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Avalanche Sakic and Roy Presser: What Does it Mean?

By Nadia Archuleta |
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Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy held a press conference call at 11 am MDT. Avs Nation found out about it at about 10:30 am, but that’s a different story.

In any case, the biggest topics of conversation were about the extension of center Ryan O’Reilly’s contract, the upcoming draft and Avalanche free agency. Newsflash — there aren’t any newsflashes forthcoming. However, let’s look at what Sakic and Roy had to say and do our best Avs Whisperer impression to suss it all out.

Ryan O’Reilly Contract

Back in April GM Joe Sakic talked about the Colorado Avalanche’s intentions for Ryan O’Reilly:

“We like Ryan a lot; he’s very valuable, he’s one of our core guys. He doesn’t need it, we don’t need it, no one needs the distractions of him going through the season [as a pending unrestricted free agent], so we’re going to try to get [an extension] done.”

Sakic said in today’s press conference that the team is in negotiations with Ryan O’Reilly’s agent. However, his latest on the situation is “I’d like to have him signed by the start of the season, hopefully.” The team is apparently focusing more on the upcoming draft.

What does it mean?

Never play poker with Joe Sakic. He has a poker face that would make The Gambler tremble. He wants to keep his options 100% open. He and Avs management — including Patrick Roy who, as VP of player personnel has final say on roster decisions — want to keep Ryan OReilly in the lineup, but they’re not going to keep him as a pending unrestricted free agent.

The Avs say they are putting that on the back burner until after the draft. I can guarantee they are not only listening to interesting offers, they are keeping O’Reilly’s agent on speed dial.

Sakic admitted the team knows where O’Reilly’s camp is — read: he wants mo’ money. (My hope is that they don’t cave in — what’s right is right, what’s fair is fair, and O’Reilly shouldn’t be paid more than better, more valuable players.) He probably already has a good idea if the team is going to be able to “get it done.” If it hasn’t happened yet… it probably means he’s hoping to sweeten the pot by promoting O’Reilly’s value.

2015 NHL Draft

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the complete draft board after the completion of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

During the season the Colorado Avalanche let the team’s amateur scout, Rick Pracey, go. One of the reason’s that coach Roy gave was that Pracey “had no vision.” Pracey kep suggesting the Avs draft the same type of player over and over — small, speedy, offensively gifted. As such, Colorado is now hurting in the depth charts.

Coach Roy made it sound as if the Avs would draft for need over best player available in the 2015 NHL Draft. However, that may have just been my read because the Avs said during the presser that they’re going to select “the best player available” with their #10 pick. Sakic about the draft:

Right wing Timo Meier is currently scouted in the #10 position for North American skaters. It might be worth noting that’s also the player whom the Avalanche website did a prospect report on first.

What does it mean?  

I’ve been saying I thought the Avalanche would select a forward first round even though most people perceive the team as needing more help on defense. I’ve also been looking at sizable players because coach Roy has said he likes the idea of selecting 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 centers.

Patrick Roy may show me not to be as great an Avs Whisperer as I thought if the team selects defenseman Ivan Provorov or Zachary Werensky or smallish forward Mitchell Marner. All three players are scouted above the #10 selection so could potentially be the “best player available” when the Avs’ pick comes up. If that’s the case, the Avalanche may be selecting big forwards with their second round pick. I had them choosing a defenseman. I’m more curious than ever now about the 2015 NHL Draft.

Free Agency

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) – Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Gospel according to Roy is that the Avalanche intend to build up from the draft. This is the conventional way to build a team in the salary cap area. During the press conference, coach Roy stated that acquiring an “LHD” is for the top-four is the utmost priority.

By the way, in case you’re wondering:


What does it mean?

More from Avalanche News

Many sports fans think coach Roy is back-pedaling. Actually, as someone who has a regular column called “Gospel According to Roy,” I can say he is not. Patrick Roy stated that the one area in which the team was considering free agency was in a top defenseman specifically to partner cornerstone Erik Johnson. It was an off-hand comment that Roy made at the end of the season, but he’s said all along it’s a priority.

Indeed, last summer’s signing of defenseman Brad Stuart was ostensibly as a partner for Johnson.

Concerning the “LHD” thing, both Erik Johnson and offensive defenseman Tyson Barrie are right-handed shots. Conventional hockey wisdom states that righties pair better with lefties as defensive partners.

The Avalanche did admit that they weren’t closing any doors concerning their own unrestricted free agents. I think that means that, if the Avalanche can’t sign a suitable unrestricted free agent from another team, they’ll bring back Jan Hejda for one more year. He’s proven himself a good partner for Johnson.

Other Tidbits

The Avalanche have been re-organizing the front offices in the off-season. As of right now, the assistant coach position is open. Coach Roy stated:

“I just want to take my time and make sure that I hire the right person.”

I’ve said it before — coach Roy gets what coach Roy wants.

Joe Sakic also stated the Avs would be utilizing advanced stats. I’m sure they have been all along. Maybe Patrick Roy isn’t overly interested in them, but that doesn’t mean the team doesn’t use them.

Next: Saying Goodbye to the 2014-15 Season

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