Time for Avs to make a move for a D?

[Zz_]

It is that time in the season that Colorado needs to really consider making a move for a defensemen. They made a move this off-season picking up Brad Stuart, but Stuart's hay days are all but over. The 2011-2012 season, Stuarts last with Detroit, was the last time Stuart really produced, even though he was not a huge point producer that was also the last time he was higher than a +4. This was also the last time that Stuart played more than 61 games, which he is already, 19 games in, injured. You cannot justify the off-season trade by saying it was for the playoffs either. Brad Stuarts playoff production is also dismal, yes he has won a cup with Detroit, but at that time in his career Stuart was already headed down hill. If you have a guy that produces a slight amount in his prime, you aren't going to get much from the hockey prune age.

 

Nick Holden - a sensation last season for Colorado. After playing only 7 career games for Columbus, Holden saw a career high 54 games with the Avalanche. He produced 10 goals and 25 points with a +12 and only 22 PIM. Technically speaking, Holden is in his sophomore year in the NHL, which could explain his recent slump, "The sophomore slump." Holden is -2 in 3 consecutive games and -15 overall. I feel at this point that Nate Guenin has played far more consistent than Holden, yet Roy has yet to bench Holden and has sat Guenin.

 

Nate Guenin - much like Nick Holden was a big story last season for the Avalanche. Playing in 68 games Guenin wasn't as productive point wise as Holden, yet he still managed 9 points and a plus 3. This season in 13 games, Guenin has 1 assist, only 4 other players with 13 plus games has a better +/- than Guenin's +/- 0 and only has 4 PIM.

 

Tyson Barrie - after a rookie season that saw him with great numbers, Barrie started the season rough. Prior to the Toronto game at Pepsi Center, Barrie was a -8 and didn't seem to get it defensively to begin the season. Since that November 6th game, Barrie has moved to a -3 and sports 1g and 12 assists, which nears top of the league in assists by a d-man. Barrie starting to get it on D again allows Colorado goaltenders and teammates to feel more comfortable with him jumping into the play.

 

Ryan Wilson - Wilson is just bad news for the Avalanche. He is a smart, hard hitter, but Wilson cannot and has not stayed healthy for the Avalanche in his 6 NHL seasons and has never played more than 67 games braking 60 games only twice. This season, Wilson was injured again after just 3 games where his was a -3 in those contests.

 

Zach Redmond - in 8 games with the Avalanche, Redmond seems to be the only consistent player on defense. He sports a -2 with 4 points and 6 PIM, yet Colorado's TV analysts, Peter McNab and Mike Haynes have stated, "When Redmond plays, he seems to spark the team, the team just plays harder." The energy Redmond plays with should make it hard for Coach Roy to sit him over both Wilson or Stuart when they become healthy.

 

Jan Hejda - has been the most quiet defensemen for the Avalanche this season. The unsung hero in the playoffs vs the Minnesota Wild, Hejda played the series with a broken thumb, which he never used as an excuse at any time. Hejda has played all 19 games so far for Colorado, he is a -1 and has 4 points skating between 19:00 and 24:00 minutes per game. Hejda has established himself as a top 4 defensemen with the Avalanche.

 

Erik Johnson - a former #1 overall pick that just never lived up to the hype in St. Louis has had a fair start to the season. Last game Johnson was a work horse against the New Jersey Devils, scoring the game tying goal, Johnson, was a +2 and had 30:25 minutes of ice time with 2 shots and 36 shifts. Erik Johnson is tied for a team high +2, tied for 3rd in scoring on the team with 11 points (2g 8a). However, his discipline along side Captain Landeskog is lacking, he is 2nd to Cody McLeod in PIM with 23 (one more than Captian Gabe Landeskog's 22.)

 

With that said, only the Buffalo Sabers have a worse shots against average than Colorado. The Avalanche average 35.1 shots per game, and allow 3.11 goals against per game, which is 7th worst in the NHL. (ESPN NHL Stats). The Avalanche sport the 21st Power Play unit but tied for 2nd best penalty killing unit (only Chicago is better and tied with Winnipeg). It is hard to under stand how a team can be having such an issue on defense yet they are tied for #2 on the PK. It goes to show you that the Avalanche have potential to be far better than they are without making any moves.

 

A healthy defense with confidence will begin to carry this team, a trade should not be in order especially considering the amount of young depth in the organization. Although Stuart was a poor choice in defensemen for Joe Sakic and company his experience can help the young players build confidence and find a rhythm. It is too early in the season to count Colorado out, as well as start jumping the trade train. Young minds will settle down and Colorado will defend their title, yet, other teams need to slow down but I do not see that happening. The Avs need to get going, now.  

