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Colorado Avalanche: Early Season Evaluation and Pressure for Tyson Jost

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 26: Tyson Jost #17 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center on February 26, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 26: Tyson Jost #17 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center on February 26, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ENGLEWOOD, CO – JULY 06: Colorado Avalanche Tyson Jost (72) (R) hits the nice during a power skating session by skating instructor Tracy Tutton.  The Avalanche held its annual development camp July 6, 2016 at Family Sports Center. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

MHS Roundtable on Tyson Jost

These rumblings about Tyson Jost were already starting more than a week ago when the season was extremely young. So, I tossed out the question to my fellow Mile High Sticking contributors.

Here’s what Crystal had to say:

"“While Josty has improved a great deal, I feel there is another level to him we haven’t seen yet. And unfortunately we won’t if someone doesn’t take him under his wing, give him some much needed guidance, and push him a little more toward the net. This is one thing being on a line with [Colin Wilson]. He’s giving him that one on one leadership he needs.”"

“Much-needed guidance” is definitely a theme in Jost’s development.

Callie agrees:

"“I think all the guys that are in their sophomore years need guidance and have another level they need to find. That’s just part of being new in the NHL.”"

That idea of guidance is something I go into at greater detail in the final slide. However, I will point out here that many of the previous Avs youngsters have had specific older players who looked out for him both on and off the ice. Jost just had fellow rookie JT Compher, who probably needed his own guidance.

In an Avs 360 interview , Altitude TV personality Lauren Gardner joked about the guys living in a “frat house.” However there’s a reason other teens, like MacK and even Duchene and O’Reilly back in the day, lived with vets. Said vets could help them figure out how to navigate the new world of being a well-paid athlete with specific obligations and responsibilities.

Jost didn’t get that. Neither did Compher or Alexander Kerfoot. I don’t think Kerfoot or Compher needed as much guidance since they were already in their 20s. I feel like Girard somewhat got that guidance from Erik Johnson. But I’ve felt since last season that, with all the rookies on the team, Jost got left behind.

Callie agrees:

"“Josty is getting lost in the mix and seems to be the forgotten player. At the beginning of camp he was slotted into a center spot because they wanted to develop him, but once the season started the development went to the wayside and he has been dropped. “In practice the lines were changed and he was the player moved. Glad the lines moved back for the game but I wonder how much of that was due to JT Compher’s injury and less to do with consistency and development. Everyone knows I am a big Compher fan and pusher, but I don’t think he needs the same guidance and development as Jost does.”"

I agree. Look at how the Colorado Avalanche are babying along Vladislav Kamenev, giving him both sheltered and meaningful minutes. Jost just got tossed into the mix with a sink-or-swim mentality.

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