Ever since the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup, the team has seen several changes at offense and goaltending. However, defense seemed to be the one constant on this team. Other than the departure of Erik Johnson, the other remaining six blueliners that suited up in the 2022 playoffs lasted for basically the next two seasons (Jack Johnson leaving and coming back being the only outlier).
But at last March’s trade deadline, Colorado used Bowen Byram as its big trade chip to acquire young second-line center Casey Mittelstadt. They then dumped Ryan Johansen in a deal to acquire Sean Walker, who was always going to be a rental. Walker has since signed with Carolina.
And in the offseason, Colorado opted to not bring back Jack Johnson, instead signing veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan on July 1 before adding Erik Brannstrom the following day and Oliver Kylington a month later.
All that’s to say, the team finally has some turnover on the blueline. The top four will still look the same. If healthy, Colorado loves what it has in Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard and Josh Manson. But the three aforementioned newcomers, along with Sam Malinski, will be vying for ice time on the third pair.
Here’s a recap of all defense-related questions for this part of the August Avalanche mailbag series.
@f4rtwaffles asks: Is Malinski just stuck on the Eagles? Feel like he has a place in the NHL, but might be a victim of circumstance when it comes to the Avs specifically.
Honestly, despite everything I wrote positively about Kylington when he signed, I’d still say Malinski is very much in the running for a permanent roster spot. The Avs obviously added three veteran blueliners this summer but none of them, like Malinski, are guaranteed a spot before earning one at training camp.
De Haan, the oldest of the bunch, was healthy scratched for nine of the last 11 games with Tampa Bay last year. Brannstrom, who came over from Ottawa, is by no means a polished defenseman at this point. He’s got a lot of talent but needs to prove it on a Stanley Cup-contending team to be a mainstay.
And of course, there’s Kylington, who was great in 2021-22 but proceeded to take 18 months off to tend to his mental health. He was fine last season, but he must regain his form to be a permanent NHLer on this team.
All in all, Malinski is very well part of this group and is in the running for a spot on the roster. He just needs to do his thing in training camp and focus on earning his ice time.
@wastedtalent34 asks: Who do we think the Avs will target for their new 3-4 D? Will they finally trade Girard to accomplish this? Considering Malinski or Behrens could already be better options as 5th D and on ELCs.
For now, It’s Girard and Manson’s spots, and it will be until others give the Avs a reason to entertain trading one of them. I wrote on Monday about how the Avs have so many lottery balls on defense now. Whether it be Malinski, Brannstrom, or Kylington, these guys have the potential to be second-pair defensemen. The keyword here is potential – meaning they’re not that right now, at least not on this team. And they might never be.
Sean Behrens is worth keeping an eye on but I struggle to truly analyze his play until he gets a full year of pro hockey under his belt. But the team has high hopes for him, and understandably so.
Until the Avs have someone giving them a reason to trade Girard or Manson, they’re the 3-4 D and will be for another season or two.
@Grizzlyman87 asks: Do the Avs need to be tougher on defense?
Toughness on defense is always a necessity in the NHL. I don’t think they need to go out and sign a bunch of guys who are 6’5 to make that happen, but I do think toughness is necessary. And I think this team needs more of it consistently.
I’m just curious about how things play out with de Haan, Brannstrom, or Kylington in general before deciding what type of player is missing from the blueline. Toughness might be the thing they need to acquire before the trade deadline, but it’s hard to say how big a priority it will be right now.
Which of our many defensemen play opening night on the bottom pair?
My way-too-early prediction is Kylington and Malinski rounding out the third pair on Oct. 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. I do think the team will carry eight defensemen to start the year since they’ll have the cap flexibility to do so (unless Gabriel Landeskog is healthy in October).
I’m sure de Haan and Brannstrom will also play at some point. But specifically for opening night, I’m going with Kylington and Malinski.
