Avalanche NHL Draft: Colorado Missed Out in 2003

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Corey Perry, #28

Mar 1, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) scores a goal over Dallas Stars goalie

Jhonas Enroth

(1) in the first period at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry is an instigator, the kind of guy you love to hate. However, that’s far from his biggest role on the team. He’s a force on the ice, a clutch player, as evidenced by his eight goals and eight assists in this year’s playoffs.

Perry is a big winger at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds. And he uses his size to advantage. However, he’s also a pure goal scorer. And he can hold onto that puck while he drives into the zone like no one’s business.

No question what he would have brought to the Avalanche if they had selected him in 2003. He’s had seven 20+ goal seasons, five 30+ goal seasons, two 40+ goal seasons and a 50-goal season (2010-11). Except for the lockout year, he’s had all 50+ point seasons since 2007-2008.

Plus, think how annoying it would be for opponents to have Corey Perry and Cody McLeod on the same team.

Patrice Bergeron, #45

Apr 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goalie

James Reimer

(34) during a shootout in the Boston Bruins 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins captain, Patrice Bergeron, is a real two-way center. This is a player who is comfortable in all three zones on the ice. He’s won the Frank J. Selke Trophy twice (2012, 2014) as a defensive forward. He can score, though — seven 50+ point seasons, including two 70+ point seasons. Bergeron has also had two 30+ goal seasons.

Even though he’s a might light for a 6-foot-2 player at 194 pounds, Bergeron drives to the net with conviction. He can create offense, he can push opponents off the puck — he’s a leader both on and off the ice.

Bergeron would have been a big upgrade on center Paul Stastny (drafted two years later). He would have helped the Avalanche with puck possession a lot earlier on. Imagine if he’d spent time with Peter Forsberg on his line or learning from Joe Sakic.

Bergeron is a pretty clutch player, too:

Shea Weber, #49

Jan 10, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber (6) fights Minnesota Wild forward

Matt Cooke

(24) at Xcel Energy Center. The Predators defeated the Wild 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The big, mean goal-scoring machine of a Nashville Predators captain, Shea Weber, didn’t go until midway through the second round. This is a defenseman who’s had two 20+ goal season and came close one other season. He’s also had two 50+ point seasons, including this season.

Weber is a big boy at 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, and he uses that weight to make his presence known on the ice. A natural born leader, he even fought our natural born leader, Gabriel Landeskog, in defense of one of his players this year. He’s got a bomb of a shot.

Imagine if defenseman Erik Johnson had come onto the team with Weber already in place. Or if John Michael Liles had been able to play a few years with Weber. Imagine big, bad Shea protecting Matt Duchene. He could have been a real force for the team.

Shea Weber’s powerful slap shot:

David Backes, #62

Apr 22, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; St. Louis Blues forward David Backes (42) hits Minnesota Wild forward

Zach Parise

(11) during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. The Blues defeated the Wild 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Now, here in Avs Nation, we don’t like David Backes. He’s another big, mean player, and he likes to pick on our skill guys. However, imagine if, like Corey Perry, this infuriating player were an Avalanche — he’s be a force for good instead of evil.

Backes is another two-way center, a big power forward at 6-foot-3, 221 pounds. He always knows where the net is, and he’s not afraid to grind his way toward it.

Colorado actually missed out on Backes by one — they chose right after Backes got selected by the St. Louis Blues. However, imagine if he could have been a mentor for Landeskog — or at the very least picking on other teams’ skill guys.

David Backes wrecking havoc:

Plus, Backes is about as big an animal lover as Erik Johnson.

Trade-Off

Oct 25, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) takes a shot on goal in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The premise of this post is that the Colorado Avalanche hadn’t traded away their first-round draft pick for 2003. Either they would have had to give up something else for Rob Blake or give up having Rob Blake. (Naturally, the front offices couldn’t know in 2001 how talented the 2003 draft would be.) And Blake was part of that team that brought the Stanley Cup to Colorado for the second time.

However, even if the Avs could’ve kept both Rob Blake and their first round draft pick, selecting one of the above players may have had ramifications down the road. Just as those players were gaining steam is when the Avs took a nose dive. Imagine if having Perry, Bergeron, Weber or Backes on the team would have kept them just enough above water the Avalanche NHL draft in 2009 would not have been pick #3. No Matt Duchene.

That’s a scary prospect. I certainly wouldn’t put any one of those players over Duchene in terms of importance for the Avalanche.

Still… if only…

Next: Should the Avs Trade Up in the 2015 Draft?

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