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Colorado Avalanche: 5 Things I’d Like to See in the Preseason

By Nadia Archuleta

DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost (17) skates with the puck as Dallas Stars right wing Brett Ritchie (25) chases him during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on September 30, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Colorado defeats Dallas 6-5. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 30: Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost (17) skates with the puck as Dallas Stars right wing Brett Ritchie (25) chases him during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on September 30, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Colorado defeats Dallas 6-5. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – SEPTEMBER 30: Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) gets hit in the chest by a puck in front of Dallas Stars goalie Colton Point (32) as Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) looks on during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on September 30, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Colorado defeats Dallas 6-5. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Colorado Avalanche training camp is over, and the preseason is on. Here’s what I’d like to see in the six preseason games.

The Colorado Avalanche have completed their training camp. It’s been a good ride, with three days of training and one of game-preparation practice.

Everyone keeps asking if it’s October yet. Many people eschew the preseason because the games don’t count. Well, they don’t count toward the final points and getting into the playoffs. But then, neither do practices, yet I doubt much of anyone would suggest getting rid of those.

The preseason is a part of the process, same as practices. It gives players a chance to show their make to the coaching staff. Sure, for established players such as Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog, they have nothing to show.

However, for some players, it’s a chance to show where they belong in the roster. For others, it’s a chance to show they even belong on the NHL roster.  For yet others it’s a chance to earn their dream at playing any kind of professional hockey.

What’s more, the preseason is a chance for players to get to know each other. NHL hockey is a fast-paced game. There’s no in-game time to try and sort out who your teammate is and where he’s currently located. It should be as instinctual as possible.

This season, the Avalanche have a fair amount of new players taking on key roles. Guaranteed to make the NHL roster are forwards Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, Joonas Donskoi, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Trying to make the team are newbies Bowen Byram, Valeri Nichushkin, Kevin Connauton, and Calle Rosen.

In addition to those new guys we have Cale Makar who, despite his playoff experience, is a rookie this year. Plus, there are organizational players trying to crack the NHL roster. So, preseason is a good time for all of those players to get a chance to show their stuff.

Well, here’s what I, personally, would like to see take place in the six preseason games the Avs are playing.

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