Third Annual Real Denver Sports Helmet Awards

With the season over for the Avs, I thought we could pass out some awards to some deserving Colorado Avalanche players. Real Denver Sports would like to acknowledge the players of the Colorado Avalanche with the meaningless Helmet Awards.
The categories, strictly made up on the spot by myself are:

The P. T. Barnum Award goes to David Koci
For suckering y'all into thinking he's as good on D as anyone on this team. Surround him with a team this bad and he actually looks like he can play hockey and fooled everyone from broadcasters to bloggers.


The Friends with Benefits Award goes to Peter Budaj
For always being there when Avs management fucks up the goalie situation. He’s that fall-back slut that will always answer the phone but in the end doesn’t really make you feel any better. But you keep telling yourself he’s better than nothing.

The Endorsement Award goes to Cody McLeod
For makin’ it far enough in this town to get a Subway commercial! It would have been great to see him take a bite without his two front teeth or beat up a Sandwich Artist but it was still an entertaining commercial. Unfortunately McLeod’s Subway commercial was about as entertaining as his on-ice performance.

The Player Most Likely to be a Car Salesman Next Year goes to Peter Mueller
For…wait, who? Oh yeah, the guy who looks like he’s in a Shakespearean troop. Let’s check back next year.

The Best Call-up Award goes to Kevin Shattenkirk
Yeah, well that really worked out well, for St. Louis.

The Most pointless Call-up Award goes to Ryan Stoa
This kid is so bad that even on this team he doesn’t look good. Greg Mauldin and Mark Olver look like keepers next to him. And they’re not.

The Twitter Pollution Award goes to Matt Hunwick
He singled-thumbedly muddied up my Twitter feed with the #blamehunwick hash tag for most of the season. Why wasn’t it #blamesherman?

The Head-Scratcher Award goes to Peter Forsberg
He shows up to practice a week before the All-Star break thus preventing him from practicing with the team while the team was away. Impresses everyone with his two road games but hurriedly announces retirement before the Valentine’s Day Massacre. Did he have a vision of the future? Clearly there are things going on in Foppa’s head that no one else understands. It’s like that itch on your head that you can’t get to because of the helmet you have on. Frustrating.

The Forget-me-not Award goes to Chris Stewart
Wow, I’m gonna miss this guy. It was man-crush at first fight. He is my perfect idea of what a hockey player ought to be. He’s got scoring swagger, he’s got attitude and he’s willing to bust you up if you mess with him or a teammate. I need another tub of ice cream to help me get over this.

The Survivor Award goes to John-Michael Liles
For not getting voted off the island. He won’t win the race for the Captaincy; he just doesn’t have the coconuts for the job. But every time the tribe tries to snuff out his torch he manages to survive. The Liles trade rumors are as old and tired as the stupid show I’m using here as a metaphor.

The Inaugural David Jones Broken Man Award goes to TJ Galiardi
So much promise, so many broken body parts. Jones finally had a reasonable unbroken season and he should be honored that such an award has been named after him. Here’s hoping Galiardi gets healthy and turns out to be the kick-ass 3rd liner that we all know he really is.

The Worst Gordie Howe Hat Trick Award goes to Brandon Yip
It was one of the many things he did poorly this season, but this one just shames the idea of a GHHT. I refuse to recognize it but officially it’s there.

And finally, Adam Foote whose head is so hard he doesn’t need a Helmet Award
Nonetheless he gets the Helmet Award for being a True Avalanche. The man said he “bleeds burgundy and blue” at his retirement press conference. Man, that was beautiful.

-From the Point
  

Avalanche Burgundy & White Game

Tonight the Avs held their annual Burgundy and White game.  After a couple of years of being hosted at the Air Force Academy it was moved back to the Denver area.  The new-to-Kroenke Broomfield Center is a great little venue for just this kind of event.  The event center has been through a management change that resulted in the departure of the minor league teams.  There were reports that the locker rooms were dismantled and rumors that it would not host sporting events ever again.  Fortunately the big "A" painted at center ice was a good indication that the facility still has all it needs to run a hockey game.

Remember, "It's All About the A"

Tonight's "A" stands for Ass.  Or Adam.  Interchangeable.

