Colorado Avalanche: Who Will Fill the Spot On the Top Line?

Who will fill the hole left by Matt Calvert now being missing from the Colorado Avalanche lineup? Will it be another Eagles player?

It’s not bad enough that two of the Colorado Avalanche’s top line players in Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog are out injured indefinitely, the other night we lost the dynamo that filled one of their places — Matt Calvert.

Now, who is going to fill the hole left by Matt Calvert being out indefinitely?

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Nazem Kadri

It’s clear that Nazem Kadri isn’t the right person to move back up. During the few games he played where Coach Bednar had him on the top line, he looked out of place. Why? Because he plays best at center. That’s where his strength lies. As soon as he was moved back to the second line center position he was off and playing at his best again.

Kadri has clearly shown that he can be the best on the team when he’s doing what he does best as the second-line center.

J T Compher

J T, as much as I love the role he plays on the overall team, he isn’t fast enough and hockey smarts enough to work well with Nathan MacKinnon on the top line. He also has worked best back on the second line where he’s been since the Coach put Matt Calvert in the top-line wing position.

J T can continue to work his magic down the line if he’s left where his skills and abilities show the most.

Pierre Eduard Bellemare

Maybe Belly is the person to move up. He had the chemistry with Calvert on the fourth line and whilst Matt is out maybe he has the power, hockey brain and skill to move from Center to the Right Wing.

I’m not saying it is the best option available as it would be a shift and may not be one that will work, just like moving Kadri from a Center position to the wing. And yet what other options do the Av’s have?

Jayson Megna

Jason Megna is the only other Right Winger on the team and he hasn’t stood out as having the strength, skill or speed to match it with Nathan MacKinnon on the top line. He did get a chance early on after Landy and Mikko were injured and it didn’t work.

I don’t think making this move would be any different now from back then. So, it’s not an option.

Matt Nieto

Matt doesn’t have the overall strength to play against the other top lines in the NHL. Whilst I love his speed, it would mean switching him from left to right-wing and that’s not a good option. He holds his own against the other lines he’s matched against. I don’t see him capable of stepping up into the top line.

Basically the Avalanche are in trouble then. With all of the injuries to top players, and I’m including Matt Calvert in that mix, they don’t have a lot of options.

A call up from the Eagles may be the only option

Maybe it’s time to promote Logon O’Connor from the Colorado Eagles to see what he’s capable of, now he’s had some more games in the AHL under his belt this season?

Or Martin Kaut, given how he’s been fairing at the Eagles. Either way, it seems the only way the Avalanche are going to fill the hole is with yet another call up from the Eagles.

Next. What's Wrong with the Avs' Defense?. dark

If that happens the Avs will have a large number of Eagles players filling spots on the depleted roster. Great experience for these players from the AHL. And one way for them to showcase their talents in the bigger league.

Whilst it’s not necessarily the best option it may be the only one available to the Avs at this time.

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