Avalanche revamp roster, yet lingering issues continue to threaten their Cup hopes
Photo credit: Jack Dempsey / CPR News
The Colorado Avalanche have recently bolstered their bottom-six forward core, but will it be enough depth to climb the mountain again and win the Stanley Cup this upcoming season?
Although the head office's efforts have been commendable, many fans still have lingering doubts.
Will Avalanche's late offseason moves be enough for Lord Stanley?
Stefano Rubino of The Hockey News seemed optimistic about the offseason moves the Colorado Avalanche have made, but the question will always remain, is it enough?
"You can't ask your bottom-six to produce at a better or similar rate than your top-six, but you do ask them to play a particular role for the team. Can these guys play on the penalty kill? How well are they defensively in their own end of the ice? Can they still contribute now and then to help alleviate some pressure from the top six if things aren't clicking some nights." -Rubino
The Avalanche have added promising talents like Victor Olofsson and Gavin Brindley, while re-signing Brock Nelson and Joel Kiviranta. You also have prospects ready to make their mark like Jack Drury, Ivan Ivan and Logan O'Connor.
"Before the additions of Olofsson and Kiviranta, the Avalanche were looking to ice players like Ivan, Nikita Prischchepov, and Makar, many of whom have less than 30-40 games of NHL experience. It is essential to have promising young talent on your team for the organization's future. Still, this team is in its prime to win now, and having these guys in the bottom six could be good for a game here and there if there is an injury or rest, but starting every day is not quintessential to a championship roster." -Rubino
But what happens if prospects like Drury and Ivan don't work out? Or if one of them go down with injury; you have no backup option. Everything will have to go perfect to truly say the Avalanche have a deep roster.
It will be a coin toss whether or not the Avalanche have enough to make another Cup run. They already have enough adversity, with how the season schedule is structured.
With the difficulty of the Western Conference, it will be more important than ever that the Avalanche have four lines that can skate with anyone.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 8 | 25 ANSWERS Avalanche revamp roster, yet lingering issues continue to threaten their Cup hopes Will the Avalanche finish first in the Central Division this year? | ||
| yes | 14 | 56 % |
| no | 11 | 44 % |
| List of polls | ||
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