News and Notes and Such

Colorado Avalanche select Matt Duchene.

Hopefully the Avs got a great player. But we may have to wait a while to find out. Perhaps he will play this season for the Avs. Everyone thought that Paul Stastny would need at least a year in the minors, but it didn't work out that way. The Avs need the help so hopefully he will be ready this year.

On the goalie front...well, we are still waiting. Jonas Gustavsson made a stop in Denver, he's been contacted by Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg in an effort to get him to sign in Denver.

All along people have been sort of poo-pooing the reports that he may not want to be the starter. He is interested in a situation where mentoring is a priority. Frankly I think that is a sign tot he Avs that they need to look elsewhere. We need a starter, a guy with cockiness and the drive to win. Not some guy that is interested in being mentored. That's what your other leagues are for, not the NHL.

Joe Sakic knows what he is going to do, and so do the Avs, but we don't. While I'm annoyed with the fact that we don't know what is going on, I'm glad the Avs know. I was prepared to get on Joe for leaving the team hanging as long as last year. Yes, he is Joe Sakic and he deserves all the respect that a former Hall of Famer should get. But at the same time, this is a team game and in the interest of the team, he owes it to them to inform them in a timely manner what his intentions are. And now that he has...again...we wait.

If you read this blog or know me, you know I'm a huge fan of McLeod. The McLeod deal is good to see. The Avs have signed a quality 3rd liner for acceptable money. And now that Lappy is as good as gone, McLeod and (gulp) Tucker had better step up and become greater role players.

Hiring Konowalchuk is great. This is a guy that I think will provide real leadership on the bench, don't forget he was a captain in Washington. Not bad for a guy drafted in the third round.

That about wraps it for now. Tomorrow the Avs will draft a bunch of guys that we probably won't see for years. Let's hope they do a good job, nonetheless.

Up next is free agency. The Avs are bound to be up to something. I would like to see Greg Sherman go for savvy over sensational. Smart vs. splash. The Avs will have to do something in the goalie market. And depending on what Joe has told them he is going to do, well that will make a huge difference.

Posted by: From the Point