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Colorado Avalanche: Blueprint for the Rebuild

By Nadia Archuleta

Apr 6, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost (27) celebrates with the bench after his goal in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost (27) celebrates with the bench after his goal in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Colorado Avalanche
Dec 29, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) faces the Dallas Stars attack during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Needs in the Goalie Situation

The Colorado Avalanche need to keep both Semyon Varlamov and Calvin Pickard. That’s the only way they have anything resembling goalie depth. That’s also why they should expose Varlamov in the Expansion Draft — Las Vegas is unlikely to pick him when there will be better prospects for the price.

Colorado should probably also consider picking up a goalie in this year’s draft. There are some decent options. For North American goalies, Jake Oettinger, Keith Petruzzelli, Ian Scott, and Michael DiPietro show promise. On the European side, I like Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Olle Eriksson Ek.

If they’re feeling the goalie squeeze, the Avs could also pick one up in free agency. The goalie situation isn’t great, but if they’re just looking for a backup to the backup, they might consider a youngster like 25-year-old Jean-Francois Berube of the New York Islanders. If they need a legit backup, Mike Condon of the Ottawa Senators is available.

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