Avalanche 3rd Line Center: Who Will it Be?

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Once again the Colorado Avalanche is lousy with centers — right now the team has nine potential natural centermen on the roster. It’s a nice way to be lousy.

Now, three of them are already tagged for top-six roles, with Matt Duchene taking one of the lines, Carl Soderberg the other line with a side of Nathan MacKinnon. Head coach Patrick Roy has already indicated he’ll likely use Marc-Andre Cliche as a 13th forward. Freddie Hamilton hasn’t been signed yet, at the time of writing.

That still leaves four guys who could potentially be fighting for the third line center position, with the next-best candidates either skating on wing or serving as fourth liners.

John Mitchell

John Mitchell is set to center in the top-6 for the Colorado Avalanche. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Last year’s team: Colorado Avalanche
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 204 pounds
Age: 30

Stats:

GP	G	A	P	PIM	FO
68	11	15	26	32	50.9

John Mitchell spent the majority of last season as the Avalanche’s third line center, though he did spend a little time as Matt Duchene’s wing man.

Mitchell is a quintessential third line centerman. He’s as gritty as an energy player, but he offers more offensive upside. Though he finished with a faceoff percentage of “only” 50.9%, he spent most of the season nearer the 55% mark. He also led the team in face offs for a lot of the season.

Mitchell isn’t the biggest center of the bunch, but he’s not the smallest either. I predict he’ll keep his job as third line center, though he may play a little third line wing.

Here’s John Mitchell in action:

Mikhail Grigorenko

Sep 21, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko (25) waits for a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Last year’s team: Buffalo Sabres
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 209 pounds
Age: 21

Stats:

GP	G	A	P	PIM	FO
25	3	3	6	2	46.2

Mikhail Grigorenko is the wild card of this group. He has the potential to be even a top-six forward, but he’s still unproven. Grigorenko, by the way, is the biggest player on this list — youngest, too.

Mikhail Grigorenko is typically European — highly skilled. He has soft hands and an accurate shot. He’s especially well-known for threading his passes. He has so much potential to break out in scoring.

Unfortunately, thus far it’s just that — potential. Grigorenko’s development and career were mishandled by the Buffalo Sabres. The team never instilled him with any confidence. They also put him on some low-producing lines. As you can imagine, a low-producing line from the Buffalo Sabres is like an especially cold winter from Grigorenko’s native Russia.

I suspect Grigorenko will, indeed, play on the third line. I think he’ll start out as Mitchell’s winger but also earn himself a few faceoffs. If he gets good at faceoffs — much better than last season’s 46.2% — coach Roy may let him take over more of the centering duties. I think it’s Mitchell’s job to lose, though.

Mikhail Grigorenko in action:

Jesse Winchester

Sep 22, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Nate Thompson (44) and Colorado Avalanche center Jesse Winchester (18) face off during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Last year’s team: Colorado Avalanche
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 pounds
Age: 29

Stats (from 2103-14 season with Florida Panthers:

GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
52	9	9	18	38	48.5

Jesse Winchester suffered a concussion in a preseason game, and he stayed on injured reserve for the whole of last season. In fact, he’s still listed as being on injured reserve.

That’s really a pity. Jesse Winchester is a pretty solid player. He’s a hard worker who has decent two-way skills. He’s great on the penalty kill.

Winchester is pretty responsible with the puck, and he doesn’t mind shooting at the net. He’s not a real physical player, though — who can blame him with his concussion issues?

If Winchester is healthy enough to play next season, he’s almost certain to be the fourth line forward.

Jesse Winchester in action:

Joey Hishon

Sep 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Joey Hishon (38) is waved off the face-off against Calgary Flames center Joe Colborne (8) in the third period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Last year’s team: Colorado Avalanche/Lake Erie Monsters
Shoots: Left
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 170 pounds
Age: 23

Stats:

GP	G	A	P	PIM	FO
13	1	1	2	0	44.9

Joey Hishon has not officially made the team yet. In fact, the Colorado Avalanche just signed him to a one-year, two-way contract. Hishon is also the smallest player on this list, and the Avalanche have made no secrets about their intention to get bigger, especially down the middle.

You just can’t write off Joey Hishon, though. He’s just so speedy and so talented. If only concussions hadn’t hampered his development, he might be a regular on the roster already, though possibly bottom-six.

That said, Avalanche execs definitely see something in the kid — they signed him. This looks to be his tryout year. He’ll likely skate on the fourth line, maybe at center or maybe as a wing. It probably depends a lot on what’s going on with Winchester. Could be Hishon ends up centering energy players Cody McLeod and Patrick Bordeleau — in which case, he doesn’t have to worry about protecting himself, does he?

Joey Hishon’s first NHL goal:

What do you think, Avs Nation? How will the bottom six shape up for the Colorado Avalanche next season?

Next: John Mitchell: Avs Player Profile

Next: What Can Avs Fans Expect from Grigorenko?

Next: Hishon Must Make an Impression

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