Avalanche's upcoming season hinges on one key player's success
Photo credit: The Sporting News
The Colorado Avalanche are heading into this season with some roster spots up for grabs in the bottom-six forward slots, most notably at the 4th line centre position and Ivan Ivan is the leading candidate for that role.
Ivan is the only natural centre out of the players fighting for that spot on the team.
Ivan Ivan poised to make Avalanche roster to start the season.
Conor Lively of Mile High Sticking analyzed the bottom-six forwards and the prospects the Avalanche have to fill in the missing pieces. The most-discussed question is who will take the center spot on the fourth line, with Ivan Ivan currently the favourite.
"Therefore, the gap now becomes 4C and that's a role that Ivan could fill. However, Ivan Ivan is a dismal 40.9% in the dot in the NHL. The only other in-house option would be to move Parker Kelly back to center, but that diminishes his effectiveness." -Lively
It is important to note out of the candidates being discussed, Nikita Prishchepov, Matthew Stienburg, and Tye Felhaber, Ivan has the most NHL experience with 40 games already under his belt.
Furthermore, when we look at how he fits into the lineup, we can see a very respectable bottom-six forming.
"After the signings of Joel Kiviranta and Olofsson, the Avalanche have filled out the bottom of the lineup nicely. If we move Drury to 3C and pair him with Ross Colton and Olofsson, that leaves Parker Kelly, Kiviranta and then Ivan Ivan, if he can win the job. Kiviranta and Kelly have already established good chemistry together. Ivan's hustle and willingness to get down in front of the net should complement Kiviranta and Kelly very well." -Lively
If you resort to moving Kelly to the wing, than you can have an Olofsson-Kelly-Ivan line which would bring lots of grit and some added scoring touch.
It would be in everyone's interest if Ivan works out. It would prevent the Avalanche from having to trade more assets away to fill the 4th line center role. However, it does look like he has a good chance to not only make the opening night roster, but to become an NHL-level centre.
Source:
Mile High Sticking
Ivan Ivan may have the best chance to grab the final opening night roster spot
Mile High Sticking
Ivan Ivan may have the best chance to grab the final opening night roster spot
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 1 | 18 ANSWERS Avalanche's upcoming season hinges on one key player's success Will Ivan Ivan crack an opening night roster spot on the Avalanche this coming season? | ||
| yes | 12 | 66.7 % |
| no | 6 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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