The Official Newspaper of the Colorado Avalanche
SEPTEMBER
9/5 - Sunday Post: Avs Pre-Season Preview
9/12 - Sunday Post: Avs Open With Pre-Season Split
The Denver Post
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GM Office Q
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- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:59 pm
The Denver Post
The Official Newspaper of the Colorado Avalanche
SEPTEMBER
9/5 - Sunday Post: Avs Pre-Season Preview
9/12 - Sunday Post: Avs Open With Pre-Season Split
Last edited by GM Office Q on Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:43 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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GM Office Q
- Posts: 932
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:59 pm
Re: The Denver Post
9/5 - SUNDAY POST: Avs Pre-Season Preview
After a long summer, EHEC's pre-season has finally arrived.
The Colorado Avalanche have made some changes over the off-season including bringing in veteran defensemen Brooks Orpik from the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Danny Markov from the President's trophy winning Washington Capitals to help replace the departed Adam Foote on the blueline, as well as veterans Scottie Upshall from the San Jose Sharks and Kris Versteeg from the Chicago Blackhawks to provide depth up front. Via free agency, the Avs also added right winger Alex Steen. Joining Foote departing the team over the summer was left wingers Darcy "Mother" Tucker and Ryan Stoa as well as goat-lender Peter Budaj.
Without a first round selection as a result of the Zach Parise trade, the Avs still managed to get an excellent defenseman in the 2010 draft in Jonathan Merrill. Head coach Patrick Roy expects Merrill to compete with Colby Cohen and newcomer Nikita Zaytsev for the seventh spot on defense, but likely could see development time with the Lake Erie Monsters as an underager. Should Merrill make the team, however, he'd be required to load the equipment on the team's charter buses to and from the airport on road trips until he's matched the number of games with frat parties he's ever attended. Roy also won't hesitate to send him to Lake Erie should he show up to game with any kind of a pink shirt.
Up front, Anton Lander is expected to make the jump to the big club this season, likely in Ryan Stoa's vacant left wing position. The Avs are hoping Paul Stastny and Zach Parise can assist in Lander's development as well as the continued development of Matt Duchene. T.J. Galiardi may see some time on the top six this season as he's shown good chemistry with Stastny and Duchene. Marek Svatos, Alex Steen and Chris Bourque are also in the mix to play on the top two lines as right wingers.
Wojtek Wolski is still out with an injury suffered last season and isn't expected to be back until around Christmas. In his absense, Scottie Upshall, Chris Stewart, Ville Nieminen, Kris Versteeg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Dan Hinote are expected to provide some energy on the bottom six. The Avalanche still have Sergei Fedorov under contract, but there is a strong possibility he may not play a game this season.
First up for the Avs is the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center on Tuesday, September 7. The Anaheim Ducks will visit Denver on Friday. Peter Delmas is expected to start in goal on Tuesday. Depending on the outcome, Mike Smith or Craig Anderson could see their first action of the pre-season against the Ducks.
After a long summer, EHEC's pre-season has finally arrived.
The Colorado Avalanche have made some changes over the off-season including bringing in veteran defensemen Brooks Orpik from the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Danny Markov from the President's trophy winning Washington Capitals to help replace the departed Adam Foote on the blueline, as well as veterans Scottie Upshall from the San Jose Sharks and Kris Versteeg from the Chicago Blackhawks to provide depth up front. Via free agency, the Avs also added right winger Alex Steen. Joining Foote departing the team over the summer was left wingers Darcy "Mother" Tucker and Ryan Stoa as well as goat-lender Peter Budaj.
Without a first round selection as a result of the Zach Parise trade, the Avs still managed to get an excellent defenseman in the 2010 draft in Jonathan Merrill. Head coach Patrick Roy expects Merrill to compete with Colby Cohen and newcomer Nikita Zaytsev for the seventh spot on defense, but likely could see development time with the Lake Erie Monsters as an underager. Should Merrill make the team, however, he'd be required to load the equipment on the team's charter buses to and from the airport on road trips until he's matched the number of games with frat parties he's ever attended. Roy also won't hesitate to send him to Lake Erie should he show up to game with any kind of a pink shirt.
Up front, Anton Lander is expected to make the jump to the big club this season, likely in Ryan Stoa's vacant left wing position. The Avs are hoping Paul Stastny and Zach Parise can assist in Lander's development as well as the continued development of Matt Duchene. T.J. Galiardi may see some time on the top six this season as he's shown good chemistry with Stastny and Duchene. Marek Svatos, Alex Steen and Chris Bourque are also in the mix to play on the top two lines as right wingers.
