Strike 1: The irony was literally dripping from the rafters of Ball Arena last night.
On one hand you had the Colorado Avalanche, winners of three Stanley Cups and one of this year’s favorites to win it again, stumbling out of the gate early in the season while dealing with porous play between the pipes. On the other side, you had the visitors, the New York Islanders, who’s head coach was none other than Colorado’s Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, who’s iconic 33 has hung from the rafters of Pepsi Center-turned Ball Arena since 2003.
On Roy’s first return to Denver as an opposing head coach, his Islanders thumped the struggling Avs 6-2 and sent Colorado reeling to an 0-3 start. It wasn’t all on the goalie against New York, but still, Colorado has given up at least one goal in all nine periods they’ve played this season, and they’ve given up 20 goals in those three games. So on Monday night, you had the team’s glorious past in net superimposed against the team’s current disaster at the same critical position.
Ironic, but not at all funny. For the Avs, something has to change, and soon. Can they find a way to turn back the calendar?
Remember, Roy was a huge reason the Avalanche, in their first season playing in Denver in 1996, captured the city’s first major pro sports championship. “Saint Patrick” was the best in the biz and he and his famous teammates hung the very first banner won in the new building way back in 2001 when they took down the New Jersey Devils to win the franchise’s second Cup. It was the last of four Cup winning teams Roy would star for during his illustrious 19-year playing career.
Without his stellar “stand on your head” play during his eight seasons in an Avs sweater, fans today could glance up and see a lot more ceiling tiles in the 25-year old arena.
Ah, the good ‘ol days.
Obviously, this season is just starting, and Colorado has the skaters capable of turning things around. However, whether or not another banner gets hung after this season will depend heavily on the caliber of play Colorado can squeeze out of the team’s current collection of goaltenders, led by current starter Alexandar Georgiev. So far, not so good.
“Georgie’s” start to the season has left a lot to be desired, and it’s fair to say that if the roster remains the same, no amount of firepower from the gifted Avs offensive stars will be able to make up for that deficiency.
The backups, including Justus Annunen or Ivan Prosvetov, will likely get a chance to step up and play at some point, but will have to perform way above what they’ve done previously. Same for newcomer Kaapo Kahkonen, who Colorado just picked up off waivers. He’ll join the team presumably by the end of this week, and is likely to get his chance to play much sooner than later.
The Avs brain trust are certainly hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with this acquisition.
Still, the only sure way to land a true difference maker in net would be to do what Avs general manager Pierre Lacroix did back in December of 1995. Take a big swing and make a blockbuster-ish trade.
Remember, Colorado was Roy’s second team. He won his first two Cups as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. After growing disenchanted with the direction of the Canadiens at the outset of the 1995-’96 season, Roy let it be known that he wanted out. His former agent happened to be, Lacroix, who engineered a heist, err, trade that brought Roy to Denver, where he proved to be the missing piece for an offensive juggernaut on its way to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001.
Can history repeat itself? Is there a standout goaltender out there that could be acquired if Colorado is willing to part with some young talent?
No chance it’s that easy. Lacroix didn’t have to deal with a salary cap back in the mid 1990’s. Current Avs general manager Chris MacFarland and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic do. That makes everything tougher. The Avs will get a close up look at just how expensive top shelf goaltending is in their next game, when they face Boston’s newly minted $66 million man, Jeremy Swayman.
Still, there’s no reason to wait to start making calls. Maybe MacFarland hits the right note with another GM. No one could have predicted that Roy would be available in December of 1995. Remember, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Yes, the season is just three games old, and the Avs have the talent to stay on the short list of Cup contenders. But this team clearly needs a big time jolt. Finding a way to upgrade the goaltending situation would once again be the missing piece, and it’s not something they can wait to try to do later.
