Colorado Avalanche: Early Season Evaluation and Pressure for Tyson Jost

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NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 14: Colin Wilson #22, Alexander Kerfoot #13, and Tyson Jost #17 of the Colorado Avalanche congratulate teammate Nathan MacKinnon #29 on scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 14, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Tyson Jost and Mentorship

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So, I’d like to get back to how Tyson Jost historically adjusts to playing at a new, higher level. It almost seems like he takes the first year to feel out the level — while still operating at around a point-a-game pace. Once he’s got the new level figured out, he explodes. That happened at the Bantam Prep level and again at the BCHL level. We don’t know if that was going to hold true in college, but he had the same kind of start.

This is the NHL, though, the best hockey league in the world. And it’s also one where a player of Tyson Jost’s caliber should expect to play at least 10 years.

Yet Jost is not on a similar trajectory at the NHL level. He earned just 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 65 games last season. (That’s the most games he’s ever played in the regular season at any level.) He’s got just two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in eight games this season.

So, is the decreased adjustment just a learning curve for the elitest hockey league? I’m sure that’s a factor. However, I’m also going to throw out there that the Avalanche are not developing him the way they should — indeed, the way they probably promised when they induced him to leave the prestigious UND hockey program to turn pro. (Notable alums include Matt Greene, Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews.)

Last season, the Avalanche suited up around four rookies on any given night and had one or two more waiting in the wings every game. Some of these rookies, like Jost himself and the ill-fated Andrei Mironov, were Avs draftees. They also had traded-for players, J.T. Compher and Samuel Girard, as well as signed free agents, Alexander Kerfoot and Dominic Toninato.

Every single one of those rookies was somewhere unique in their development spectrum as well as their expected role. All of them were fighting for roster spots and/or ice time. Some of them were older and had more experience so were able to find their way a little more easily. Some struggled or even washed out.

One, Sam Girard, exceeded all expectations. However, he was the only defenseman who regularly made the roster, and he had a lot of leadership to feed off of. The other was Tyson Jost, one of a revolving cast of forward rookies who had the added struggle of getting injured twice early in the year.

So now, putting trajectory aside, let’s get back to that idea of confidence. Here’s a tweet that really summarizes what’s going on:

Since almost the beginning I’ve been saying Jost is Matt Duchene all over again, and here is a perfect example. Duchene has ever been a player who gets into his own head. I think in a different way, so is Jost. I was really shocked at the difference in his playing style between his NoDak days and current Avalanche play.

It’s not that Tyson Jost doesn’t have the skills, or that he’s trying those plays and failing. It’s that he’s simplified his hockey. On a team that’s notorious for getting too fancy, such simplification isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, in Tyson’s case, I think it’s a little bit of under-confidence.

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And here’s where mentorship comes into play. I understand that players take it upon themselves to mentor youngsters. Duchene was always volunteering to help out the young guys, maybe because he himself had mentorship in his early days.

However, the team also steps in sometimes. For example, coach Jared Bednar has been transparent about the fact that his pairing of Erik Johson with Sam Girard is so the former can mentor the latter.

One hopes that was the rationale for putting Colin Wilson on a line with Tyson Jost. However, lo and behold who else is on that line but another sophomore, Alexander Kerfoot.

Here is where I point a finger at Nathan MacKinnon. Nate has also been the recipient of mentorship. Indeed, he had two future Hall of Famers — Jarome Iginla and Sidney Crosby — help develop him into the player he is today.

It’s time for MacKinnon to give back, and no better recipient than Jost.

It’s the little things that MacKinnon can teach Tyson. Things like using your skating to create space. Or not letting a bad game get to you. Or handling the pressure of media and fans and just the general hullaballoo of being a well-paid professional athlete at the tender age of 20.

MORE ABOUT TYSON JOST:

What is Tyson Jost’s ceiling? It should be high. Just look at that NoDak highlight reel and picture those plays at the NHL level. Picture him frustrating NHL goalies and scoring those highlight reel goals for the Colorado Avalanche.

One of the things that struck me from Jost’s Combine interview was his sober demeanor and his stated drive. Jost has already sought out MacKinnon’s advice when it comes to trainers. I have confidence the young center has the drive and foresight to further seek out more tools to make his Swiss army knife a difference-maker at the NHL.

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