Wojtek Wolski is still out with an injury suffered last season and isn't expected to be back until around Christmas. In his absense, Scottie Upshall, Chris Stewart, Ville Nieminen, Kris Versteeg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Dan Hinote are expected to provide some energy on the bottom six. The Avalanche still have Sergei Fedorov under contract, but there is a strong possibility he may not play a game this season.
First up for the Avs is the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center on Tuesday, September 7. The Anaheim Ducks will visit Denver on Friday. Peter Delmas is expected to start in goal on Tuesday. Depending on the outcome, Mike Smith or Craig Anderson could see their first action of the pre-season against the Ducks.
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GM Office Q
- Posts: 932
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:59 pm
Re: The Denver Post
9/12 - SUNDAY POST: Avs Open With Pre-Season Split
The Avs started off the 2010 Pre-Season with one win and one loss.
Tuesday's game saw the Dallas Stars come in to Pepsi Center with something to prove as they defeated the Avs handily, 5-1. Both teams dressed a mixture of veterans and rookies, most notably on defense where the Avs dressed Colby Cohen, Nikita Zaytsev, Stefan Elliott and Jonathan Merrill. The only two defensemen with NHL experience were former Avs first round pick Kevin Shattenkirk, a sophomore expected to be a big piece of the defensive puzzle this season, and Brooks Orpik, newly acquired from Tampa Bay. Peter Delmas performed admirably in net with such a young defense in front of him, but showed his inexperience allowing 5 goals on 32 shots. Matt Duchene scored the Avs' lone goal on a feed from Paul Stastny, a sight the Avs hope to see a lot of this upcoming season. Kevin Shattenkirk also recorded an assist.
Dressing the same roster for Friday's game, the Avs came out with something to prove, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in overtime at Pepsi Center. A very encouraging element of this game was the chemistry on the second line. Chris Bourque scored the overtime on a pass from Anton Lander. Lander, the game's first star, potted a goal of his own from Chris Bourque and also assisted on a powerplay goal from Zach Parise. The third and fourth line also showed a lot of character and even helped out on the score sheet with goals from Chris Stewart and Kris Versteeg. Ryan O'Reilly, Chris Stewart and Scottie Upshall combined for 9 hits, a stat satisfying for head coach Patrick Roy. Peter Delmas started again for Colorado, stopping 31 of 35 shots for the victory.
This week the Avalanche head to western Canada for back to back games at Rexall Place against the Edmonton Oilers on the 13th and 16th, and then head to Roger's Arena in Vancouver to take on the Canucks next Sunday.
The Avs started off the 2010 Pre-Season with one win and one loss.
Tuesday's game saw the Dallas Stars come in to Pepsi Center with something to prove as they defeated the Avs handily, 5-1. Both teams dressed a mixture of veterans and rookies, most notably on defense where the Avs dressed Colby Cohen, Nikita Zaytsev, Stefan Elliott and Jonathan Merrill. The only two defensemen with NHL experience were former Avs first round pick Kevin Shattenkirk, a sophomore expected to be a big piece of the defensive puzzle this season, and Brooks Orpik, newly acquired from Tampa Bay. Peter Delmas performed admirably in net with such a young defense in front of him, but showed his inexperience allowing 5 goals on 32 shots. Matt Duchene scored the Avs' lone goal on a feed from Paul Stastny, a sight the Avs hope to see a lot of this upcoming season. Kevin Shattenkirk also recorded an assist.
Dressing the same roster for Friday's game, the Avs came out with something to prove, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in overtime at Pepsi Center. A very encouraging element of this game was the chemistry on the second line. Chris Bourque scored the overtime on a pass from Anton Lander. Lander, the game's first star, potted a goal of his own from Chris Bourque and also assisted on a powerplay goal from Zach Parise. The third and fourth line also showed a lot of character and even helped out on the score sheet with goals from Chris Stewart and Kris Versteeg. Ryan O'Reilly, Chris Stewart and Scottie Upshall combined for 9 hits, a stat satisfying for head coach Patrick Roy. Peter Delmas started again for Colorado, stopping 31 of 35 shots for the victory.
This week the Avalanche head to western Canada for back to back games at Rexall Place against the Edmonton Oilers on the 13th and 16th, and then head to Roger's Arena in Vancouver to take on the Canucks next Sunday.