Avalanche Defense: 5 Questions for the 2014-15 Season

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Colorado Avalanche defense — you might be shaking your head already. The Avalanche defense hasn’t been solid since Adam Foote hung up the skates — and it was already getting shaky outside of his defensive pairing.

There have been some bright spots over the years, especially in the form of offensive defenseman John Michael Liles. The current defensive corps is a hodge podge of elite players and work horses, though, heavy on the latter.

As head coach Patrick Roy points out, the Colorado Avalanche defense is very young still. There’s some veterans, but the core is young. The Avalanche also added two players to the mix who are supposed to take leading roles. That leads us to some significant questions about the Colorado Avalanche defense in the upcoming season — luckily not the dire ones we’re used to, though.

So, let’s explore the big questions facing the Colorado Avalanche d-men.

Next: Chemistry?

Mar 20, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman

Francois Beauchemin

(23) looks on against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

1. Will Erik Johnson and Francois Beauchemin have chemistry?

Colorado Avalanche cornerstone defenseman Erik Johnson has never had a proper defensive partner. For the last two seasons he’s been paired with Jan Hejda. Hejda is a good stay-at-home defenseman, but he’s hardly of Johnson’s caliber.

Last summer Avalanche execs traded for Brad Stuart. Stuart had once been a gifted defenseman, one who’d gone high in the draft (third overall) back in the day. He’d had a couple 10-goal and a few 20+ point seasons — and even a couple 30+ point seasons, but nothing too special in the last couple years.

And he didn’t find any chemistry with the fast-skating, gifted Johnson, so he got relegated to the third pairing. Hejda, who did have chemistry with Johnson, was back.

So, Beauchemin is a different breed of player. He’s been more consistent in points production, but he’s also known as more of a shut down style of defense. He played big minutes on a gritty team last season, the Anaheim Ducks, as he skated with Hampus Lindholm on the first defensive pairing.

Defensive pairings often come down to chemistry, though. On paper Beauchemin looks pretty good for Johnson, being a righty to EJ’s lefty and capable of big, gritty minutes. Will the two get into their groove, though?

Next: Dynamics?

Nov 28, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman

Nikita Zadorov

(51) during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

2. What will the dynamic be with Tyson Barrie and Nikita Zadorov?

Fun fact — Tyson Barrie is the smallest regular on the team at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. Nikita Zadorov is the biggest projected regular at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. Talk about Mutt and Jeff.

The two players also have radically different playing styles. Barrie likes to rove around and pinch into the play. Zadorov likes to rove around and hit people. They’re also very young, 24 and 20 respectively.

This is going to be a very interesting dynamic to watch if the two stay paired together as is projected. Both have a tendency to get out of position. However, both are able to speed into position, Barrie with his fast skating and Zadorov by virtue of his long legs.

I kind of foresee Zadorov as taking on a protector role, especially for Barrie. Tyson Barrie is a speedy little scorer, but he gets victimized by some of the grittier players in the NHL. I could see Zadorov using his proclivity for hitting to open up some space for Barrie.

Or it could be a complete disaster with both players roving around and leaving the Avalanche zone open to yet more attack. Like I said — it’s a big question going into next season.

Next: Career Season?

Dec 13, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) reacts to his goal in the second period against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

3. Will Erik Johnson have a career year?

Erik Johnson is due for his breakout season.

If you don’t know the story by now, here’s the abbreviated verson: Johnson went first overall in the 2006 NHL draft. After a decent rookie season he missed his second season with a knee injury. His career was up and down for years, including several international appearances, an Olympic silver medal, a blockbuster trade (to Colorado), and a career that seemed to be going bust.

He matched his career numbers under Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy’s tutelage in the 2013-14 dream season and was on pace to bust those statistics wide open last season despite the rest of the team’s doldrums. Then knee surgery ended his season just as he was slated to be the Avalanche’s only representative to the All Star Weekend.

Here’s EJ’s season in Iron Maiden songs.

So, will the Colorado Avalanche’s top defenseman finally get the career season he deserves? Obviously we hope so since that only bodes well for the Avs.

Next: 50 ?

Feb 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) skates against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Barrie scores the game tying goal. The Avalanche defeat the Stars 3-2 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

4. Will Tyson Barrie have another 50+ point season?

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