Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart (17) – Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Reason 3: The Defensive Core
The area that the Avalanche look the weakest on paper is the defensive core. The Avs have offensive dynamo Tyson Barrie doing his thing. He is excellent at getting the puck out of the defensive zone once he has it (a very under appreciated part of his game).
Barrie is still trying to learn how to maximize his effectiveness as a positional and physical defender, but he certainly holds his own for a guy his size.
Erik Johnson has been MIA for a while, but when he was in the line-up this year, he gave the Avalanche a bonafide number one. EJ was fantastic in all facets of the game (including his Twitter game), and I’m ecstatic to have him on this team.
The rest of the defense is underwhelming.
I think a lot of ink has been spilled on all of these guys, so I don’t even want to go into it too much. You know who they are, and you know what they’re all about. If not, feel free to browse the site, I’m sure you’ll find some articles I’ve written critiquing the D.
What I will talk about is how this team is structured. The Avalanche have some speedy forwards who like to get out in transition. This team is built to be offensive.
The Avalanche defense has several guys who are chip it up the boards type players. This can be an effective strategy, but it requires the forwards to be helping out. Clearing the zone is a team effort with guys like Brad Stuart and Nate Guenin on the ice.
The Avalanche defense has several guys who are chip it up the boards type players. This can be an effective strategy, but it requires the forwards to be helping out.
This can work, and the forwards for the Avalanche can do a better job at helping out their D and being accountable.
At times this season, there has been a bit of a discontinuity between the D and forwards, and that’s not always entirely on the D. The forwards have to do their part to help make the D look good.
On the other hand, I don’t think you maximize this team’s talents when your defenders are below average at transitioning the puck from defense to offense.
Guys like Redmond and Holden offer flashes of exciting play, but they are also plagued by inconsistency.
All in all, I think the Avalanche forwards spend too much time worrying about the D. There are too many immobile guys on the back-end that create doubt in the forwards minds, and there are too many shaky passers to truly let the forwards shine in transition.
Chris Bigras is knocking on the door for next season. I’ll be curious if he, or perhaps Duncan Siemens factor into the lineup next season. I also think the Avalanche should look to acquire a reliable defender to help shore up that depth in their top-4.
Do you think the Avalanche defensive core has been adequate this season?
Next: Reason FOUR