Footer has been a bit pissy all camp but has been promoted to Five Star Ass after tonight's game.  Not only did he ASSault Matt Duchene twice in the game but he also took a good shot at Mueller(?) can't recall exactly.  Perhaps it's all part of a new training regime for Duchene where he gets mugged on the ice by his landlord.  It's possible, since he did get mugged a lot early last year by just about every team that played the Avs.  As for why Foote has been mugging other players at random?  I attribute it to poor eyesight.  The guy IS pretty old. 

Fantasic video, nice job by Guitarpick8120, obviously a great Avs fan!

As for the rest of the game, the goalies that matter looked good.  TJ Galiardi looked very good with his usual line mates, Stewart and Stastny.

O'Reilly looked pretty good as did Jones.  The Duchene - Mueller - Hejduk line was not impressive, though individually they looked fine.  Just not clicking as a line. 

Almost had a fight between Koci and McLeod.  Kinda glad it didn't happen, Koci is a big guy and I like McLeod.  Daniel Winnik also continues to play well.  Shattenkirk had a good game.  Porter was skating like a mad man but not getting too much done.  Stoa and Mercier were looking decent.

Sakic was spotted in the suites with the rest of the Avs Illuminati, further fueling thought that he isn't just hanging around for autographs.  He working himself into a work.

-From the Point

Avs - Sharks Game 3 Photoblog

It starts and ends with Andy

Andy's name spelled wrong.

Playoff beard sighting!

O'Reilly dropped his breezers and got his shorts taped on, mid-game.

For the Boods fans!

Crowd rockin' it!

Picking up after the yard sale.

Tired penalty killers.

AN-DY! AN-DY! AN-DY!

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday

Adam Foote hasn't had a fight in over two years, and not since Oct of 2003 has he fought in an Avs jersey. Friday night Foote was ready to go with Steve Ott of the Stars, in fact he dropped the gloves but Ott wussed out and skated away. Perhaps out of respect, Foote did not earn the unsportsmanlike penalty usually doled out to the one guy that drops the gloves.

Tomorrow the Avs play Columbus, and while a lot of BJ fans would probably like to drop the gloves with Foote, chances are higher that Jared Boll and Cody McLeod will duke it out. The two have gone at it before and McLeod can't seem to come out on top. Let's take a look.




So don't be surprised if McLeod has reviewed these videos himself in order to try to figure out what he needs to do to get a few good punches to land.

Foote has been a bit cranky all season, perhaps itching for a fight. He's currently third on the team in PIM despite no fights. For quite a while he was even leading the team in PIM. Well Nashville is your chance Footer. You and Jordin Tootoo have dropped the gloves several times back in your Columbus days. Take a gander...



Alrighty then...and the end of the week wraps up with the Oilers. There aren't many teams that the Avs fight more often than the Oil. And Ryan Wilson will probably be looking for Jean-Francois Jaques in this game. Jaques put Willie out of the last game with a huge hit behind the net. Wilson is a scrappy guy and I suspect he will want to let the Oil know he isn't going to put up with that. This season's series between the Oil and the Avs has been progressively heating up, beginning with a huge hit that Wilson put the Oil captain, Ethan Moreau. So I expect a few fisticuffs.

Have a great week folks and give it the ole one-two punch!

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday

Last season the Avs and the Stars had one fight filled game on Oct. 18th 2008. Of the six guys in those fights only two remain with the same two teams. Steve Ott and Cody McLeod.
With the Avs and the Stars facing off twice this week, we’re bound to see a little action between the two.
But last season they did not fight each other. Ott went up against Lappy and McLeod fought BJ Crombeen.
Here’s the Ott vs. Laperriere




Here’s the McLeod vs. Crombeen



And here is an interesting fight involving Steve Ott and Yan Stastny!



As far as I know Paul Stastny is yet to have an NHL fight. His father and two uncles had a few here and there. He’ll probably get one eventually and it’s bound to be as shocking as it was to see Wolski fighting the other night.

Five for Fighting Monday

This a Cody McCormick - Jarome Iginla fight, but the best part is right at the beginning Cody McLeod just decks Dion Phaneuf! The video is worth watching over and over just for that one second. Keep watching, because they show it again.

