Dennis Everberg Sent to San Antonio
Feb 7, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche forward Dennis Everberg (45) skates with the puck in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dennis Everberg is a likable player who has earned a lot of love from Avs Nation. Naturally, news of his reassignment to the AHL San Antonio Rampage was met with consternation.
I’ve said more than once that he and Borna Rendulic were neck in neck for a roster spot last season, and it was Everberg’s goal in the LA Kings game that sealed the deal.
Rendulic eventually got his chance in the injury-plagued season, though he suffered a season-ending broken leg. Everberg also suffered significant injuries, including a shoulder injury that required surgery. He wasn’t even expected at camp.
The big difference maker this year was that Everberg got injured again. He was day-to-day for a few games with a hip injury. Rendulic also suffered an injury. But it was “just” a puck to the mouth that a face cage solved, leaving him free to showcase his talent and skill during the preseason.
I wasn’t at all surprised to hear Everberg got sent down. Indeed — I predicted it a couple weeks ago. After last season, Roy is sure to be a little gun-shy about injury-prone players.
I mentioned that to a fellow hockey fan, and the response was “You don’t make a decision based on whether a player might get injured. You play him until he gets injured.”
Well, Everberg probably isn’t 100% after shoulder surgery. And he did get injured again. The team is having some trouble with chemistry. Why put him into the lineup if you’re pretty sure he’s not 100% and might succumb to injury at any moment? That’ll be a disaster considering the open spot is on the third line with newbie Carl Soderberg and rookie Mikko Rantanen.
Besides, Patrick Roy runs a meritocracy. Everberg was unable to earn his spot on the team in the preseason.
The Word of Roy on Rendulic: “Borna had a good camp. I like his speed. He had a bad injury last year, then we feel that he deserves a chance to start. He played well enough to have his chance.”
Next: Mikhail Grigorenko