Rick Sadowski: Pickard debuts with Varly, Berra hurt; Avs blow another lead

Is the road match ups getting to Roy again without the last change? Me thinks it is

What made us hard to play against last year was the speed. This year we have three guys that are total speed liabilities and really don't bring anything outside a veteran presence. Its gonna be tough when you have two forwards in and they have to wait for the third to actually get there.

I didn't expect a cup run this year and I guess if your gonna be bad might as well be terrible. At the end of this year Briere is done. I can only hope that they don't do anything drastic to try and right the ship. Don't trade a high pick and don't move forwards to bolster the D. We have D prospects coming and just need to be patient. Look how long Chicago and L.A. suffered before they got it together. We have the forward talent just need the D to catch up. Siemens looked promising and they still rave about Bigras. They will both be on the team next year barring any major setbacks.

What made us hard to play against last year was the speed. This year we have three guys that are total speed liabilities and really don't bring anything outside a veteran presence. Its gonna be tough when you have two forwards in and they have to wait for the third to actually get there.

I didn't expect a cup run this year and I guess if your gonna be bad might as well be terrible. At the end of this year Briere is done. I can only hope that they don't do anything drastic to try and right the ship. Don't trade a high pick and don't move forwards to bolster the D. We have D prospects coming and just need to be patient. Look how long Chicago and L.A. suffered before they got it together. We have the forward talent just need the D to catch up. Siemens looked promising and they still rave about Bigras. They will both be on the team next year barring any major setbacks.
- HarvP

I couldn't agree more. Forget last year and remember that you are a team on the rise traveling a winding road. I like the forwards you have, and with more seasoning they will be beastly. Should have tried to keep Stastny but some things are easier said than done. I figured a dip would take place this year but I still don't think a lottery pick will happen. Wait for Jarome to get going, Mr. November he is not.

Meh sloppy game by two very young teams ,we got the bounces tonight.It will get better avs fans. Your team is too good for it not to

Meh sloppy game by two very young teams ,we got the bounces tonight.It will get better avs fans. Your team is too good for it not to
- top shelf 15

I was at the game last night and even though there was a lot of turnovers by the Avs forwards and the D is suspect; your top 6 is pretty amazing to watch!! Varly in Net and we lose this one!! Especially with that awful 1st period when I think the Sens thought they were still doing player introductions!

Is the road match ups getting to Roy again without the last change? Me thinks it is
- DDM-Coga

The lack of depth in the bottom 6/ defensemen is usually more apparent during road games since you can't make sure to "protect" some players.

Sami Aittokallio has been recalled and Dennis Everberg has been reassigned....WTF

Sami Aittokallio has been recalled and Dennis Everberg has been reassigned....WTF
- AvsFanYeaa

wow, last week the kid gets praise from the coach on how he's doing all the right things, and now, 5 games in, he's reassigned. However, I can see the potential in the kid as a Power Forward, a bigger stronger version of Deadmarsh hopefullly...that being said, the kid isnt ready for top 6 and should not be playing bottom six. Let him play top 6 with the Monsters and come back strong next year

time for martin brodeur to take his act to colorado with the goalie injuries?

Sami Aittokallio has been recalled and Dennis Everberg has been reassigned....WTF
- AvsFanYeaa

yup my biggest fear with Roy and this roster, he refuses to healthy his "vets". Talbot, Briere, and McLeod do not deserve to be taking regular shifts right now.

It was the easy way out to send down Everberg to recall Sami bc Berra is really hurt.

I dont think we can IR Berra, with Varly, Bordy, and Winchester already on it.
Everberg doesnt require waivers to be sent down, however god forbid Roy sending down Cliche with the chance "he gets picked up on waivers"

wow, last week the kid gets praise from the coach on how he's doing all the right things, and now, 5 games in, he's reassigned. However, I can see the potential in the kid as a Power Forward, a bigger stronger version of Deadmarsh hopefullly...that being said, the kid isnt ready for top 6 and should not be playing bottom six. Let him play top 6 with the Monsters and come back strong next year
- 10baci

I think its more to do with Injuries, already guys on the IR, and having a 23 man roster. Everberg is waiver excempt, other forwards and dmen are not

time for martin brodeur to take his act to colorado with the goalie injuries?
- MrPerfect316

Brodeur under Roy orders!?!?

Might be better off with Budaj!

Brodeur under Roy orders!?!?

Might be better off with Budaj!
- Raven33

Dont say Budaj, we probably will trade McGinn for him....