Avs New Years Resolutions

Did you see Attitude doing those lame locker room interviews before the Wings game? Asking the guys what their New Year’s resolutions are? I mean, you gotta have some connections, like me, to get straight answers outa these guys. So I sat down for a beer with each and every one of the guys, all in one night, so I might not remember all this correctly, but here we go;

Stats said he is gonna give up the wooden twig – the highest paid guy on the team is playing with the cheapest stick. So maybe Dad’s advice isn’t always gospel.

Svats said he is gonna fight more often, if he ever gets back in a game.

Budaj resolves to play no more games for the Avs this season, thereby making him the highest paid player-per-game for the Avs.

David Koci gave Boods a look on that and said, Whatever, I’ll still be the highest paid player-per-minute! Koci’s reso is to find time to read more books.

Milan Hejduk: I recall he told the Altitude crew last year that he didn’t think he had any personal improvements to make, therefore no resolutions! That’s some funny stuff Milan. Ok, I agree, you have been one of the most consistently producing Avs for a long time, don’t change! I really have no idea what he told me, I was pretty drunk by then and he is pretty tough to understand sober!

WW said he is going to live up to your expectations no matter how unreasonable they are!  And he reminded me that he dated her,  so how is that for a start?

Liles said he is going to stop growing that pathetic looking beard until the Avs make the playoffs.

Dater is going to give the attendance issues a break till next season, wait, how did that get in here???

David Jones said he is gonna stop getting hurt so much…then promptly slipped in my vomit. If it wasn’t for bad luck, he wouldn’t have any luck at all.

McLeod said he is gonna throw more octopi, more punches and more pucks at the net.

Andy said he is gonna be the #1 star at home more often so he can give those great interviews that the crowd loves.

Stewie said he is going to get more Gordie Howe hat tricks Trivia, how many Gordie Howe Hat Tricks did Gordie have? Leave a comment with your answer!

-From the Point

Caps @ Avs photo blog

Five for Fighting Monday

Heading into the week it's a good idea to be prepared for the fight ahead.
Cody McLeod and Adam Burish are here to help us prepare for our first day of the weekly rat race. Try pounding the crap out of your Monday the way McLeod hands it to Burish. That should get your week off to a good start!
The Avs meet the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night in the Windy City. Mr. Mustache and the Hawks will be looking for revenge (in the form of a W) for the recent loss in Denver. Besides, neither McLeod or Burish is fit for a rematch in the game scheduled for Wednesday night. McLeod is still recovering from his eye injury and wearing a visor. Common sense would dictate he avoid going toe-to-toe with anyone, though he is as feisty as ever. Adam Burish went down in the preseason with an ACL injury and is currently on IR.
So if it's no-shave November, shouldn't coach Q consider shaving his permanent 'stache to provide the ying to the yang for the rest of us that are growing the facial hair?

-From the Point

Avs Hit the Road...Road hits Back

So much for going 82-0. Of course we knew that wasn’t going to happen, right? Riiight? There has been a lot of Avalanche Kool-aid drinking after those first two games. The Colorado Avalanche has the honor of being the visiting team for two club’s opening nights in a row! Nashville and now Chicago. That can make things tougher than they already are.
And how tough is it to make 35 saves a night? Just ask Craig Anderson. You just can’t expect a guy to make 35 save every freakin’ game. You’ve got to help him out. Tonight we found out that Anderson IS human! Hornqvist completely faked him out but Andy got lucky that the puck hit his skate AND that the refs made a distinct mistake on the no-goal call. Arnott did NOT make a distinct kicking motion, sure, he knew what he was doing, but I didn’t see the kick, did you? That should have been a goal. And I know it’s only three games in but, what’s up with Duchie? Is he starting to grip? He’s getting 2-3 good chances a game, great chances, getting a ton of ice time…this kid needs a goal.
I think Kyle Quincey is looking good and making me look bad, (I said he looked lazy in camp, well he did!!) it’s cool. If he keeps sending great outlet passes up the ice...yeah, it’s cool! The Avs haven’t really had that guy in a long time.
Defense, defense, defense. What’s with Foote giving it away up the middle!?!?!?! At least twice, whew…
McLeod getting more ice time that Wolski, not a good sign.
Stewart was invisible.
O’Reilly looking lost.
Rusty was rusty.
But…
Kyle Cumiskey is so fast and looking better defensively.
Tucker is in the house!
The Duke still has those magic hands. Lookin’ pretty good on the PP.

