These types of posts always seem to get people riled up, so here we
go. Just a few notes on each guy as well. * indicates an incomplete
score, due to lack of playing due to injury or time in the minors.
If you don't like long posts, you might want to skip this one. I'll
do the defensemen and goaltenders later.
Forwards:
Sakic* - B-: He clearly looked slower this year than he ever has in
the past. That's the bad news. Age catches everyone. But, the good
news is Sakic played quite well very early in the year, and then again
in the playoffs. He was hurt from late October and said (local news)
that he didn't feel quite right until very late in the season, so
we'll see. 2nd line center next year.
(Next season: Sign him to a one year deal, but for quite a bit less
than his $6.75M this year.)
Wolski - C+: Was up and down, showed some skill and hard work, then
kind of lazy. I don't think he's responding well to Q, who strikes me
as someone who leads by punitive measures, which doesn't work well
with certain personalities. Wolski is still young but didn't seem to
elevate his game much this year.
(Next season: Keep him around and give him 2nd line minutes on
Sakic's line, and don't ****ing bench him for 1 period of poor play.)
Brunette - B-: He was pretty good in the regular season, and quite
good in the playoffs. Good down low and in front of the net, but so
incredibly slow elsewhere he can be a liability. I like Brunette, but
I honestly believe that he is the worst skater in the entire NHL, bar
noone.
(Next season: Don't resign him. I like Brunette, but Smyth provides
the same type of play, and we don't need two slow guys doing that.)
Stastny - A: Was the Avs best forward all year, including a lot of
time when Sakic was out and the opposition could focus on him. He
scored at a 90 point pace, which would have been top 10 or so in the
NHL this year. Nothing wrong with a 23 year old doing that. A
cornerstone of the franchise.
(Next season: Sign him to a long-term contract, give him the #1
center job, and let him play with two good wings for games on end, so
that proper chemistry can develop (Q, leave the ****ing lines
alone!!!). If that's done, he'll score over 100 points next year.
And do NOT take Walk's advice and trade him to Detroit for Meech.)
Hejduk - B-: Like a lot of players, Hejduk was really good for
stretches, then disappeared for awhile. He managed 29 goals, which is
a nice number, but was Casper for games at a time. Enh.
(Next season: Keep him around and play him with Stastny.)
Smyth* - D: In my book, he gets a partial mulligan on this one, as he
was injured a few times and missed a lot of time. But, even when he
was in there, the performance was not good enough or consistent enough
for a $6M player. Even amortized over an 82 game schedule, he was on
a 21 goal pace, which is just about half of what he'd need to score to
be worth that kind of money. He, Hejduk and Stastny showed some scary
chemistry for parts of the year, but both injures and Q's incessant
line changes disrupted that chemistry again and again. I expect him
to round back into form next year.
(Next season: Play him with Stastny - all year.)
Forsberg* - B: He did pretty well - 14 points in 9 games is nothing
to sneeze at. But, in some games he was very good, some games he was
so-so, all games he was hurt. It was nice to see him out there again,
and he still has the skills, but he never was able to gain any working
chemistry with anyone else due to the injuries.
(Next season: Time to retire and give some younger guys the minutes.
I respect him as much as any player, but he just can't stay healthy.)
Arnason - F: Arnason is a soft, lazy player. Had a horrible year.
He was outscored by Guite (4th line checking center) and almost
outscored by Finger (3rd pairing defensive defenseman), despite
getting 2nd line center and PP minutes for most or all of the year.
Terrible player who had a terrible year. He sucks.
(Next season: Buy out the remaining year on his contract and send him
away. Please.)
Svatos* - A-: Svatos is one-dimensional, but he performs that one
dimension very well. He scored at a 34 goal pace playing 3rd line
minutes with Arnason as his center. The deck was stacked against the
guy, but he can score from anywhere. But alas, he got hurt. Again.
Worked as consistently hard as any player on the roster. Never took a
night of a ****ft off - a rarity on this team.
(Next season: This is a tough one. I don't know that he can make it
through a season without getting hurt, but that rare scoring knack is
there. Maybe give him another 1 year deal and see how it goes. I'm
still hoping Toronto gives him a big offer sheet as a RFA, and we can
get some draft picks in return.)
Jones - B: Rookie who came in, looked pretty good on the ice, but
didn't produce many points. He did play solid defensively, which is a
good thing.
(Next season: Give him a shot to make the team again.)
Ben Guite - A: Given what he was asked to do, I feel Guite
consistently performed his job as well as any Avs player on the entire
roster. He's tough, fast, plays well along the boards, is very good
defensively, and scored 11 goals as the 4th line center. No
complaints.
(Next season: Keep him in the 4th line same job.)
Laperriere - C: He was just so-so. Looked slower than he did in the
past, and isn't a bad player, but he didn't do too much, either. As I
understand it, he's good in the locker room. He is one of the few who
gives it all he has every night.
(Next season: Same 4th line job as this season, unless they want to
get younger and faster.)
McLeod - B+: I think this guy did just fine this year as a rook. He
takes the odd stupid penalty, but he knows what he does well and keeps
his game simple. Physical, agitating player, who does his defensive
job adequately, and forechecks well. Scored 4 goals in little more
than half a season as a 4th line scrub, and sticks up for his
teammates at every turn. Eliminate a few dumb penalties, and I have
no complaints here.
(Next season: Same 4th line job as this season.)
Hensick - B-: After a slow start, he came on and played well. Like
many young players, he had some trouble in his own zone, but he's got
scoring skill and speed, and didn't shy away from high traffic areas.
Someone has got to teach the man how to win faceoffs in the NHL
though. Yikes.
(Next season: Give him Arnason's 3rd line center job, or a wing on
the 3rd line. See what he can do over the course of more games.)
Hlinka* - C+: I think Hlinka played decently for a third line guy.
He has skill, pays attention to his defensive responsibilities, and
wasn't bad, though his final scoring totals were a bit weak. Q hated
him for some unknown reason though, and didn't play him correctly.
This guy is a pretty good player, and could have produced more. This
one's on Q.
(Next season: He'll probably go. The Avs have a couple of younger
players who aren't that far behind him, and should get the IT.)
Richardson* - Inc: Q is an idiot. A total, complete idiot. This guy
came in, played completely sound hockey, and Q kept sending him back
to the minors so he could put McCormick or Arnason in the lineup.
Richardson is far better than either of those guys, and Q is ****ing
the kid's development. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
(Next season: If Q is the coach, Richardson is toast. If they get a
different coach, I hope they give him another chance, as he can play
the game. He works hard, has offensive skill, plays very good
defense, and has good speed. He's small though. I like him.)
McCormick - B: He did OK, but is just a very limited player. Dime a
dozen type of 4th line guy: Good physically, good fighter,
modest/lousy talent, pretty slow. Enh.
(Next season: I don't care. Keep him, dump him, whatever. He's good
for 4th line callup duty if someone gets hurt now and again.)
Parker - D: Parker sucks. If there really is a need for a
heavyweight guy out there, fine. But, I don't think there really is.
(Next season: I don't care. At all.)
Smith - F: Ugh. This guy was terrible. Q did the right thing by
dumping his ass early one and playing the rookies. I'm not sure the
puck ever actually touched his stick in the 20+ games he played. The
only player on the roster who managed to play worse than Arnason.
Yuck.
(Next season: Bye bye.)
Chris
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