Colorado Avalanche: Winners And Losers Of 2014-15

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In a season like the one the Colorado Avalanche is having, there are usually not many winners. When the team that just recently won the Central Division — arguably the toughest division in the NHL — misses the playoffs, who is supposed to be the winner? The other teams for sure.

Loser: The Team

Nov 8, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy calls out from his bench in the first period against the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

This is an easy one. Everyone had high expectations in the team. For the most part, they were not fullfilled. Nobody really expected the Avalanche to repeat the success they had in the 2013-14 season. Critics even claimed that the entire season was pure luck, and the Avalanche could not possibly make the playoffs again this year. However, at least most fans believed that the team was good enough to reach the playoffs once again.

Well, it does look like they were right. Many forwards had outlandish shot-percentages last year, that simply could not be held up. So despite Semyon Varlamov remaining one of the top-goalies in the league, Colorado simply lost too many games.

The team has shown what they can do in the second half of the season, but especially the first half simply ruined it. Therefore, the whole team is one of our losers for this year.

Winner: Ryan O’Reilly

Ryan O’Reilly. How did he make this list? He is not the team’s best scorer, and his point total is lower than last year. He was and still is Colorados top trade-bait, as his contract is expiring in 2016, and another contract-dispute should be avoided. So what is it that makes him a winner this year?

It has to do with exactly those contract issues. O’Reilly is having a great season finale, playing on a line with captain Gabriel Landeskog and veteran Alex Tanguay. He now owns an eight-game point-streak, and finishes March with having scored in 12 of 13 games. He posted eight goals and 17 points during the month, and he now has 15 goals and 53 points over 76 games this season.

That finish has significantly increased his stock in Colorado, and probably among possible trade partners. If Sakic and Roy were planning to press his salary, their plan is probably not going to work out anymore. At least they have an argument to get a better return if they want to trade him now.

Loser: Nathan MacKinnon

Feb 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3) checks Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

I do believe that MacKinnon’s sophomore slump is not as bad as it is widely said to be. However, it is impossible to deny that his season was neither as good as last year’s nor as good as NHL fans had hoped it would be.

MacKinnon has done many things right this season. But too often he just looked lost in the offensive zone. His full-stops that he likes to do as soon as he crosses the blue line did not work at all. And that seemed to be his only move a lot of the time.

I am not worried about MacKinnon. He is still incredibly young (19) and has lots of time to improve. If he had not had a rookie-season like the one he did have, nobody would even call this season bad. But regarding the fact that he did have an outstanding season as a rookie, MacKinnon is one of the losers of this year.

Winner: Erik Johnson

Dec 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) during the game against the St. Louis Blues at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Erik Johnson is a winner — do I really need to elaborate that statement? Oh well.

Johnson showed that he can be relied on as one of the top-defencemen on the Avalanche-roster last season. One year later, it is clear that he is not “one of the top-defencemen”. He simply is the top-defenceman. Erik Johnson is the Avalanche’s number one. And he is a great one at that.

Even on a far below average defence that features guys like Nate Guenin, Nick Holden and Zach Redmond, Erik Johnson could give fans hope. When he is on the ice, the defence does not look that bad anymore — although it clearly is. And when he is not on the ice, he is missing. That is so very clear now and it makes EJ a winner in a bad season.

Loser: Reto Berra

Nov 20, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Reto Berra (20) during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Pepsi Center. The Capitals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Reto Berra did not get an easy job when he came to Colorado. As if being the backup was not hard enough, Berra had to try and fill out a legend’s footsteps. Jean-Sebastién Giguère retired and Reto Berra got to take his job. Unfortunately, he did not do it too well.

Berra’s GAA currently is 3.42 and he stopped 89 percent of his shots. Instead of making himself the Avalanche’s number one option for the backup goalie position for next season, Berra got out-played by prospect Calvin Pickard. He even had to play five games in Lake Erie. He scored a goal there, but that is not really what goalies are there for, is it?

Reto Berra did show flashes of NHL-ability. But that is not enough to play on the NHL-level. Therefore, Berra is clearly one of the losers of this season.

Winner: Tyson Barrie

Mar 30, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) shoots the puck during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Tyson Barrie is the second right-handed offensive defenceman behind Erik Johnson. Last season was arguably his breakout-season. This year, he has been able to prove that he can play top-level hockey in the NHL.

The 23-year-old is currently outscoring Nathan MacKinnon and his 49 points are only six behind the Avalanche’s top-scorers Jarome Iginla and Gabriel Landeskog. Furthermore, Barrie plays extremely well in the defensive zone. If everything goes as planned, he can be an important Avalanche player for years to come.

Barrie might not have gotten the same opportunity that he got in Colorado, had he played on a different team with a better defence. The Avalanche had to heavily rely on him — and that helped his game. Barrie is clearly a winner of the 2014-15 season.

Loser: Jarome Iginla

Mar 26, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla (12) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack (31) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

This one may be surprising. Did I not just mention Iginla as the team’s best scorer? Is Iginla not close to scoring 30 goals for the 13th time straight (no-lockout seasons)?

Well, yes. All that is true. But remembering why Iginla is here, it all becomes clear. Iginla played for a losing team in Calgary — but entering his late 30s, he really wants to win the Cup . So, he demands to be traded to Pittsburgh. The Penguins get kicked out of the playoffs by the Bruins. Where does the free agent play the year after? Oh right, Boston. But again, he gets knocked out of the playoffs — this time by the Rangers. However, Iginla decides to go back to the West this time around. After all, the Colorado Avalanche has just won the Central Division. They have lots of talent on their roster! Well, we all know how that went.

Iginla came to Colorado to win the Cup. Okay, the 16 million Dollars that he makes over the three years with Colorado may have been part of the decision. But Iginla is one of the greatest goal-scorers the NHL has ever had — and one of the greatest goal-scorers obviously wants to eat his cereal out of the Stanley Cup one day. Maybe one day, who knows. But not this year in Colorado.

Next: Avs Prospect Watch: Euro League

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