Final Grade: D+
Midseason Grade: C
Season Stats: 17 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 Pt, +1, 26 shots
Minutes: 173 total (14th out of 18 F), EV 8:31, PP 1:36, PK 0:02, ATOI 10:09
Splits:
1st Half: 13 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 Pt, +1, 26 shots
2nd Half: 4 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pt, -2, 5 shots
Positions: LW (11 GP), C (6 GP)
Lines: 4th (9 GP), 3rd (8 GP)
Linemates:
C: Stastny (6 GP), Guite (3), Richardson (1), Arnason (1)
LW: Rycroft (2 GP), Richardson (2), Laaksonen (2)
RW: Svatos (6 GP), Rycroft (5), Laperriere (4), Klee (2)
Career: Over
Report: After fizzling out in the playoffs last year, I didn’t think Turgeon had anything left in the tank…However, after missing the first 27 games of the season with a rotator cuff injury, Turgeon seemed revitalized…He scored 7 points in his first 7 games, had good energy, and even played a little defense…And then reality stepped in…Put up a goose egg in the next 10…Was a healthy scratch for 12 out of 16 games before a face-saving “calf injury” put him on the shelf for the rest of the year…Convenient, eh?…Turgeon could be fun to watch, with the creative passing and the sneaky shots from behind the net…When his tank was on empty, though, it was really empty…His defensive game basically amounted to a poke check in the neutral zone or taking a hooking penalty.
Fast Fact: Turgeon is one of five #1 overall picks to play for the Quebec / Colorado franchise, along with Wendel Clark, Owen Nolan, Mats Sundin and Guy Lafleur. Four of those five guys were drafted in a 5-year period between 1985 and 1990.
2007-2007 Salary: $1,500,000
2007-2008 Status:
Outlook: Turgeon has long been one of my favorite players and I thought he might be able to revitalize his career a bit with the Avalanche. There were some flashes, but not enough. Turgeon is about two months younger than Joe Sakic, but looked about five years older on the ice. I expect him to retire this offseason.
Turgeon is about two months younger than Joe Sakic, but looked about five years older on the ice.
That’s a great quote there.
I hated Turgeon before he came here. I thought he was a Yashin type player and a petulant, if not cowardly one. I based all of this on playoff series against St. Louis and Dallas. In particular his cheap shot slash to the back of the knee of my favorite Avs player of all time, Adam Foote during the 2001 playoff run against St. Louis (I think that’s when it was). Then he got here and was great with the young guys, played on the boards, didn’t pout and was a pleasure to listen to in the media. I was wrong about him and it’s too bad his body couldn’t keep up.
Agreed…he is just too worn out. Poor guy
I must admit that I am sad to see Turgeon go. He, was as Dario says, great with the young guys and really showed that he could help the team out last season. This season though, despite that flash of 7 pts in 7 games, he just didn’t have it in him and I agree that we’ll see him retire.
Sad really, but that’s how things go.
I think Turgeon would be a great coach, if he decides to hang them up (and he should).
Maybe the Avs should try to sign him as an assistant with their new Cleveland franchise