Colorado Avalanche: The World Cup of Hockey

Dog days. Dog days… have taken hold, and it’s a vice grip on everything related to the Colorado Avalanche, but at least there’s the World Cup of Hockey to look forward to.

This is the time of year where I begin to lose hope that hockey will ever return. I’m also nursing a headache caused by too many, just too many.

And, I want to eat something else aside from Chinese food (my last days in China are dwindling), so I guess that’s why I’m trying to look forward to anything that will take me from the lack of Colorado Avalanche hockey.

Normally September would be pretty drab with the exception of training camp and preseason games.

I’m still not sure how that’s going to work with the World Cup of Hockey, so perhaps one of you esteemed fans could fill me in on that info in the comment section (I couldn’t find much online).

I know that the preseason takes place from September 27 to October 8, and that the World Cup ends on October 1, so players in the world cup just join their teams at the conclusion if they make it that far?

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But what about training camp check in for physicals? Or the chemistry lost when players can’t form it during camp and the preseason games?

And, what about the Burgundy and Blue game? Will I not get to see some of my favorite players because they’re good enough to be playing in the World Cup?

But it’s ok, Colorado Avalanche fans and hockey fans get to watch the spectacle of a round robin style tournament — with elimination rounds later on — in which six Avalanche players will be featured (previously 7, but Mikkel Boedker took a hike).

That’s much better than preseason games and training camp, especially considering the fact that we can have both. I like eating my cake too.

Just in case you need a refresher on who will be playing for the Colorado Avalanche, the list is as follows:

USA — Erik Johnson

Canada — Matt Duchene

Russia — Semyon Varlamov

Sweden — Carl Soderberg and Gabe Landeskog

Team North America — Nathan MacKinnon

Team North America is comprised of players born in North America that will be 23 years old or younger on October 1, 2016.

There’s really nothing else to look forward to concerning the Colorado Avalanche aside from Tyson Barrie’s arbitration hearing, which is scheduled for July 29.

After a decision is made about our newest saga with Newport Sports Management, the dog days of August will truly be upon us, and it’s a suffocating existence.

Aside from some huge trade that the Colorado Avalanche find themselves in — unlikely — there really is nothing to look forward to.

So at least there will be some “meaningful” hockey played in September, along with the normal preseason games.

We’ll also see the people we need to see in training camp — the ones that are fighting for a roster spot, or the ones that needed to improve markedly over the summer (Mikhail Grigorenko).

Furthermore, there’s a chance that players could come into the season more prepared to win and fight for points because of a fun and competitive experience like the World Cup of Hockey.

Next: Praise Be to Fancy Stats

Anyone have any predictions on who is going take gold? My darkhorse is Team North America because there’s a lot of talent on that roster, yeah that’s actually just who I’m going to pick win it.

Thanks for stopping by.