Colorado Avalanche Fans Wait in Limbo For Decisions to Be Made

There are big decisions on the horizon for the Colorado Avalanche and they should be made soon, ’til then — limbo.

Joe Sakic’s career as GM for the Colorado Avalanche will be forever marked by the decisions he makes this summer. In fact, he’ll mostly be judged by the decisions he makes this week.

After the dismal season the Avalanche just had, the pressure is on Joe Sakic to deliver some semblance of hope. When you’re team struggles to post 20 wins after starting the season 9-9, then you know something went seriously wrong.

Unfortunately, something is going to have to go seriously right for them to even return to the normal point total for basement dwellers. Even the Vancouver Canucks — who finished the season on an 8 game losing streak and with just 30 wins — had 21 more points than the Avalanche.

So, it’s safe to say that this month will be the most important month of Joe Sakic’s relatively young career as GM.

He will be depended upon to make smart decisions with the upcoming expansion draft. Whether that’s finding a way to deal Matt Duchene before the expansion draft, or buying out Francois Beauchemin, is yet to be determined. It has to be one or the other though if he wants to protect both Sven Andrighetto and Mikhail Grigorenko.

He will also be counted on to make a smart draft pick with No. 4 overall. Sure, it was rotten luck to end up that low in the draft, but now it’s his duty to do something with the misfortune. And, draft floor trades should also be key in his decision making this week-ish.

He also has to sign new assistant coaches.

Point is, his plate is full.

With Decisions Looming Fans Can Only Wait and Anticipate

Right now, it’s pretty brutal being an Avalanche fan.

We’re on the cusp of changes that will alter the face of this franchise drastically. The team was just robbed of all three of the top lottery picks. There’s no clear direction that the team has committed to in the expansion draft. There is no way we’re going to bring in some big name free agent with the current state the franchise is in. Finally, next season doesn’t look bright either.

Can you say, Rasmus Dahlin for the 2018 draft?

What makes it even worse is the anticipation of it all. We know the changes are coming, but at this point they couldn’t come soon enough. It’s quite possible that by this time next week we’ll be looking at a roster without Calvin Pickard and Matt Duchene and with some shiny new defenseman.

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Even if that doesn’t happen, you can bet something will happen on the draft floor. Joe Sakic has promised a lot of turnover in Colorado this summer; so far, he hasn’t delivered. However — aside from the time leading up to the expansion draft — the entry draft I s also the best time to make trades.

My money is on something happening sooner, especially if the Avs truly do not intend on buying out Francois Beauchemin. Regardless, Sakic better make some significant changes this summer or else fans are going to come calling, and I’ll be one of them.

The point is, all we can do is wait and see.

Conclusion

While I still think that making the playoffs during the 2017-18 season is a possibility, it is starting to look like a long shot.

For example, the Avalanche would probably have to double their point total from the 2016-17 campaign to just get a shot at the wildcard! That’s ridiculous, and that kind of turnaround does not happen. Nonetheless, if Joe Sakic makes the right changes and the Avs young guns take a big step in development, it’s not impossible.

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However, it will start with the team getting Francois Beauchemin off the roster, and end with them hiring the right assistant coaches. The Matt Duchene trade for a top-tier defenseman on the rise should also help.

I truly believe that the Avalanche will be more competitive in the upcoming campaign. How competitive they end up being is going to depend on the moves Joe Sakic makes from this point until the end of the month.

Until those moves are made, all we can do is wait — limbo.

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