Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman on Tuesday’s The Jeff Marek Show: Third Frame Frenzy episode on the Colorado Avalanche.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Marek: “Colorado drops one to Philadelphia 5-3. Good on the Philadelphia Flyers for this one. The Colorado Avalanche within the course of lose Nathan MacKinnon. He will get rubbed into the boards by Scott Laughton. Came out and tried to present it a twirl. You might inform on that wrist shot that his, one thing to do together with his ribs or one thing in that space was actually bugging him. He leaves the sport. Jared Bednar saying he’s going to be out for a bit.
So now between Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen and Evan Rodrigues, the Avalanche have 5 of their prime six forwards out of the lineup. And the final time I checked Elliotte, Dallas was actually good. Winnipeg was actually good, and don’t look now. Minnesota has simply received 4 video games in a row. This ain’t going to assist the Avs Elliotte.”
Friedman: “So Colorado now has used 22 forwards this yr. Which looks like an absurdly excessive quantity.
Marek: “How many did you say?”
Friedman: “22. 22 forwards already this yr. The nice folks at Sportsnet Stats, I despatched them a word this morning, what’s the report?
And they discovered a workforce, a Bruins workforce, from the early 90’s I believe it was, that used 38 forwards.
So, take into consideration this. They’ve used 22 forwards. We’re at like 30 video games. Not even. They’re simply previous midway to the report. It’s unimaginable.
Now, I believe the Avalanche, and also you’re proper, that division seems to be actually robust, no shock. I believe the Avalanche will attempt to maintain with what they’ve as a lot as they will.
They had been already searching for a middle Jeff. They’re searching for one however I believe the factor with them was, we are able to wait. We can plug the holes. We can provide different folks like Newhook alternatives, however we are able to wait.
Now I ponder if that’s going to speed up issues. Like the Avalanche say, ‘okay, maybe we can’t wait as lengthy anymore. We should exit and get both, somebody who can simply play, play the place.’ You might in all probability exit and get a Chris Tierney or one thing like that.
Tierney’s a man who’s been within the NHL a very long time. He’s been within the AHL a piece this yr, however that’s like form of the man you will get in there. I truly, that was one I form of puzzled if Columbus may exit and get once they had been down facilities. You might do one thing like that or you could possibly exit and take your large swing.
I believe in some unspecified time in the future they’re going to take an enormous swing, whether or not it’s Jonathan Toews or Bo Horvat or one thing like that. I believe they’re going to do this in some unspecified time in the future.
But I ponder, do they nonetheless wait on that or do they begin to look now a bit extra.
Marek: “I simply marvel how a lot of it is determined by manufacturing of everyone round them. Like Dallas is enjoying Toronto evening, Vegas enjoying Florida tonight, and what’s taking place with Minnesota as effectively.
This is territory proper now we’re not used to seeing the Avalanche in. When you have a look at the standings and also you don’t see them within the prime three. Now, they’re nonetheless in a wild-card place, them and the Oilers, however this isn’t territory we’re used to seeing the Avalanche in.
So I’m with you. I ponder if this pushes issues ahead. Those had been the 2 I used to be going to circle to, Chicago and Vancouver, whether or not we begin to marvel extra or speculate extra or report on extra, that the Avalanche may must go big-game searching right here. I don’t know if that is the timeframe for bandaids or is it time for some greater surgical procedure. I’m with you on that one.