EDM, and Kaiser are both better options if they didn’t want to go straight to Lev on PP1. Vlasic is way too timid. Broken record, but he needs to get back to being a monster on Defense.
- Chunk

Preach on!

He’s gone. Who gives a poop about jones anymore.
- Chunk

Still 0-0 Chunk, 3-0-2 since they cut the cancer out, so what if Vlasic isn't Makar, but damn that Knight kid is good. Arty don't look too shabby either. And we've been barely able to sustain much offense against this team in the altitude

Rather sign old guys as free agents instead of trading away 4 first round picks for what Pastrnak was
- BetweenTheDots

Still 0-0 Chunk, 3-0-2 since they cut the cancer out, so what if Vlasic isn't Makar, but damn that Knight kid is good. Arty don't look too shabby either.
- BetweenTheDots

Well, to be fair, nobody is Makar except Makar himself. I’ll add to the broken record, let Vlasic focus on his game, which is a shutdown defenseman.

Still 0-0 Chunk, 3-0-2 since they cut the cancer out, so what if Vlasic isn't Makar, but damn that Knight kid is good. Arty don't look too shabby either. And we've been barely able to sustain much offense against this team in the altitude
- BetweenTheDots

Great, how long do you hold onto that if they don't progress? I'm not asking Vlasic to be Makar. I'm asking him to be Vlasic. He's been lacking at the one thing he excels at this year.

Preach on!
- Angotti

Lev looks very comfortable with the puck. Man can he skate and some nasty in his game. He doesn’t look out of place against a good Avs team.

They are on the wrong side of the puck so often.

Lev looks very comfortable with the puck. Man can he skate and some nasty in his game. He doesn’t look out of place against a good Avs team.
- bhawks2241

Yeah, very little panic in his game and knows how/when to advance the puck by pass and skates

This team passes up so many (frank)ing chances to put the puck on net. It's infuriating

Great, how long do you hold onto that if they don't progress? I'm not asking Vlasic to be Makar. I'm asking him to be Vlasic. He's been lacking at the one thing he excels at this year.
- Chunk

Till the end of this season since they have Vlasic playing 2 minutes more a night than last year.

If they lose this game you can blame the 5 on 3 and Wedgwood has been outstanding.

If they lose this game you can blame the 5 on 3 and Wedgwood has been outstanding.
- Angotti

Well, that and COL is pretty damn good.

Well, that and COL is pretty damn good.
- Chunk

I’d be surprised if they don’t come out of the West, however they may end up drawing the Stars in the first round.

Till the end of this season since they have Vlasic playing 2 minutes more a night than last year.
- BetweenTheDots

Seriously? So they can stagnate, or regress and you think it's good just because Jones is no longer on the team?

I’d be surprised if they don’t come out of the West, however they may end up drawing the Stars in the first round.
- Angotti

The West bracket is going to be amazing to watch. COL, DAL, EDM, VGK, and WIN.

Seriously? So they can stagnate, or regress and you think it's good just because Jones is no longer on the team?
- Chunk

Yep, but i don't think they are regressing or stagnating, they are competing tonight against a possible Stanley Cup contender in the altitude. How are you regressing if you are 3-0-2, probably 3-1-2. When you were 0-5 with Jones before you trade him?

You do realize this was only Vlasics 162nd game?

Vlasic
Kaiser
EDM
Arty
Total games played 260
2 goals against until they pulled their goalie

Scoreless for 2 periods
Not to shabby

Knight was fantastic again tonight

Glad Bedard was okay after he took the puck to the neck

Yep, but i don't think they are regressing or stagnating, they are competing tonight against a possible Stanley Cup contender in the altitude. How are you regressing if you are 3-0-2, probably 3-1-2. When you were 0-5 with Jones before you trade him?
- BetweenTheDots

I'm not arguing that. I'm saying that if the players themselves don't improve that's a bad sign. Vlasic has been measurably worse this year defensively. I think that's cause for concern. Not writing him off, but it needs to be addressed.

On the plus side - if you can call it that - the vets are the ones that seem to be having a lot of the issues. Foligno, D!ckinson (granted rusty), Maroon have been the guys slowing things down. Bertuzzi needs actual players. He's useless on the 4th line.

You do realize this was only Vlasics 162nd game?
- BetweenTheDots

Sure, but what's his floor? Considering what he did last year, it should be that he's defensively responsible.

I enjoyed the game tonight. Arty validated his #2 pick. Our blue line is going to be very fun to watch in the coming years.

What a difference Jones being gone has made to this team. Wth was going on in that room? Just a different team its been to my eye's Knight and day!

Sure, but what's his floor? Considering what he did last year, it should be that he's defensively responsible.
- Chunk

Sophomore seasons can be challenging. Plus who is he getting paired with most nights?

Still 0-0 Chunk, 3-0-2 since they cut the cancer out, so what if Vlasic isn't Makar, but damn that Knight kid is good. Arty don't look too shabby either. And we've been barely able to sustain much offense against this team in the altitude
- BetweenTheDots

A copy and paste of a postgame Foligno quote:

https://chicagohockeynow....elons-avalanche-postgame/

Captain Nick Foligno made a postgame comment that got everybody’s ears up. He said part of the reason for the recent improved play is that they “have gotten rid of some distractions.” Wonder what he meant by that……

A copy and paste of a postgame Foligno quote:

https://chicagohockeynow....elons-avalanche-postgame/

Captain Nick Foligno made a postgame comment that got everybody’s ears up. He said part of the reason for the recent improved play is that they “have gotten rid of some distractions.” Wonder what he meant by that……
- Mr Ricochet

And then I read Laz and he has the complete Foligno quote. https://www.nytimes.com/a...ebut-avalanche-breakdown/

Foligno had a pointed answer when asked what was different in the last six games, quite clearly noting the benefits of dealing Seth Jones after he made his trade request public.

“There’s a cohesiveness with the group, right?” Foligno said. “We’ve kind of gotten rid of some distractions, so to speak, and now there’s a group that’s trying to get better. … Sometimes when you make hard decisions, they end up benefiting the group. And you’re seeing that.”