Comments on: Avalanche Roundtable, Day 2

By: Jay Vean

Jay Vean — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:08:00 +0000

Good point there. I do remember Brett Clark beginning to be more and more aggressive last season on the PP before he got injured. I hope that trend continues this season. As has been stated so many times so far, our Avs need something more from the point on the PP this year. A healthy Leopold, Clark, and Liles may help. We will see…

By: Americanario

Americanario — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:16:55 +0000

I may not agree totally with Doc on the PP. Yes Granato was (supposedly) in charge last season, but then he was also in the previous two season when the PP was one of the best in the league. What was the difference? Was it Granato? the players? Quenville? Maybe losing Blake and his ability to quarterback the PP made a bigger difference than we thought; maybe. Maybe getting some guys like Salei, Leoprone, Clark (guys that will shoot the puck from the blue line) will make the difference. I remember Hensiiick’s streak last season when a large portion of his goals were deflections/tip ins/rebounds of Clark’s point shots. Something to think about?

By: InYoFace

InYoFace — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:51:11 +0000

You could be right Doc. We don’t have a large “sample” size on Budaj in the shootout so it could have been an aberration.

I’ve heard he had been good in the shootout at other levels too. Maybe its just part of the learning curve to the NHL.

By: thedoctor

thedoctor — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:32:06 +0000

yeah, we’ll see, as with all speculation here. poor guy will always be judged against Theo though, who — even when he was beyond awful otherwise — is and was the one of the best breakaway/shootout goalies I ever hope to see. He was nuts at that one thing, maybe even better than Roy at it.

but then Theo couldn’t stop a beach ball if someone tipped it off a point shot, so whatever.

By: David Driscoll-Carignan

David Driscoll-Carignan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:54:43 +0000

I personally don’t have a ton of faith, doc, but I’m keeping an open mind.

By: thedoctor

thedoctor — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:11:04 +0000

inyo, i think Budaj’s SO record is a statistical anomaly personally. the guy was lights out in the SO at all other levels, so I think he’ll be fine.

to our discussers, good points and good discussions. the power play is the scariest thing to me — Granato did the PP last year…do we really think it’s going to be fixed this year with him as head coach?

By: InYoFace

InYoFace — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:20:44 +0000

I’m a little amazed nobody said anything about the shootout. The one time when I was more confident in Theo than Budaj. Budaj’s record in the shootout is less than desirable and unless he has improved, we could see the Avs trying desperately to avoid the shootout in OT’s. (Which may not be a bad thing).

By: David Driscoll-Carignan

David Driscoll-Carignan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:25:42 +0000

thanks! I think that’ll allow me to officially send that one to semi-retirement

By: Shane

Shane — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:24:34 +0000

“massaging some great answers out of us.”

Well played!

By: David Driscoll-Carignan

David Driscoll-Carignan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:04:57 +0000

I am who I am