NHL Power Rankings: Week 15 Injuries, Prospects, In-Depth Analysis
Previous Ranking: 28 (-1)
Team Record: (13-28-1)
Goals For: 86
Goals Against: 142
Special Teams
PP: 19-for-140 (13.6 percent) (T-27th)
PK: 34-for-159 (78.6 percent) (24th)
Injury List
Erik Johnson (leg) – out until mid-February
Semyon Varlamov (going) – shut down until after All-Star break
Statistical Leaders in 2016-17
Top Forward: Nathan MacKinnon (42gp 11g 19a 30pts)
Top Defenseman: Tyson Barrie (42gp 3g 20a 23pts)
Top Rookie: Mikko Rantanen (37gp 6g 12a 18pts)
Top Goaltender: Calvin Pickard (7-11-1 3.06GAA .902 save percentage)
Player of the Week: F Nathan MacKinnon (3gp 1g 2a 3pts)
Veteran Semyon Varlamov returned from injury this past week and got the nod in all three games. The question is, why? As expected, his lousy season picked up where it left off and just continued for three straight losses in which he allowed three or more goals in each start. Varlamov apparently re-aggravated the groin injury though and it appears as though he will now be shut down until after the All-Star break. Sticking with the goaltending, I could see why Jared Bednar felt he needed to give the Russian veteran those starts after Calvin Pickard allowed four or more goals in three of five starts, including six goals versus Calgary and NY Rangers. That being said, any expectations of success are out the window at this point. Pickard is a young netminder and these rough stretches tend to happen. Just look at the debacle over in Winnipeg. It doesn’t mean Hellebuyck won’t be a great starter in this league one day. With the Avs likely dangling Varlamov’s $5.9 million dollar contract in Las Vegas’ face (his old GM by the way), mid as well give this kid as many starts as possible down the stretch – experience is key.
Things could get very interesting over the next month and a half if you’re an Avs fan. You’ve heard the rumors, now it’s just a matter of time before the dominoes start falling. I’m not sure we’ll see as many bodies moving out as presumed, but we’ll definitely see a few significant pieces being moved to acquire major future assets. It should be an exciting time to be an Avs fan after the way things have played out the past few years. Just think, you might finally find a solution to the blue line issues, and you’ve got upcoming talent such as Tyson Jost, A.J. Greer, and J.T. Compher, among others. If management plays their cards right, a simple re-tool will help this franchise get back to being contenders relatively quickly.
Weekly Prospect Profile: D Duncan Siemens, San Antonio (AHL)
2016-17 stats: 39gp 2g 2a 4pts
If you’re looking for reasons that contribute to the Avs current struggles, look no further. Colorado used an 11th overall selection on Siemens, but swung and missed – just one of a few over a 4-5 year period. There’s still hope that the 23-year-old could be a late bloomer, but at this point, the odds are stacked against him.
– Ryan Ritchie