Colorado Avalanche Facing a Tough Central Division

The Central Division received some unprecedented shake-ups this year. From Patrick Roy’s departure to the Suban-Weber trade, this division will look different in 2016-17. Let’s take a look at the divisional foes the Colorado Avalanche will face in the coming season.

The 2016 NHL draft has come and gone. The NHL free agency has seen a few blockbuster trades and signings, all 30 teams have begun development camps with their prospects. We have seen the first few glimpses of how the league will look next year. Let’s take a spin around the Central Division to look at key additions and losses to see how the Colorado Avalanche will stack up against their divisional foes next year.

As you know, the six other teams the Avs must play in the division are the Blackhawks, Stars, Wild, Predators, Blues, and Jets. Of these teams, all but the Jets qualified for the playoffs last year, marking the third time in as many years that the Central Division was represented by five teams. This division continues to be the toughest to emerge from in any professional league, in any sport. The teams are so potent top to bottom that the Central Division winner is frequently considered a major contender for the Stanley Cup.

Remember that the Avs will play each team five times. This has to do with the odd number of teams in both the Pacific and Central divisions. Starting next year, one of these two divisions will also have the Las Vegas franchise to compete with, however most experts believe that the new team will end up in the Pacific Division.

As we go, we’ll look at some key losses to these teams as well as some of the potential replacements that could step into their voids. Finally, I’ll offer a little bit of analysis and we’ll take a look at the season series with the Avs this coming year.

Next: 'Hawks

Chicago Blackhawks

Key Losses- Andrew Ladd, Andrew Shaw, David Rundblad

Key Additions-Brian Campbell, Jordin Tootoo

Analysis: Heralded GM Stan Bowman has his work cut out for him in the next year. The Chicago Blackhawks may have won three of the last seven Stanley Cups but they have lost some serious talent and are strapped for cash when it comes to the salary cap. In addition to that, the Hawks have been shipping away draft pics and some of their most highly taughted prospects for “rental” players, leaving the farm system depleted and the ‘Hawks in a tight spot.

While it’s true that the Hawks have a long list of players who will be in the hockey Hall of Fame someday (including the two highest paid players in the league: Jonathan Toews and reigning Hart Trophy Winner Patrick Kane), the teams is full of aging veterans and potential weak spots. However, their HOF head coach (former Avs HC) Joel Quenelle, who happens to be the second winningest HC of all time (behind Stan’s father, Scotty), knows a thing or two about how to get the most out of marginal talent.

I see the ‘Hawks as a potential Wild Card team this year. Too many other Central Division teams have acquired young talent that is NHL ready. The League is a young man’s league right now, predicated on speed and aggressiveness, neither of which the Hawks have in abundance. It will take a minor miracle and one hell of a good coaching/managing job but I think the Hawks squeak in.

Season Series (A=away; H=home): 11/3-A, 12/23-A, 1/17-H, 3/19-A, 4/6-H

Next: Stars

Dallas Stars

Key Losses- Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers

Key Additions-Dan Hamhuis

Analysis: The Stars have an interesting mix of veteran talent and youth. Captain Jamie Benn is an Art Ross winner with the makings of a great leader. One thing the Stars lack is grit, especially on their blue line. In addition, their weakness in goal was well documented through out the year. Both Kari Letinen and Anti Niemi were both paid handsomely with super star money (in goalie terms), but neither has lived up to the hype. HOF coach Lindy Ruff has his hands full trying to repeat as Central Division champs. Not helping his cause is the departure of two reliable defensemen in Goligoski and Demers.

It’s clear that the Stars have waves of talent including Patrick Sharp, who has been a steadying force in the Stars locker room. The question is will the blue line hold up and will either Niemi or Letinen become the starter they were supposed to be. If so then the Stars have the fire power for another deep Cup run. If not, it will be a long and frustrating year for the Dallas faithful.

