Ideally, Kiviranta would be the 13th forward and he may be once O’Connor returns. The Avs gave Kiviranta $1.25M, so I do not see him sitting over a rookie, unless the rookie is really playing well. Killing penalties is the biggest advantage he has over others. If Drury plays 3C, then the biggest hole is 4C. Will Bardakov go there or will they need to have Kelly play center. Bardakov has an advantage if he can play center, if not, then who will replace O’Connor on wing is up for grabs, with the ability to PK and play defensively being the biggest requirement.

I don’t know if I’d write Kivi into the lineup in pen. He seems more likely to be a fill guy, who will stay on the Avs roster the whole season because he doesn’t need development time in the AHL. The two things he has going for him are that he kills penalties and appears to have Bednar’s trust. But his ceiling is low enough that it wouldn’t be unheard of for him to be beaten out by one or more of the guys mentioned. Remember, he would have likely been the healthy scratch when Landeskog came back for the playoffs, if Colton hadn’t been injured.

As I said, it won’t ever happen, for exactly the reason you said. Bednar has a notoriously short leash for young players – which in my opinion has stunted a lot of their growth potential – so of course he’s going to roll with the vets. My lineup was a hypothetical if I were in charge of setting the lineup, because I’d like to know what we have with some of these guys.

I put T Makar in the same category as Gagne, the undrafted college FA they just signed. Both of their senior years were their most productive. Are they late bloomers or did they finally have success when they were older and bigger/stronger than their college competition? I’d like to see how both do in the AHL against older grown men before gauging whether they’re NHL players

It would be like a base jump off the Chrysler Building fun! With 3 college players and a 1 yr mini pro forward in the opening night lineup, it’s high risk with a low ceiling venture. I don’t see Bednar having Kivi, Olofsson and Burns/Manson all riding the pine.

I do not give much hope for most Avs prospects, especially when they do not have much time yet in the AHL. Let’s see what Makar can do this year.

What?? I see what you’re going for with the young guys. But this is a team with cup aspirations. You ice the best guys, who give you the best chance to win. All of the following should be in your opening night lineup. Kivi, Olofsson, Burns & Manson.

Agree. I think he’s a good AHL player. But I don’t see him as a regular bottom 6 forward.

You’d think considering their top 6 is pretty fortified & has been for awhile now (outside of 2C at points). That they would seek out players who profile more as middle 6 or more specifically bottom 6 forwards.

I don’t get their philosophy. Prischepov, Ivan, Brindley where are they going to fit long term? These are all “skill” guys. Nothing about their games translate to what you should want from your bottom 6 forward core. Penalty killing, physicality, defensively responsible, the ability to score goals in & around the net (the dirty goals).

I had hoped Kaut would become one of those guys. Then Kovalenko, which in fairness had he been given a chance or wanted to be that. Might very well have been able to excel in that type of role. But these other guys it isn’t going to happen. Maybe Bardakov? But I have a hard time believing a guy acquired for Kurtis Macdermid is going to be a legitimate NHL player lol.

Good point. Can’t see Kivi and Olof not starters.