to have finally turned the corner. He reported to the Colorado Eagles in Loveland this week and practiced with the team Wednesday — his first team practice this season, I believe. He has been working out with the Avs or spending time at his home in Ontario. So it’s great news for the organization and its fans to see Timmins finally in a team practice. If he continues to improve, perhaps he will make his NHL debut this season. I know the Avs are really excited about that.
The next two mailbag questions come from Mark in Centennial.
Question 1:
Hi Mike, I’m very disappointed in Tyson Jost. While I realize he’s young and could still be at North Dakota, I simply don’t see the development in his game. Great shot and good speed, but he’s soft on the puck, not very physical and seems to avoid contact.
The Avs have given him many opportunities with different line combinations, power plays with extremely limited results. If I’m not mistaken, he has one even-strength goal all season and is minus-7. It would seem some time with the Eagles might take some pressure off him and allow him to reset. Thoughts?
Indeed, Jost hasn’t been great in his year and a half with the team. But remember, he’s just a little more than a month shy of his 21st birthday. There’s a lot of upside to this young player and patience with him is the key. Perhaps his stint with the Eagles will help his confidence.
Question 2:
Thanks for your excellent coverage of the Avs!
Our early season goaltending was quite strong, but lately Semyon Varlamov and Philipp Grubauer have been doing their best imitation of the Sieve Brothers! I fully realize some of this is related to defensive zone coverage, but the play of our goalies has, indeed, regressed in the past several games. Your thoughts?
Thanks, brother.
My thoughts line up with yours — Varlamov and Grubauer are part of the problem. The entire team is struggling but the goalies certainly aren’t doing enough, and if you don’t have excellent goaltending, you’re never going to have a good hockey team.
I know the all-star game and format is not a great measuring stick, however, watching Ryan O’Reilly with the Avs wings made me miss him that much more. Not saying to break up the top line, but I would love Sakic to try and get O’Reilly in a trade from the Blues, he would be a great addition to the second line and help our struggling penalty kill immediately.
— CV, Cape Coral
I don’t see O’Reilly ever playing for the Avalanche again, as long as Sakic and his staff are still around. Too many burned bridges there. O’Reilly is a good NHL player but his contract demands when he was here won’t soon be forgotten. The Avs view his demands very selfishly; the player was only concerned about his paycheck, and not the salary cap. Make no mistake, if the player and the team both believed he deserved an $8 million annual cap hit, he would have gotten it in Colorado. But O’Reilly isn’t worth that kind of money.
Mr. Chambers, I have missed your articles about the Avs and it seems as some games are being reported by The Associated Press. Can you explain to me, why the changes? If not I respect your professional privacy. Thank you.
— Don, Denver
I was on IR (upper-body) most of this season and, unfortunately, and we didn’t have enough staffing to cover the beat as we have in the past. Good thing is, I’m back and feeling 100 percent and very excited to get back to the daily routine.
I wish the Avs would display Plus/Minus of all players involved on a goal as well as goal scorer and assist.
With Conor Timmins coming on board soon and Cale Makar signing after the NCAA Frozen Four, does that make Tyson Berrie trade bait for a scoring forward?
— Steve Sertich, Centennial
Yes, Steve, there’s a very good chance Barrie is traded by the Feb. 25 deadline or this summer. Barrie, Timmins and Makar are right shot, puck-skating defensemen, and while you wouldn’t mind having two of them, three’s a crowd in this situation. Barrie’s $5.5 million cap hit through next season makes him the odd-man out. Timmins is on the mend and Makar is expected to sign his NHL entry-level contract as soon as his sophomore season ends at UMass. The Avs are very excited about Makar and Timmins so I believe a Barrie trade is inevitable.
When will the Avs dump head coach Jared Bednar? The slouch looks like a mannequin on the bench! With all the great coaches (with NHL experience) out there that other teams have got, how did we end up with this guy in the first place? I know sports, and while I’m not in the locker room, it sure looks like the guys are giving up. Even the last two games the all-star line went through the motions.
— Scott Pfund, Littleton
Joe Sakic told us Tuesday night Bednar’s not on the hot seat, that the problem is not coaching and the systems. So don’t expect a coaching change. But, indeed, part of the blame for this free-fall has to fall on Bednar and his staff. As for Bednar’s demeanor, you can take that two ways: 1. He’s very professional; 2. He not animated enough. Keep in mind that Sakic isn’t the firing type; he’s only hired two NHL coaches and the first one resigned. If this team doesn’t get back to winning by early next season, Bednar will be on the hot seat, but not until then.
Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers responds to questions in the Avs Mailbag every other week during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.