Colorado Avalanche: Who are the Team Three Musketeers?

For fun, let’s look at some of the Colorado Avalanche youngsters who would take the place of characters in the novel (and movie) The Three Musketeers.

The Colorado Avalanche have a plethora of young players. In fact, for the last five years or so, it feels like you could say that every season. As the team moves forward with their youth movement, though, it’s certainly truer now than ever.

When you have a young team like the Avalanche, it’s fun to watch the players grow into their team roles and even relationships. You’re basically watching them become adults.

I like to watch them develop their kinships. We’ve seen in through the years with Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny, Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie, and more recently with Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher.

Sometimes players also present themselves in less… traditional formats. For example, a while back the Avalanche had the Three Amigos, which were Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie.

Yesterday, as I was watching the informal Colorado Avalanche August camp, I decided our first-rounder from this season, Martin Kaut, resembled a Three Musketeer. I think it was his beard and smile. Anyway, it gave me the idea for a funny little post while we wait for the season proper to begin.

Let’s start by reminding ourselves of who the Three Musketeers were.

The Three Musketeers

The story dates back to the 19th century, though it’s set in the 17th century. It’s about a young man named Charles d’Artagnan who travels to Paris to join the Musketeers of Guard. There are three Musketeers of note.

One is Athos, who is a count who’s still mooning around about his failed marriage. He eventually becomes a father figure to d’Artagnan. Aramis is a washout monk who favors the ladies. Porthos is a “dandy,” a charismatic character with superb athletic ability.

The novel is by French author Alexandre Dumas. I’d say I know the story from reading the English translation, but truthfully I know it “properly” from this 1990s blockbuster:

It was pretty cool back in the day.

So, let’s look at Avs who could comprise the Three Musketeers.

Porthos — Martin Kaut

Porthos is known for being a charming, honest extrovert who is still looking to make his way in the world.

Our first rounder from this summer, Martin Kaut, was the inspiration for this post. While he’s not the vacuous muscle man that Porthos eventually becomes, he certainly is a charming extrovert. In his first interview as a Colorado Avalanche draftee, he reportedly chuckled and asked that the reporters not ask him any hard questions because he doesn’t speak English well.

He’s certainly charmed the hell out of BSN Avalanche. And I can personally attest to the sparkle in his eye. He is extroverted. And, as a prosepct this season, he’s definitely looking to make his way on the team.

The second Musketeer was suggested to me by MHS contributor Callie Agnew.

Aramis — Sam Girard

Aramis is known for being a quiet schemer with a bit of a flair for the carnal. He is intelligent and studious, but the physical world calls him.

As I like to say, our little Samuel Girard is so tiny and so unemotional. He is a master chess player with his little body and gigantic skill level. As far as the… physical world. Our Sammy crashed a car and got a sleeve tattoo this summer. Our little defenseman is not so innocent.

Barring some craziness in training camp, defenseman Samuel Girard is pretty much assured a spot on the team next season.

The role for the third Musketeer is up for debate.

Athos — ??

Athos is the tortured hero of the story. He’s older and secretive because of his past. He eventually takes on d’Artagnan as a pseudo-son.

Callie, Hils and I tossed some names about. Callie though of Matt Nieto, but Hils likes Pavel Francouz as the third Musketeer:

The 28-year-old is certainly the oldest and most experienced of the group. He’s already had a rather extensive professional career in Europe spanning across his native Czech Republic to Russia. And now he’s a pro in North America.

I don’t know if he’s overly secretive, but he does have a pilot’s license, which is pretty fancy. I think we have our Athos.

Who is d’Artagnan?

Though technically not a Three Musketeer, obviously d’Artagnan is an important character in the story. He comes in hot as a rash youth and eventually has a long and celebrated career.

I’m going with our 2017 first-rounder for this one:

I don’t know that Cale Makar is rash, but I think he’s going to come in hot at the end of his sophomore season at UMass. It’s already said he’s going to be the most dominant player in college hockey this year. I think he’s going to have a very nice career with the Colorado Avalanche.

Plus look at that little grin.