Avalanche Sakic and Roy Presser: What Does it Mean?
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:
LHD: Left handed Defenseman #Avs https://t.co/zy6ZP8iUhY
— Denver (@ESPN_Denver) June 18, 2015
What does it mean?
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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.