Colorado Avalanche: First Sextet Set for Phase 2

The Colorado Avalanche formed their official first sextet for the Phase 2 practices. The group must main consistent for the whole phase.

The Colorado Avalanche returned to Pepsi Center ice again yesterday. Their first sextet is set for Phase 2 of the NHL’s response to the COVID crisis. In Phase 2, players are allowed informal practices at team facilities. However, they must for groups of no more than six players and stick to that group for the entirety of Phase 2.

The first group of six is made of team leaders — the captain and both alternates, to be specific. It also includes a couple veterans and a goalie. Here’s the list:

• Gabriel Landeskog
• Nathan MacKinnon
• Erik Johnson
• Ian Cole
• Nazem Kadri
• Philipp Grubauer

In addition to those players, Matt Nieto, Joonas Donskoi, and Sam Girard are confirmed to be in Denver. Both Nieto and Donskoi have practiced at the Pepsi Center — I’m not sure about Girard, but I’m going to guess so. They may provide the foundation for the next sextet.

The team’s media crew isn’t allowed much access. Only one member of the crew can even be in the building at the same time as the players. And, as you can see, they’re not allowed to be anywhere close:

Thank goodness they have professional cameras with mega zoom lenses!

The Avs Twitter reminded us of what we’re missing as fans — putting our behinds in those seats, those so uncomfortable seats. Raise your hand if you’d give up a night in your easy chair for a hockey-filled evening in stadium seats. 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♂️

The club level seats are the best for seeing the entirety of the game and being close to snacks and drinks. Nothing beats the atmosphere of the lower level, though. I get a little vertigo in the cheap seats, which are also cramped. But I’d happily sit up there to watch hockey again right now. (With a mask on and social distancing, of course.) Those are the seats I planned on buying for the playoffs anyway because budget.

Anyway, as noted, Erik Johnson is back from California. And he immediately hooked up with his best friend on the team, captain Gabriel Landeskog:

https://twitter.com/Avalanche/status/1274022728757137415

What are they talking about? I’m going to guess Johnson is saying it was rude of Landeskog to make fun of his cycling outfit, and Landy feels bad.

The original:

The chirp:

Just kidding. I’m sure they’re talking about their Animal Crossing islands.

The Avs social released some sound. Close your eyes and you can see the hockey:

https://twitter.com/Avalanche/status/1274025040149954560

Open your eyes, and you can see hockey below!

It’s so good to see them back skating!

If you glance quickly like I just did, you’ll think there are only two pictures below — and so two Grubauers:

Side question: If the entire team returns to Denver to practice on Pepsi Center ice, will the last group or so have to do so without a goalie? Actually, only a couple groups besides the first sextet might get a goalie — Michal Hutchinson, Hunter Miska, and Antoine Bibeau are from North America. However, Pavel Francouz is almost certainly back in the Czech Republic. Adam Werner and Justus Annunen are also European.

Anyway, here is -the official first sextet for the Colorado Avalanche:

And that’s why they’re only allowed in small groups — no masks, and no social distancing. So, they’re a contained group.

Here are the defensemen:

And the forwards:

And to finish it all off… the zamboni:

These practices are a way for players to hone their skills back up, especially when it comes to skating. They can only do so much cardio and strength training off the ice. At a certain point, they need to be on the ice. They obviously don’t forget how to skate, but it apparently doesn’t come as naturally anymore after some time.

Looking at the above video, it looks pretty natural to me.

Phase 2 is slated to continue through the end of June and into the first week of July. On July 10, teams can officially start training camp, which is expected to last two to three weeks. The playoffs should start at the beginning of August and run through the end of September.