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NHL Predictions: Central Division 5 Bold Projections

By Ryan Ritchie

May 3, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) blocks the shot of St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. The St. Louis Blues defeat the Dallas Stars 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) blocks the shot of St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. The St. Louis Blues defeat the Dallas Stars 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) reacts after a loss against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) reacts after a loss against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Colorado Finishes Last in the Division

That 6-0 preseason is not worth reading into. If the ’08 Detroit Lions (NFL) can go 4-0 in the preseason before dropping every game for a historic 0-16 record, anything can happen. Sad thing is, the Avs have a ton of solid core pieces in place. Guys like Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene, Tyson Barrie, Mikko Rantanen, and Semyon Varlamov/Calvin Pickard should make fans optimistic. The real problem is up in the press box with GM Joe Sakic.

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How many times do we have to watch teams scavenge the free agent market for other teams unwanted scraps, and then convince themselves they’re better because of it. If Fedor Tyutin and Patrick Wiercioch couldn’t cut it with their old lottery clubs, how much confidence can you have?

Perhaps if everything were to go perfectly, a team could sneak into the playoffs with this type of sloppy construction. Maybe in a weaker division like the Pacific or Atlantic, but not in the NHL’s tough Central Division. Do fans in the Mile High City honestly think this team can challenge the likes of Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, and Nashville?

If the Avs want to get the ship headed in the right direction, they might think of making a significant trade involving Matt Duchene. It’s not a knock on Duchene, but this whole who should play first line center debate is getting old. Forcing one or the other to the wing is unfair, and both are 1st line quality C’s.

Colorado could sacrifice a bit of offense to find a true top pairing defender. Again, no disrespect to Erik Johnson or Tyson Barrie, both of whom are tremendous talents. There’s this glaring hole on the back end that has bodies continually cycled through it in hopes of finding something that sticks.

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