[J0e Th0rnton]

It is that time in the season that Colorado needs to really consider making a move for a defensemen. They made a move this off-season picking up Brad Stuart, but Stuart's hay days are all but over. The 2011-2012 season, Stuarts last with Detroit, was the last time Stuart really produced, even though he was not a huge point producer that was also the last time he was higher than a +4. This was also the last time that Stuart played more than 61 games, which he is already, 19 games in, injured. You cannot justify the off-season trade by saying it was for the playoffs either. Brad Stuarts playoff production is also dismal, yes he has won a cup with Detroit, but at that time in his career Stuart was already headed down hill. If you have a guy that produces a slight amount in his prime, you aren't going to get much from the hockey prune age.

 

Nick Holden - a sensation last season for Colorado. After playing only 7 career games for Columbus, Holden saw a career high 54 games with the Avalanche. He produced 10 goals and 25 points with a +12 and only 22 PIM. Technically speaking, Holden is in his sophomore year in the NHL, which could explain his recent slump, "The sophomore slump." Holden is -2 in 3 consecutive games and -15 overall. I feel at this point that Nate Guenin has played far more consistent than Holden, yet Roy has yet to bench Holden and has sat Guenin.

 

Nate Guenin - much like Nick Holden was a big story last season for the Avalanche. Playing in 68 games Guenin wasn't as productive point wise as Holden, yet he still managed 9 points and a plus 3. This season in 13 games, Guenin has 1 assist, only 4 other players with 13 plus games has a better +/- than Guenin's +/- 0 and only has 4 PIM.

 

Tyson Barrie - after a rookie season that saw him with great numbers, Barrie started the season rough. Prior to the Toronto game at Pepsi Center, Barrie was a -8 and didn't seem to get it defensively to begin the season. Since that November 6th game, Barrie has moved to a -3 and sports 1g and 12 assists, which nears top of the league in assists by a d-man. Barrie starting to get it on D again allows Colorado goaltenders and teammates to feel more comfortable with him jumping into the play.

 

Ryan Wilson - Wilson is just bad news for the Avalanche. He is a smart, hard hitter, but Wilson cannot and has not stayed healthy for the Avalanche in his 6 NHL seasons and has never played more than 67 games braking 60 games only twice. This season, Wilson was injured again after just 3 games where his was a -3 in those contests.

 

Zach Redmond - in 8 games with the Avalanche, Redmond seems to be the only consistent player on defense. He sports a -2 with 4 points and 6 PIM, yet Colorado's TV analysts, Peter McNab and Mike Haynes have stated, "When Redmond plays, he seems to spark the team, the team just plays harder." The energy Redmond plays with should make it hard for Coach Roy to sit him over both Wilson or Stuart when they become healthy.

 

Jan Hejda - has been the most quiet defensemen for the Avalanche this season. The unsung hero in the playoffs vs the Minnesota Wild, Hejda played the series with a broken thumb, which he never used as an excuse at any time. Hejda has played all 19 games so far for Colorado, he is a -1 and has 4 points skating between 19:00 and 24:00 minutes per game. Hejda has established himself as a top 4 defensemen with the Avalanche.

 

Erik Johnson - a former #1 overall pick that just never lived up to the hype in St. Louis has had a fair start to the season. Last game Johnson was a work horse against the New Jersey Devils, scoring the game tying goal, Johnson, was a +2 and had 30:25 minutes of ice time with 2 shots and 36 shifts. Erik Johnson is tied for a team high +2, tied for 3rd in scoring on the team with 11 points (2g 8a). However, his discipline along side Captain Landeskog is lacking, he is 2nd to Cody McLeod in PIM with 23 (one more than Captian Gabe Landeskog's 22.)

 

With that said, only the Buffalo Sabers have a worse shots against average than Colorado. The Avalanche average 35.1 shots per game, and allow 3.11 goals against per game, which is 7th worst in the NHL. (ESPN NHL Stats). The Avalanche sport the 21st Power Play unit but tied for 2nd best penalty killing unit (only Chicago is better and tied with Winnipeg). It is hard to under stand how a team can be having such an issue on defense yet they are tied for #2 on the PK. It goes to show you that the Avalanche have potential to be far better than they are without making any moves.

 

A healthy defense with confidence will begin to carry this team, a trade should not be in order especially considering the amount of young depth in the organization. Although Stuart was a poor choice in defensemen for Joe Sakic and company his experience can help the young players build confidence and find a rhythm. It is too early in the season to count Colorado out, as well as start jumping the trade train. Young minds will settle down and Colorado will defend their title, yet, other teams need to slow down but I do not see that happening. The Avs need to get going, now.  

Not only is Stuart abysmal, but he brings everyone else on the ice down with him.

 

I made a big post about it a few posts down lol