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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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DENVER, CO – MARCH 09: Head coach Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche directs his team during the game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Pepsi Center on March 9, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Ducks 3-0. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Colorado Avalanche Record

In reality, the Colorado Avalanche had a 22-56-4 record in the 2016-17 season. They got just 48 points — 34 points fewer than they had in the 2015-16 season.

Now, one of the reasons pundits and fans claim the Avalanche dropped so quickly is because Roy left them in a lurch “right before” (in reality 6 weeks) the season started. If Roy had stayed, that reason is removed.

I personally think a large part of the reason is because the team took a 90-degree turn last offseason. Because they started going in a different direction, the pieces from the old mold held them back. Again, if Roy stayed and continued implementing his style, that reason is removed.

You could point out that the team was sliding under Roy already. The Avs went from 112 points to 90 to 82 in his three seasons. The first points drop is 22 with the second being just eight. Let’s average the two — 15 points.

If the Colorado Avalanche had dropped just 15 points instead of 34, that would have put them at  67 points — still not enough to make the playoffs, but a sight better than dead last by 21 points.

Maybe Roy’s team would have managed to meet their 2016 points, putting them at #23 in the NHL.  Still not in the playoffs, but significantly better than #30 by 21 points.

Let’s say the team ended up somewhere between 67 and 82. You know what two teams ended up in that range? The Dallas Stars (79) and New Jersey Devils (70). Let’s see, they didn’t make the playoffs, but something really good happened to them…

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