Defensemen
Left Defense | Right Defense | Scratches |
|---|---|---|
Darius Kasparaitis | Bob Boughner | D.J. Smith (LD) |
Fedor Tyutin | Johnny Boychuk | Brad Stuart (LD) |
Bryan Marchment | Kevin Shattenkirk |
First Pair: Darius Kasparaitis, Bob Boughner
Darius Kasparaitis
Avalanche: 2001-02 | 11GP, 0G, 0A, 0P, 19PIM
NHL Career: 1992-93 - 2006-07 | 863GP, 27G, 136A, 163P, 1,379PIM
Apart from Kasparaitis' time in Colorado, he exclusively played for teams now located in the Metropolitan Division: the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers.
Bob Boughner
Avalanche: 2003-04 - 2005-06 | 71GP, 3G, 10A, 13P
NHL Career: 1995-96 - 2005-06 | 630GP, 15G, 57A, 72P, 1,382PIM
Boughner's time in Colorado — where he ended his career — was split in two by the 2004-05 NHL Lockout. The former 32nd-overall pick was known for his toughness: a mentality he has brought to his role as both a head coach and an assistant coach in the NHL. He is currently an associate coach with head coach Todd McLellan in Detroit.
Second Pair: Fedor Tyutin, Johnny Boychuk
Fedor Tyutin
Avalanche: 2016-17 | 69GP, 1G, 12A, 13P
NHL Career: 2003-04 - 2016-17 | 872GP, 55G, 209A, 264P
Tyutin, sixth all-time in games-played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, began his career with the Rangers and hung up his skates as a member of the Colorado Avalanche after his lone season in Denver. This shot-blocking, penalty-killing rearguard was reliable and calm under pressure.
Johnny Boychuk
Avalanche: 2007-08 | 4GP, 0G, 0A, 0P
NHL Career: 2007-08 - 2019-20 | 725GP, 54G, 152A, 206P
Boychuk played four games for the Avs, who drafted him 61st overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, before he was traded to the Boston Bruins in a one-for-one for Matt Hendricks. In the 2010-11 season, he helped the Bruins win their first Stanley Cup in nearly 40 years; he was routinely paired with Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, and both were relied upon for heavy minutes against their opponents' top lines.
Third Pair: Bryan Marchment, Kevin Shattenkirk
Brian Marchment
Avalanche: 2002-03 | 14GP, 0G, 3A, 3P, 33PIM
NHL Career: 1988-89 - 2005-06 | 926GP, 40G, 142A, 182P, 2,307PIM
Marchment, who was suspended 13 times throughout his NHL career, was emblematic of the type of player that has mostly been phased out of the NHL altogether. While his decision-making and physicality were sometimes questionable, no one could question his love for the game.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Avalanche: 2010-11 | 46GP, 7G, 19A, 26P
NHL Career: 2010-11 - 2023-24 | 952GP, 103G, 381A, 484P
Drafted by the Avs 14th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Shattenkirk was dealt, mid-season, alongside Chris Stewart and 2011 second-round pick, to St. Louis for Jay McClement, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft (Duncan Siemens), and, most notably, Erik Johnson.
Scratches: D.J. Smith, Brad Stuart
D.J. Smith
Avalanche: 2002-03 | 34GP, 1G, 0A, 1P
NHL Career: 1996-97 - 2002-03 | 45GP, 1G, 1A, 2P
Although D.J. Smith played the majority of his NHL games as a member of the Avalanche, he isn't remembered for his time as a player, at all. Smith has been an NHL coach since 2015-16, where he started as an Assistant Coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs. From 2019-20 - 2023-24, he was the bench boss for the Ottawa Senators, and he is now an Assistant Coach for Rob Blake's Los Angeles Kings.
Brad Stuart
Avalanche: 2014-15 - 2015-16 | 71GP, 3G, 10A, 13P
NHL Career: 1999-00 - 2015-16 | 1,056GP, 80G, 255A, 335P
Fittingly, Stuart was was born in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, so it would seem he was destined to spend at least part of his 1,056-game career as a member of the Avs. He played for seven teams across his career, utilizing toughness, strong skating ability, and a defensive aptitude to remain competitive for 16 seasons.