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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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CALGARY, AB – APRIL 11: Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche in action against the Calgary Flames in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 15, 2019 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

Philip Grubauer Looking Dominant

It’s so hard to judge goalies at training camp or practice. A goalie’s lot is a hard one in those situations. The focus is usually on the skaters’ drills, with the goalie just being an afterthought.

They do get one-on-one time with goalie coaches, but that still doesn’t tell you much about how they’re doing.

Well, in-game situations such as represented in preseason games give us a chance to see how the goalie is looking.

In the case of Philipp Grubauer, I’d like to see him being a brick wall. Preseason games don’t count, but in just a couple weeks we’re going to be watching the games that do count.

As of right now, the Colorado Avalanche have a clutch of rookies at the goalie position:

  • Philipp Grubauer (rookie starter)
  • Pavel Francouz (rookie)
  • Adam Werner (AHL rookie)
  • Hunter Miska (AHL contract)
  • Trent Miner (unsigned)

That’s not what I call goalie depth. I’d feel a lot more confident if I saw a dominant Grubauer. Oh, and I’d like to see some really good play from rookie Pavel Francouz. Because a starting goalie can’t play 82 games.

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