Colorado Avalanche: 2017 Season Preview, Predictions
Forwards
As you might expect from a team that averaged just over two goals a game last season, the Colorado Avalanche’s forward depth is pretty shallow. There’s talent there, but it drops off very quickly. Hopefully the full-time addition of Tyson Jost will add some much needed scoring depth. But it’s still pretty ugly.
Projected Forward Lines
Line combinations via Daily Faceoff, roster via Cap Friendly.
Andrighetto – MacKinnon – Duchene
Landeskog – Jost – Mikko Rantanen
Nail Yakupov – J.T. Compher – Wilson
Matthew Nieto – Carl Soderberg – Blake Comeau
Extra forward candidates: Kerfoot, Toninato, Joe Colborne
On the rise: J.C. Beaudin, Julien Nantel
The top two lines actually aren’t half bad. Granted, things will be different if Duchene and/or Landeskog are traded. Hopefully both can rebound from down years to rebuild their trade value because the Avalanche need to get top prospects for them. There’s enough players fighting for roster spots that they’d be fine even if they trade both.
However, you can see the talent drops off pretty quickly once you look past the second line. Yakupov is a reclamation project at this point. He’s skilled but he hasn’t stuck in the NHL yet. This could be Yakupov’s last chance. Luckily for him, the Avalanche are a team who can give him the necessary ice time for him to develop.
Frankly, Colorado would be wise to send guys who they know aren’t a part of their future down to the minors. They have young players who are deserving of an extended look in the NHL. The Avalanche have nothing to lose by giving Kerfoot, Toninato and Nantel chances to play. It’s more important they figure out what they have in their young players than give playing time to Soderberg, Colborne and Comeau.