I don't know...have to say i'm pretty disappointed by this start. And yes I realize it's just the start. Losing is one thing but this is like watching a totally different team than last year. I get that gross feeling that this is closer to the tank years than the dream season. There's an awful lot of change where we didn't need change and no change where we did. Where's the fun, youthful energy we saw all of last season?

We had one flaw...our D. Holdin/Guenin were feel good stories that ended. Hedja looks old and our one change is adding Stuart? That's four of six that are just painful to watch.

Our forwards were young, but I hardly see that as a flaw. I think this was a poor choice to go out and acquire vets well past prime. That's just not what this club needed. Those are the pieces you add when you're ready for a cup run, we weren't there yet but now we're stuck with the contracts. By the time we round out and acquire some new defence these old vets will be done anyways.

It's early, and we'll get our wins but boy oh boy does the botched Stastny situation feel bigger today than it was during the summer.

Dont say Budaj, we probably will trade McGinn for him....
- DDM-Coga

Can't see Budaj costing much as he's in the AHL on an NHL salary right now so... maybe a late pick...

Would be funny to get him on time for tomorrow and Budaj getting the shutout vs his former team!

I don't know...have to say i'm pretty disappointed by this start. And yes I realize it's just the start. Losing is one thing but this is like watching a totally different team than last year. I get that gross feeling that this is closer to the tank years than the dream season. There's an awful lot of change where we didn't need change and no change where we did. Where's the fun, youthful energy we saw all of last season?

We had one flaw...our D. Holdin/Guenin were feel good stories that ended. Hedja looks old and our one change is adding Stuart? That's four of six that are just painful to watch.

Our forwards were young, but I hardly see that as a flaw. I think this was a poor choice to go out and acquire vets well past prime. That's just not what this club needed. Those are the pieces you add when you're ready for a cup run, we weren't there yet but now we're stuck with the contracts. By the time we round out and acquire some new defence these old vets will be done anyways.

It's early, and we'll get our wins but boy oh boy does the botched Stastny situation feel bigger today than it was during the summer.
- Fols19

Thats how I feel now too, its fine to add them at the deadline for that little extra edge but those additions are not helping this team make it to a playoff position right now.

I think the roster is stuck as some of those old vets have no value or NTCs and we cant do anything to inject life into the current lines and pairings. If this team has a shot at doing anything this season, its going to have to be from within by guys elevating their level of play

Can't see Budaj costing much as he's in the AHL on an NHL salary right now so... maybe a late pick...

Would be funny to get him on time for tomorrow and Budaj getting the shutout vs his former team!
- Raven33

Former team and heck...we play the Jets on the 26th. Can a man shutout two former teams in a span of one week?

Former team and heck...we play the Jets on the 26th. Can a man shutout two former teams in a span of one week?
- Fols19

EDIT: Anderson got 1 for 2 (Florida & Colorado) ...but at least both wins!

We had one flaw...our D. Holdin/Guenin were feel good stories that ended. Hedja looks old and our one change is adding Stuart? That's four of six that are just painful to watch.
- Fols19

Guenin and Stuart are nothing more than pylons. I get so frustrated watching Stuart get burned time and time again.

I realize that maybe we were going to regress some this year. The team is still working on chemistry and learning to win (younger players), I know that things will get better and the team will get better as the season goes. I just wished I would not have came into the season with such high hopes.

I realize that maybe we were going to regress some this year. The team is still working on chemistry and learning to win (younger players), I know that things will get better and the team will get better as the season goes. I just wished I would not have came into the season with such high hopes.
- JeffShantz

No amount of line-juggling by Roy is going to make up for the fact that Stastny is gone and replaced by two slow, aging has beens.

This was foreseeable and predicted way back in July. It's not going to get better anytime soon.

Sure we have some exciting young players that are going to be fun to watch and will win a few games...but I think this year is a massive rude awakening for Avs fans.

Sami Aittokallio has been recalled and Dennis Everberg has been reassigned....WTF
- AvsFanYeaa

Yeah, that was a serious head-scratcher. I know they want Mitchell (and I do as well) in there but sending Everberg down just makes no sense. He has been one of the few guys that have consistently played pretty well.
And as far as last night goes, I don't think the Avs would have won even if Varly was in net. Varly didn't play well last game. The final two goals were pretty soft. But the bigger issues I saw was the Avs just looked *tired* in the 3rd period. Maybe this long road trip is getting to them but either way, they just looked flat late in the game.

The bright spot right now is the Avs are doing a really good job on the PK. If they could just get the PP going (and stop taking so many stupid penalties) this thing could turn around pretty quickly...