-From the Point

Photos: AP

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

Colorado Hockey Insider - Cody McLeod

Colorado Hockey Insider was kind enough to publish my story on Cody McLeod in their online edition. Please take the time to head over there and check them out!
You can find my story about Colorado Avalanche player Cody McLeod and a lot of other good stuff on their site.
Take a look! Just click on the embedded web page to go to their site.


Posted by: From the Point

First Annual Real Denver Sports Helmet Awards

With the season over for the Avs, I thought we could pass out some awards to some deserving Colorado Avalanche players. Real Denver Sports would like to acknowledge the players of the Colorado Avalanche with the meaningless Helmet Awards.
The categories, strictly made up on the spot, by myself and the staff are:

You Played Your Ass off for a Crappy Team: Ryan Smyth
Ryan Smyth should be the next Captain of this team, hopefully that is a year from now, but anyway...this guy really stepped up when the going got tough. Sorry Paul, I thought this was your team, but I've yet to see this kind of leadership from you.

Bones Like Twigs Award: Paul Stastny
Will someone please deliver this trophy to Paul? I really don't see a need for him to trip...er, walk up these steps to the podium...here just take this down to him...stay where you are Paul.

The Player Most in Need of a Neighborhood Kid-Joe Sakic
Poor Joe, what a crappy season. I want all you kids living around Joe to step up and start doing some chores! For goodness sake, will some one please mow his lawn for him this Summer?

Best Name Award-Cal Clutterbuck
Every year (um, starting this year) we give out this award, it's one of the funnest ones of the evening! Ok, I just wish he was an Avalanche.

Best Hockey Nose-Adam Foote
No argument!

Player Most Likely to be a Car Salesman Next Year-Andrew Raycroft
...is Andrew here...Razor...? Didn't think so.

You don't have to be pretty to play hockey-Ian Lapperriere

But it Doesn't Hurt-John-Michael Liles

Best Call-up Award-Chris Stewart

I guess in this age of Sidney (can't we just call him Sid?) Crosby, I was a little impatient with Stewart. Because the Avs sent him down early in training camp I was worried that he was a bust. He probably just had some normal growing up to do, and I think the Avs probably handled it well. He looks ready to start growing on an NHL team. His defense might need a little work but I like his tenacity. I don't see him ever going back to the minors.

Most durable player-Milan Hejduk
Wow, after that off-season scare due to some Czech newspaper reporting Milan's bum knee giving out at any minute, it's a wonder that the man with the Magic Hands played 82 games. The ONLY Avs player to do so. Milan Hejduk does not get enough credit in this town. This guy has been solid on this team for years, let's hope he sticks around a while longer.

Most pointless call-up-Per Ledin

Best facial hair-Ben Guite
Cue up the porn music!

Worst facial hair-Three way tie, Raycroft, Liles & Tucker
These goofs get this award for growing late season beards. Have you guys looked at the standings lately? Are those golf course beards? Wait, maybe they're "We're out of the playoffs" beards? WTF? Besides, Liles looks like a goof, that beard is Elfish. Shave it!

And our most prestigious award of the night, that is why it is saved for last is the
Most Balanced Player Award- Tyler Arnason
This goes to the guy that most exemplifies the all-around hockey tradition. The guy that does it all! We are proud to present this award to Tyler. With 5 goals and 6 hits*, you can't get more balanced than that!

That's it folks, we are running late, no time for your speech Tyler!!
Your late, local news is next!

Posted by: From the Point

*This stat represents the entire 2008-09 season.

Farewell to Leaders and Followers

First, the leaders.
Sunday will be the end (thankfully) of the season for the Colorado Avalanche. It could well be the end of an era as well. The Joe Sakic era. If Jakeleg Joe manages to get his body up to par, or even 80%, and decides to hit the ice this weekend, I will be there to see what may be his last NHL game. Last season I disgustedly left the last game of the year, that disastrous performance against the hated Red Wings, in the middle of the game. Never thinking twice that it might be Sakic’s last game. I was horrified to hear the reports that he had asked to be on the ice for the last shift. I realized as everyone did that we might have seen the last of him. Well, I won’t make that mistake this time. Besides, it can’t be worse than that was, even the stupid Wings fans around us felt bad for us, it was such a whipping.



