Avalanche Offseason
Landeskog, Burns Among Avalanche Participating in Recent Skates
Captain skates are so much better when the captain is around.
As players have started to trickle into town to prepare for training camp and the new season, the captain has led the charge for skates at Family Sports. Informal practices with Gabe Landeksog present and a full participant? That’s a nice change. It’s been four long years since we’ve seen this.
Among the others that have skated in recent weeks, Brent Burns is in town and on the ice. Brock Nelson also skated before making his way to Plymouth, Mich., for the USA Hockey orientation camp. And of course, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews are in Calgary for Canada’s camp.
The Avs also have quite a few younger players skating. Nikita Prishchepov has been a staple of these skates, as well as Zakhar Bardakov, Sean Behrens, and recently, Gavin Brindley.
Behrens will participate in the rookie showcase at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch coming up on Sept. 12. And Brindley, Colorado’s most recent trade acquisition, is hoping to find a role with the club after being part of the deal that sent Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
I’d suspect next week after Labor Day is when these skates will start to intensify on a regular basis. Perhaps that includes appearances from other notables like Mackenzie Blackwood, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Martin Necas.
The Avs open camp three weeks from today — on Sept. 18 at Family Sports. And per usual, all skates at that rink will be open to the public.
Aarif..Puckpedia shows the Avs with $1.3m in cap space with 23 roster spots filled and OC on IR. Assuming Bardakov takes 4C to start the season, it leaves the Avs with 2 open spots and around $3m in cap space. Do you think they will keep 1 or 2 extra Eagles like Ivan/Prish/Steinberg, try to sign another veteran or start with 21 and call up as necessary so they can get some ice time in Loveland.
good question, i’d be interested in Aarif’s take as well. my guess is that they might primarily roll with just 22 on the roster with Middleton as the 7th D most of the season, and only call up a spare forward for long road trips with Eagles mostly doing the up/down dance for cap accrual purposes.
Just want to mention, I love Nikita Prishchepov! He just oozes that hard-working, team-first vibe that will make him popular with fans, teammates, and hopefully coaches. He really seems like the Russian Logan O’Connor to me, and I truly think we have a 7th rounder steal with him.
I get the same vibes from Prishchepov and to your point I understand that at these skates he has frequently attached himself to Landeskog and peppered him with lots of questions. Got to love a player who desires…and works to get better
Lmao. Let’s actually see some numbers from these guys first before we go drooling over them gents.
Not expecting anything from the 32nd ranked prospect pool according to the athletic
woops just realized i posted this under wrong article, lol