Season Series: 10/15-H, 11/17-A, 12/3-H, 12/29-A, 4/8-A

Next: They who shall not be named

Minnesota Wild

Key Losses- Tomas Vanek

Key Additions- Mark Stahl

Analysis: The Minnesota Wild rode Mike Yeo’s stale, “dead puck,” trap as far as it could go, beating up on teams that couldn’t carry the puck into the offensive zone (ehhhemm…looking at you Colorado Avalanche), and sneaking into the playoffs as a Wild Card for the last 4 years. But simply making the playoffs wasn’t enough for the folks in the “State Of Hockey,” and some of the players in the Wild began to tune out Yeo’s grinding, abrasive style. While temper tantrums and rants have worked in the past, Yeo went to that well too many times.

After firing Yeo midseason, the Wild went on a tare under interim head coach, John Torcetti. Torcetti got back to basics with the Wild, preaching a defense-first style that also turned loose some of the Wild’s sparse but able offensive talent. Enter Bruce Boudreau, fresh of another division title with the Anaheim Ducks AND another Game 7 loss. The Wild certainly have some talent on their roster. The problem is that aging vets like Ryan Suter and Zack Parise (who single handedly beat the Avs in game 1 last year) have shown some wear on their tires. Injuries sidelined both last year and questions about their durability have surfaced. Former Hurricane captain Mark Stahl suddenly fell off the map in New York last year. I don’t think that going to an offensively challenged team like the Wild will help that. I think that the Wild spot Boudreau a “rebuilding” year as the Wild offensive problems continue and they finish near the bottom of the division.

Season Series: 11/5-H, 11/19-A, 12/20-A, 4/2-A, 4/6-H

Next: Preds

St. Louis Blues

Key Losses-Troy Brauer, David Backes, Steve Ott, Brian Elliot

Key Additions-David Perron

Analysis: Heading into Ken Hitchcock’s “lame duck” season, the Blues look a lot less like the team that made it to the Western Conference Final last year and a lot more like a repeat of last year’s Minnesota Wild (complete with Mike Yeo action figure!…err…I mean assistant coach). St. Louis lost considerable toughness and grit in Brauer, Backes, and Ott. Perhaps this suggests that they are going to be moving toward a faster, up-tempo style of play, rather than the “beat the opposition to a pulp” style of play that has been their calling card.

Backes’ departure is of significance, as he was the team’s captain. NHL captaincies don’t just grow on trees and it is rare that NHL teams let their captains become FA’s, much less let them walk away for nothing. This suggests that the Blues may have been up against the salary cap. It also seems to validate the idea that the Blues are getting ready to clean house. With “Hitch” on his way out the door (following what would seem like a situation where he was left to flutter in the wind by the St. Louis front office), everyone is playing for their jobs and/or the right to stay. A lot depends on the health of Jake Allen. Brian Elliot’s departure to Calgary means no safety net in the net (pun intended). If Allen winds up hurt again, St. Louis could be singin’ the blues. If he’s healthy, this team competes for a WC spot, maybe even 3rd place in the division.

Season Series: 11/6-A, 3/5-H, 3/21-H, 3/31-H, 4/9 A

Next: Jets

Winnipeg Jets

Key Losses-Andrew Ladd

Key Additions-Patrick Laine (2016 Entry Draft), Shawn Matthias,

Analysis: Winnipeg was a better team than they finished last year. Analysts suggest that they generated a healthy number of scoring chances but failed to capitalize on them. After trading their captain away at the NHL trade deadline the Jets landed (again, pun intended) in some incredible luck. Despite finishing 11th in the Western Conference (7th in the division) and 25th in the league, Winnipeg drew the second overall pick in the 2016 Entry Draft and used it to select Finnish phenom Patrick Laine.

If you buy what the gurus are selling about Winnipeg, they may just be the team to beat next year in the Central Division. If they continue to develop their home grown talent, create scoring opportunities, and play the physical brand of hockey which has served them and Paul Maurice well, this team is going to be hard to beat, especially if they cut down on the penalties (only LA, Anaheim, and Arizona gave more penalty opportunities last year).

Season Series: 10/28-H, 11/11-H, 12/18-A, 2/4-H, 3/4-A

Next: Colorado Avalanche: Possible Changes with New Head Coach