A farewell to Ian Laperriere may be in order as well. He and the Avs management seem to be having some difficulty in agreeing on a salary for next year. Lappy was recently quoted by Aaron Lopez of InDenverTimes.com. Asked if he would take less money to stay in Denver and attempt to help the Avs return to respectability, Laperriere was his usual honest self.
“I think I’ve played all my career on discounts,” he told me after a recent practice. “I’ll leave it at that.”
Now does that mean Lappy is digging his heals in and is tired of playing for a discount? Or is it an acknowledgement that he feels he has to fight this battle every time contract talks start? It’s difficult to know, but being a guy that was drafted in the 7th round; he has been fighting (literally) for a decent salary his whole career. Is Lappy looking for the most bang for the buck on what is likely his last contract in the NHL? The Avs (stupidly) may not be willing to pay him. That may mean “It’s (gonna be) All About Cody”.

Now, the followers.
Tyler Arnason, Andrew Raycroft, and Brian Willsie are just a few of the guys that should not be invited back to this dismal squad. Unfortunately, with the apparent cap space that the Avs don’t have, they may have to shuffle in different, gritty, under-performing, well-traveled guys. That statement isn’t completely hopeless. Chris Stewart appears to have made a very nice transition onto the Avs this season and I fully expect to see him stay in Denver and never go back to Erie. This is a pleasant surprise; I really thought Stewart was going to be a bust. Two years ago he was sent back to Erie before training camp was even wrapped up! Last year he stuck around longer but there sure wasn’t much buzz about our #1 pick from 2006. He looks to be a much better asset than Arny or Willsie.

Now this may or may not be true at the goal position. The guys down in the minors may get a real chance to play in the big leagues. But that may lead to another season like this one in the nets. It’s always a guessing game when it comes to goalies making the transition from the minors to the majors. So do the Avs trust in that transition or go sign a UFA goalie with “potential”?

Posted by: From the Point

It's (gonna be) All About Cody Mac

Cody McLeod, that is. Who dares borrow the motto of Lappy lovers the world over? Well, I do. And I’m tellin’ you right now that this guy is going to be an important part of the Avalanche in the future. Laperriere has been an important guy on this team since the Avs picked him up for the 2005-06 season. Lappy isn’t Joe Sakic but I think most people would agree that he has leadership abilities that a team needs. He fights, he never stops yapping at the opponent, he kills penalties...Lappy is the kind of player every team needs. I’ve got a bulletin for you all, Lappy isn’t getting any younger, and his contract is up this season and he very well could be traded if the Avs decide to be sellers. Personally I think the Avs would be smart to sign him for a couple more years. But this isn’t about Lappy, it’s about McLeod.

Cody McLeod is rapidly becoming a guy the Avs can count on. McLeod is always hustlin’, always jawin’ at somebody and isn’t averse to tossin’ an octopus…back to whence it came! In the future he could be the leader that Lappy is today. He could be that guy. At the beginning of this season a lot of people thought that the Avs had signed on too many gritty guys. I would agree, and I don’t recall thinking that McLeod was going to be a stand out amongst them, surely that was more likely going to be a guy like Tucker. Regardless of what Tucker’s problem is this season, McLeod has risen above the average grinder. Guite, McCormick, guys like that aren’t that hard to find. McLeod has become what Tucker was supposed to be, what Lappy has been.

McLeod is one of the few guys on this team residing on the positive side of the +/- statistic. McLeod is on pace to hit 18 goals, 24 points and 170 PIM. And McLeod, like Lappy doesn’t take many bad penalties, he often brings an opposing player to the box with him. At a salary of about $500,000 he is one of the lowest paid players on the Avalanche. Next year he is an RFA, so the Avs don’t need to worry about losing him, but I think they would be wise to do what they can to make him happy.

Granted, McLeod could be having a once in a lifetime season, no one can really know one way or another until we get a couple years down the line. Reporters seem to all be asking him the same question: are you surprised at how much rubber you’ve put at the back of the net? McLeod seems to be taking it in stride but I’m getting the feeling he isn’t as surprised as they are. In his 2004-05 (WHL) season he put 31 in the net, totaled 60 points and nearly 200 penalty minutes. At his age and presumably reasonable salary, there’s no reason not to find out what the future of this kid holds. The similarities between McLeod and Lappy; a love to jaw, ain’t afraid to fight and just a little bit unpretty. What have the Avs got to lose?
Posted by: From the Point