The Avalanche sent Arvid Holm and Ivan Ivan down to the Colorado Eagles on Monday, trimming the roster down to 43. Among those names are the injured players (Gabriel Landeskog, Pavel Francouz, Ondrej Pavel, Chris Wagner, etc.), and Peter Holland, who joined the AHL’s Colorado Eagles camp to continue his professional tryout.
Ultimately, the one remaining battle is the fourth-line center role. Darren Helm’s retirement began an offseason question that, in my eyes, started and ended with Ben Meyers. But coach Jared Bednar didn’t enter camp ready to assign the Avs’ third-year forward to that role. Fredrik Olofsson and Riley Tufte are both in on this as well. Olofsson was great in Sunday’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars. He had a power-play goal and led the team with five shots. He was also 5-for-11 in the faceoff circle — an improvement from his 1-for-9 showing the previous game. The Avalanche acquired and signed Olofsson before he became a free agent. They clearly see something in him worth exploring.
Tufte is a strong candidate to get in some games just because of his size and strength. He also had a sweet goal on Sunday. But I’d sense he’d be better off on the wing. Injuries do (and will) happen, after all. Meyers will also be a factor at some point.
1. All I could think of when looking through some of these names, and another depth forward on a PTO in Joel Kiviranta, is that the Avalanche iced a lineup against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins last season with Charles Hudon on the top line and Cal Burke, Sampo Ranta, Martin Kaut and Dryden Hunt in the lineup. It sure feels like their extra forward group is much better this year.
2. Speaking of the new forwards, it’s hard not to be excited about what Jonathan Drouin could accomplish this season. A player with that skillset, and with past familiarity with Nathan MacKinnon, has to be chomping at the bit to get the season started. Anyone who gets a chance to line up alongside Mikko Rantanen and MacKinnon should feel like they’ve won the hockey lottery.
3. I’m interested in seeing how the Avs’ defense core evolves over the next five months leading up to the trade deadline. Will Jack Johnson take a step back? Is Josh Manson going to be healthy all year? How many games will Cale Makar miss? Right now their seventh defenseman is Brad Hunt. Sam Malinski is also in the mix in some way. It’ll be interesting to see if or when they decide to add to this group.
4. Here’s a familiar name: Conor Timmins was great in the preseason, collecting six points in three games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. At 25 years old, it felt like he finally found his way. But another injury has once again halted his momentum. Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Monday morning that Timmins has a significant knee injury and is considered week-to-week. Several times over the offseason, I thought about a potential reunion for Timmins and Colorado. He’s a right-shot defenseman — something the Avs lack — and could be ready for a more permanent role. Toronto has quite a few blueliners ahead of him. Before the injury, I wondered if he’d be placed on waivers and if the Avalanche would consider picking him up. It’s something worth keeping an eye on as he recovers.
5. On the backup goalie front, I’m not opposed to the Avalanche giving Justus Annunen a good look in October if they don’t find anyone worthy of a claim on the waiver wire. It’s hard to say if he’s earned it, though he’s looked good in preseason, but it’s ultimately sink or swim time for him. See if you have something there and decide later if you need another body.
6. A fun question to ponder as opening night nears: Who has more points this season, Ryan Johansen or Drouin?