Mile High Sticking
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Colorado Avalanche: Alternate Patrick Roy Reality

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, CO - JULY 1: Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy gives an interview as director of hockey operations Joe Sakic speaks with the media in the foreground during a press conference to welcome Nathan MacKinnon, the number one overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft. MacKinnon, a native of Nova Scotia, addressed the media at the Pepsi Center. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 1: Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy gives an interview as director of hockey operations Joe Sakic speaks with the media in the foreground during a press conference to welcome Nathan MacKinnon, the number one overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft. MacKinnon, a native of Nova Scotia, addressed the media at the Pepsi Center. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 04: Montreal Canadiens Right Wing Alexander Radulov (47) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings on December 04, 2016, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Alexander Radulov

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Right wing Alexander Radulov was considered a major sticking point between Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy. Roy had coached him in the QMJHL and wanted the explosive forward for the Avalanche. Sakic didn’t want to throw a bunch of money at a player who’s been bouncing back and forth between the NHL and KHL.

Last year the Montreal Canadiens took a flyer on Radulov. They gave him a one-year “show me” contract worth $5.75 million. Radulov earned 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists).

To put that in perspective, that’s a higher point total than any of the Colorado Avalanche players — Nathan MacKinnon led the team with 53 points. Only one player, Mikko Rantanen, surpassed Radulov’s goal total, though Matt Duchene did match it.

Contract-wise, that’s less money than either Matt Duchene or Nathan MacKinnon makes. It is, in fact, Gabriel Landeskog money.

Radulov is a supremely skilled winger who could have been had for the price of the Avalanche’s actual acquisitions, Joe Colborne, Patrick Wiercioch, and Rene Bourque. They combined for 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists).

Plus, you have to think Radulov would have helped the top players to be better — in fact, his CorsiFor% was 58.5% last season. The best Colorado Avalanche player was Gabriel Landeskog at 52.8%.

Now, I know Alexander Radulov is a player for the win-now team, and the Avalanche are clearly in a rebuild. However, what did Colborne, Wiercioch or Bourque do to help the Avs rebuild? Would it really have been so bad to spend $5.75 of the Kroenkes’ money to have been a little better team last season?

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