Denver Post sports writer Mike Chambers responds to questions in the Avs Mailbag periodically during the regular season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.
Mike, I really appreciate your very direct assessment and question to coach Jared Bednar regarding Hunter Miska’s subpar performance against the Ducks (on March 16). It’s true that he was, at times, underserved by the defense but, you’re correct in implying that Miska hasn’t yet shown the ability (e.g. anticipation, quickness, agility and confidence) to be the second goalie for a top-flight NHL team. What are the best options going forward to back up Philipp Grubauer?
— Christopher, Berthoud
Thank you, Christopher. I hope Miska improves and gets another chance. As for Grubauer’s backup, I think that might change before Monday. The Avs need a better, more veteran option than Jonas Johansson. I suspect they will acquire a guy like Ryan Miller of the Ducks.
Any chance of Altitude TV ever getting back on Comcast? If not, any chance the whole station will be sold to a viable media entity such as NBC’S regional network? This is just unreal.
— Bob, Boulder
Yes, Bob, it is unreal. If you owned a professional sports franchise like the Avalanche, developing your fan base from television would be among the top priorities. Pretty basic concept, but this ownership appears unwilling to pay the going rate to get the Avs on Comcast and Dish Network. One would hope sacrifices would be made to serve the fans who support your team. Or, as you mentioned, get out of the TV business entirely.
Mike, last summer after the Stanley Cup playoffs I wrote the mailbag and said I thought since the Avs were stacked at the blue line, they should trade a defenseman for a much more physical forward. I singled out Sam Girard as the one player who should be traded. I was wrong. I think Girard has been the Avs’ best overall defenseman so far this season but I still think they need more toughness. As of this writing, the Avs are dead last in the NHL in hits per game. Your thoughts? Also, now that many of the teams are letting a limited number of fans back into the arenas, why do the TV and radio guys still have to broadcast road games from the studio in Centennial? Is this a league mandate? KSE rule? Home team requirement?
— Dan Rish, Albuquerque, NM
Thanks for the questions, Dan. Regarding the first one, the identity of this team is speed and skill. The Avs lack some toughness with all the regulars healthy but they have now identified some guys who can come in and play heavy (Liam O’Brien, Dan Renouf, etc.).
As for Girard, he has been an awesome puck possession/mover and a key component to how this team likes to play. Did you see how he sprung Nathan MacKinnon for the breakaway goal in Monday’s 5-4 win at Minnesota? Girard isn’t going anywhere. He and Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Bo Byram underline the identity of how every team wants their defensemen to play. Colorado is rich in that area and, although it sacrifices some size and toughness, this team believes it is still tough enough.
As for the TV and radio guys, I know the Avs’ radio guy calls home games from the Ball Arena press box. I do not know if he travels. Some teams send their TV guys on the road, others don’t. I know the TV/radio staff is not allowed on the team planes throughout the league, but I think it’s otherwise up to the teams and their broadcast partners where they call the games.
I have a question about the new NHL/ESPN deal starting next year. Do you have any insight on if there will be a chance to see more Avs games on TV (or another platform) with this deal? According to the ESPN explanation, there is “out of market” access to NHL games through ESPN+. I am not certain what that means, but on the surface it sounds like this deal would supersede local TV broadcasts and can be a loophole to watch the games. Given the Comcast/Altitude purgatory with no end in sight, I am hopeful that the access to more Avs games is possible without being a national TV game.
— Douglas, Denver
I don’t think I can help you much, Douglas, because it all seems fuzzy to me. We will probably have to wait and see if the new deal gives you additional platforms outside of Altitude. I fear exclusive rights in this region will always play a factor, thus Avs fans on the East Coast could have more access to ESPN platforms than the folks in Colorado.
Congrats to Brett Clark on the job with the Eagles. Do we know why Ryan Tobler resigned?
— Rob, Morrison
I heard Mr. Tobler just wanted to do something different. He had been with the Eagles for a long time as a player and coach. His number is retired in Loveland, so he’ll always be part of the club.
Bednar keeps saying Pavel Francouz and Erik Johnson are out long term, but the better question is are either expected back at all this season?
— Chris, Littleton
We know goalie Pavel Francouz sustained a significant lower-body injury at the start of the season, hasn’t played since and there has been no indication of his imminent return. There is a slight chance he could be exempt from being exposed to the expansion draft because of it.
All evidence points to defenseman Erik Johnson suffering a head injury in January at Minnesota and his status is up in the air. There is also a slight chance he could be exempt from the expansion draft if doctors say he is unable to train in the offseason or play next season. But understand these injuries have not been confirmed by the team, and becoming exempt from the expansion draft is geared toward veteran players under contract who state that they will not play next season.
With the regular season back-to-back games and the three- to four-game “series” on the schedule, does this tend to favor offense or goaltending? In other words, is there an advantage that a goalie has by seeing the same offense night after night? Or, do the offenses have the upper hand on successive nights by being able to recognize a goalie’s patterns? What is the thinking on when to give Grubauer a night off? Is it strictly timing and schedule or does more go into the decision around giving teams a different look than the night before by playing Miska or hopefully Francouz?
And, can you explain why the team is viewed as singular in print rather than plural? Have I been saying it wrong? The “Avalanche are playing” instead of the “Avalanche is playing?” Grammar is not my strength, but I just don’t like using singular conjugation for team verbs. The Broncos are not good, the Rockies are terrible, but the Avalanche is really good just does not sound right to me.
Thanks and go Avs.
— William, Aurora
Great questions, William. Ever since Francouz was injured two games into the season (from practice or an off-ice incident because he didn’t play in a game), I believe the only time Grubauer has been given a night off was to begin or end a consecutive-night stretch. If Francouz was available that wouldn’t be the case and Grubauer would get more nights off. Goaltending decisions from coaches aren’t made by scouting patterns, in terms of style. But, sure, if a goalie has a hot streak against a certain team, that could play into it.
As for the Avalanche, it is singular from our stylebook, but plural to some other media. I don’t like writing “the Avalanche played its best game of the season … and the Avs are rolling,” but that’s our style. The Avs are plural. The Avalanche is a team, singular. I wish this team’s first-reference name ended in an “s” but … hope that helps.
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.