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MacKinnon: Capable of winning Cup; 5 players unfit to practice |
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Rick Sadowski
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First the bad news:
Coach Jared Bednar said five players – Gabriel Landeskog, Philipp Grubauer, Erik Johnson, Brandon Saad and Keaton Middleton (AHL contract) – were “unfit” to practice Monday when the Avalanche had their first official on-ice sessions of training camp.
This was a day after he said everyone was healthy, pending results of physicals and medical tests taken Sunday.
Bednar said he wasn’t permitted to specify why they couldn’t practice and didn’t know when they’d be able to. Maybe more info Tuesday.
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On a positive note, star center Nathan MacKinnon echoed Bednar’s comments from Sunday, saying he thinks the Avalanche have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup this year.
"Our expectations are to win the Cup and not just claw and scrape our way into the playoffs," MacKinnon said. "It's what we're here to do and it started today. I thought we had a great practice today getting off on the right foot.
"Every day we're going to need to get a little bit better and to come together as a group. We feel good. I think everyone's ready, everyone's in great shape. Pressure is obviously a nice thing to have."
The Avalanche have fallen in the Western Conference semifinals in seven games in each of the past two seasons, most recently to Dallas after the NHL returned to play following a three-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"You don't have many chances to win," MacKinnon said. "I thought last year there was a chance for us to win and this is another one. Two out of eight seasons for me there was a huge opportunity. We need to do everything in our power not to waste it, to take advantage of this special group we have. We need to get the job done eventually."
The Avalanche were without seven injured players when they lost 5-4 in overtime in Game 7 to the Stars.
“I think we’re very motivated,” said MacKinnon, who had 93 points (35 goals, 58 assists) in 69 regular-season games and 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 15 playoff games. He won the Lady Byng Trophy and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy.
The Avalanche are returning most of the roster that finished second in the Western Conference with a 42-20-8 record.
They made two significant moves in the offseason, acquiring Saad and defenseman Dennis Gilbert on Oct. 10 from the Chicago Blackhawks for defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Anton Lindholm, and defenseman Devon Toews on Oct. 12 from the New York Islanders for second-round draft picks in 2021 and 2022.
Toews was paired with Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar on Monday. He helped the Islanders advance to the Eastern Conference final last season before losing to the eventual Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
"I wasn't here last year, but it's clear to me that this team can do a lot of things that Tampa can do: defend hard and play good structurally and lead the offense as well," Toews said Monday.
"I'm one of the new guys trying to fit in and find my place and be part of the solution here to move forward and eventually win a Cup. The chemistry's there, we just kind of have to take the next step. I think this team has what it takes."
The NHL on Monday announced starting times for games. Here’s the Avalanche schedule and times:
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