NHL Playoffs 2017: Former Avalanche Players Getting Scratched

Former Colorado Avalanche players, Cody McLeod and PA Parenteau, have been scratched for both playoff games the Nashville Predators have played.

The Colorado Avalanche are not in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. And neither are a couple of former Avalanche players who are on the roster of a playoff team.

Specifically, former alternate captain Cody McLeod and forward PA Parenteau are both on the Nashville Predators, who are playing the Central Division champion Chicago Blackhawks. The Predators have played two games, but neither McLeod nor Parenteau suited up for either game. In other words, they’ve had as much playoff action as, say, Matt Duchene this year.

PA Parenteau

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It’s been a while since PA Parenteau was an Avalanche player — to be honest, I didn’t even quite realize that he was on the Nashville Predators. Rather I was looking to see how old Double Nickels was doing in the playoffs. I saw he was scratched — and so was Parenteau.

Parenteau signed with Colorado as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2012. He played two seasons with the Avalanche, earning his best point-per-game numbers the first season, 43 points in the lockout-shortened 48-game season. Parenteau was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Daniel Briere the summer of 2014.

Parenteau made his way to the Nashville Predators by way of the New Jersey Devils, who claimed him off waivers on October 10, 2016. They traded Parenteau at the deadline for a sixth-round draft pick. Parenteau played eight games for the Preds, missing 11 games with a finger injury. He’s healthy again, but scratched.

Cody McLeod

Cody McLeod is the Colorado Avalanche player most recently on our roster. Up until his January 13, 2017, trade, he had played his entire NHL career with the Avs. He served as alternate captain from 2012- 2016, when he was stripped of his letter. He saw his playing time seriously reduced, so the trade came as no surprise.

The Highlander, as he was affectionately called here in Avs Nation, played his first-ever game as a Nashville Predator against the Colorado Avalanche. He accounted himself for the Preds the same way he always did with the Avs — with fists of fury. He and the always-classy Jarome Iginla dropped the gloves so McLeod could showcase his new loyalty:

In case you’re wondering, that was the first of 11 fights Cody McLeod participated in as a Predator. He had a total of 19 fights on the season. That’s Cody doing Cody.

There’s no statement as to why he was scratched for both games against the Chicago Blackhawks. I’m going to guess it’s because the Hawks are known as a skill team, so McLeod’s grit might not be needed.

A Note About the Chicago Blackhawks

The Nashville Predators — with Pekka Rinne in net — have shut out the Chicago Blackhawks twice. The Blackhawks have not managed to score a single goal in the 2017 NHL Playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche have as many goals as the Blackhawks in the 2017 playoffs.

To that I have an utterly mature reaction:

Now, the Chicago Blackhawks are a playoff machine. Indeed, I have them going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in my bracket. However, a part of me delights in seeing the mighty Blackhawks brought down a notch or three.

Next: 3 Post Season Tasks for Joe Sakic

The Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks face off again Monday, April 17, 7:30 pm MT. I’m sure the Blackhawks will score. They will probably even win the game. However, as of right now, Hawks fans have a small taste of the pain we Colorado Avalanche fans felt all season.

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