The Colorado Avalanche have been criticized lately for scratching defenseman Ryan Graves in favor of Ian Cole. But what about the other players who are constantly scratched?
Healthy scratches are a common move across the NHL and we have to deal with it. In fact, there are very few teams with no healthy players sitting out, but that’s not the case of our Colorado Avalanche.
Teams are sometimes hit by sudden waves of injuries, and that’s when the scratches come into play to save the world (uhm, the team) along with those players recalled from the minors. But what exactly is the criteria to scratch a player? If we’re being honest, not all of them deserve to watch the game from afar.
So, the question today is: do the following players truly deserve to be scratched?
Case #1: Gabriel Bourque.
Yes.
Ok, fine. Let’s take a look at the numbers.
Bourque has been around the league since 2011, and landed in Colorado in 2016. In 347 games played throughout his career, he has a total of 94 points and a plus/minus of -22. Now, last season, he recorded 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 58 games played. This season, Bourque has played in 41 games and has five points, all of them assists (and a -2, in case you’re into that particular stat).
He also has a total of 10 penalty minutes this season. Not ideal for a team with a tendency of taking too many (unnecessary) penalties, even when their Power Play unit is awake.
To be perfectly honest, Bourque doesn’t bring much, and it’s not a presence you can feel on the ice (I completely forget he’s playing until I see him in the penalty box. But that might just be me), so it’s not a loss if he is scratched.
Case #2: Sheldon Dries.
This is Dries’ first season with the Colorado Avalanche, and hey – the kid is doing alright. He spent last season with the Texas Stars, and led all AHL rookies in the Calder Cup playoffs with 10 goals in 22 post-season games. He’s very talented, but the jump from the AHL to the NHL is not always as smooth as many think.
Still, I’d say Dries is doing good in his first NHL season. In 40 games played so far, he has six points (three goals, three assists), and as with many other players who made their NHL debut this season: it’s all about opportunity.
That said, it would be nice if he wasn’t scratched so often.
Case #3: Sven Andrighetto.
One of my Christmas wishes for the Avs was for Andrighetto to stop being scratched, and they kinda listened. At the time writing, Andrighetto has played the same amount of games he played last season (50) but, sadly, has fewer points (12, against 22 from last season).
But I’m a believer, and I’m convinced that if he wasn’t in the “fourth line or be scratched” category, he could be key in secondary scoring. Maybe, just maybe, if they gave him a chance on the third line? Something to think about, Mr. Bednar.
Case #4: Ryan Graves.
Of course he had to be included in this list. And of course: it’s not fair to leave him out of the lineup. Everyone’s favorite rookie (from the Avs, at least) and newest adopted child has spent this season going back and forth between the NHL and the AHL, but in 21 games played with the Colorado Avalanche, he has five points (three goals, two assists).
Again: it takes a bit of time to adjust from one league to the other, so we shouldn’t be too critical if these players don’t make 20 points in 10 games. All things considered, Graves is doing great in numbers and even better in performance: the proof is in the fans’ reaction to him being scratched in favor of Ian Cole’s return (among other reasons surrounding Cole and his actions on the ice).
Those Zadorov/Graves and Barrie/Graves defense pairings? Inject them into my veins. The Nemeth/Graves pair? Not my favorite for reasons that are not Ryan Graves but as long as we have him in the lineup, bring it, I’ll take it.
In short: Ryan Graves doesn’t deserve to be a healthy scratch. Thank you for coming to my talk.
As the post-season approaches and the Colorado Avalanche fight to get a spot in the wildcard, let’s hope that those who truly don’t deserve to watch the game from the press box get a chance to prove why they deserve to be in the lineup more often.