The Colorado Avalanche have been criticized for being too soft and lacking physicality. Being known around the league as more of a skilled team and easily pushed around, the Avalanche have made efforts of late to change that perception. The acquisition of fourth-line center Chris Wagner and frequent use of San Antonio Rampage call-up Andreas Martinsen has improved their physicality, helping the overall mentality of the team.
A strong physical presence for a team has advantages all over the ice. The Avalanche forecheck, specifically, benefits from a good physical presence once the puck moves deep in the offensive zone. Patrick Roy also likes to overload the neutral zone by using a 1-3-1 formation to slow down opposing offenses. For Roy, a strong physical presence is most advantageous in keeping possession of the puck in the offensive end.
“We’ve been working hard at trying to possess the puck more and keep the puck more in the o-zone and try to put more pucks to the net,” Roy said Wednesday morning. “At the same time, it’s more about puck protection than anything else. Physicality sometimes is you capable of holding on to that puck, eating some minutes and getting the defense tired and us getting the puck back.”
Cody McLeod has long been an asset in regards to Colorado’s physical play. He currently is tied for eleventh among all NHL forwards in hits and has lead the team in this area for years. Over the offseason, while looking for additional pieces to bring a strong physical presence, the Avalanche signed all-around forward Blake Comeau in free agency. His hard-hitting play has helped the Avalanche in many areas, but there was still a need for more.
After playing eleven games for the Anaheim Ducks, Chris Wagner was on his way to the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate. In order to make that move, the Ducks had to cut Wagner It was only if no other NHL team wanted him that he could go to San Diego. The Avalanche, in need of more physical forwards, signed Wagner and it has paid off. In his eleven games for Anaheim he tallied zero goals, zero points and a -2 plus/minus rating. In eleven games for the Avalanche he has three goals and a +2 rating. Wagner’s physical style and high energy has been a perfect fit for the team. “I knew that’s what they picked me up for, was to be physical and compete hard,” Wagner said. “We need to bring consistency and our high-compete level every night.”
Andreas Martinsen has stepped up the physicality for the Avalanche as well. Martinsen sat out the two games prior, but coach Roy decided his presence was needed in the lineup in the second game of a home-and-home against Minnesota where the Avalanche needed some more hitting. It proved to be the right call. Martinsen takes pride in his physical game and understands the importance of his role.
“Playing physical is a big part of my game,” Martinsen stated before Wednesday’s game against Pittsburgh. “That’s what I have to do every game in order to stay up here.
“I have always liked to play physical and use my body, both on offense and defense. In Europe I kind of got a lot of penalties and stuff because of hard hits, but over here I feel like I can get away with more, as long as it is clean.”
Becoming a more physical team is a work in progress. Wagner and Martinsen have added to the overall grit of the team, as well as contributing a bit of skill. If the Avalanche can continue to combine physical play of guys like Wagner, Martinsen and McLeod with the high-level skill players on the top lines, they will be built to successfully withstand the long grind of a season and the heightened physical play of the playoffs.
After Wednesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Avalanche will head out on an important three-game trip against divisional teams. A great record against Central Division teams is one of the last hopes for Colorado to save their season. They begin on Saturday in Nashville, then head to St. Louis the following day and finish in Chicago next Tuesday.
