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Colorado Avalanche: 5 Players Must Step Up in Johnson’s Absence

By Nadia Archuleta

Nov 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) controls the puck in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) controls the puck in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) in the first period at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Tyson Barrie

Tyson Barrie, unlike Zadorov and Gelinas, is a completely different type of player than Erik Johnson. EJ is a big, speedy two-way defenseman, while Barrie is a small rover. Defense is the first thing to go in Tyson’s game, and he can get overwhelmed physically.

Right now Barrie is third on the team for scoring. That’s how it should be. However, it’s the points that allow him to be third that’s troubling for the Colorado Avalanche — just 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) in 23 games. As I observed earlier, Nick Holden is doing better (3 goals, 9 assists).

Barrie can’t control what Holden is doing. However, he’s disappeared a lot during games this season. That’s not cool for a 25-year-old making $5 million in just his fourth full season in the NHL.

Barrie is going to have to become that offensive wiz that earned him that lucrative contract — and had the Edmonton Oilers drooling at the prospect of trading for him.

What’s more, with EJ gone, Barrie must show more discipline in his defensive game. He’s no Erik Karlsson on offense, so he’s simply going to have to employ the positioning and stick work he’s capable of to actually defend.

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