The Colorado Avalanche drop the puck on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. Looking to rebound from a solid year points-wise, but one that saw them finish outside of the playoffs, Colorado has several areas of concern in the early part of the season.
These five things to watch could mean the difference between a team that is in the thick of the playoff hunt all year, or a team that’s scratching from the bottom up for a final spot.
No. 1 – Varly’s groin
A look at Semyon Varlamov's new #EFlex2 setup. #ShutTheDoor pic.twitter.com/Yt4Ila3J2y
— CCM Goalie (@CCMGoalie) September 28, 2015
Many attribute the failures of last year to the injury Semyon Varlamov sustained at the beginning of the season. After being a candidate for the Vezina trophy in 2013-14, his presence and dominance in net was truly missed. Varly says he’s ready to go, however, he continues to stretch and work the groin at every opportunity. If he is back to his healthy, Vezina-caliber self, the Avs will be in better shape leaving this groin injury something to keep your eye on… Just don’t stare at it.
No 2. – MacKinnon at center
Who's the bigger omission from @TSNHockey's Top 50 Players list, Nathan MacKinnon, Jordan Eberle, or Kris Letang? pic.twitter.com/ciTRMJuqsz
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 30, 2015
Nathan MacKinnon says he doesn’t really care what position he plays, but he came in to the league as a center and has played the position a lot in his life. He will have to improve his faceoff percentage, but returning to a position that comes more naturally might help MacKinnon feel more comfortable, thus, producing more offense. He will start the season playing between Gabe Landeskog and Alex Tanguay.
No. 3 – New defensive pairings
https://twitter.com/justinlosacco/status/649952992842620929
There are still some questions about the second and third pairings. This is because there are three new acquisitions that are still trying to make themselves comfortable in the new system. Once they are settled, and everyone finds their role, the defense will definitely look better than the previous few years. What we know for sure, is that Erik Johnson and Francois Beauchemin will be the top pairing. This will prove to be a strong combination as the season unfolds, providing the team with a defensive security that is important to the Avs’ system of play.
No. 4 – Power play percentage
Great shot of @Matt9Duchene's Ribcor Reckoner by @evillittlejawa! #FullyCharged pic.twitter.com/3KxzANBXPf
— CCM Hockey (@CCMHockey) September 26, 2015
Colorado finished second to the bottom in the league in power play percentage last season. Having a man advantage is a chance to generate some scoring chances. If the Avalanche improve their scoring numbers, it will start by capitalizing on power play opportunities. Once they are scoring on the power play, confidence will rise and that confidence will transfer over to even strength time.
No. 5 – Barrie scoring
Could Tyson Barrie be a #NorrisTrophy winner one day? http://t.co/xLO3VjEySB pic.twitter.com/F8RfOJ4O4c
— MileHighSticking (@MHSAvalanche) September 12, 2015
Tyson Barrie scored 12 goals last year and lead the Avalanche in assists with 41. Barrie is always working on his shooting at practice, which has lead to his having one of the most dangerous slap shots in the league. Due to his high offensive capabilities, he spends a lot of time on the power play where he scored 16 points last season. Barrie always finds a way to be effective, and in a time where the Avs are in need of scoring, his offensive production is more important than ever.