The term “shake-up” is commonly thrown around when teams are struggling. There’s talk of making changes to spur a turnaround and get a team back on track.
But there are times when even good teams need a wake-up call to help them continue excelling. In the case of the Colorado Avalanche, it seems that a shake-up might be the sort of thing the club needs to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.
In an earlier piece, we looked at the ludicrous idea of the Avalanche trading Nathan MacKinnon to fulfill the aim of a shake-up.
That has to be the dumbest idea in the world. However, if the Avs really wanted to ring a bell, there’s a simple yet effective way to do it. And it’s not a coaching change. It involves creating internal competition.
Now, here’s where internal competition becomes tough in teams like the Avalanche. Is there anyone really going to push MacKinnon for a top-line spot? Is there anyone who could unseat Cale Makar and Devon Toews on the top pairing?
But there is plenty of room to create competition in the bottom nine. Prospects like TJ Hughes, Gavin Brindley, Fabian Lysell, and Sean Behrens, to name a few, could be pushing incumbents for playing time.
If there’s the sense that someone could scoop up a lineup spot, there would be an added incentive across the board.
Status quo should be Avalanche’s biggest enemy
Good veteran teams often find themselves prone to complacency. Linemates are almost sewn together, and there is little internal competition. As such, there’s a sense of complacency that takes over the team.
When complacency hits, there seems to be a loss of hunger. It’s not that pros coast through games. It’s just that there’s a mental barrier that becomes tough to overcome.
That’s why the status quo should be the Avalanche’s biggest enemy. Making the playoffs and winning a couple of rounds should never be enough. The goal has to be to win a Cup every year. While it’s impossible to win every single season, winning multiple Cups is what separates great teams from dynasties.
The Avalanche have plenty of runway to become one of the NHL’s dynasties. The team is young enough to remain relevant for at least a half-decade. That’s why Colorado has to attack this season with a clear sense of urgency.
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