SB Nation Denver - Colorado Avalanche Preseason 2011: Elliott Reassigned As Opening Night Roster Finalizedhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2011-10-05T10:55:57-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21958312011-10-05T10:55:57-06:002011-10-05T10:55:57-06:00Colorado Avalanche Training Camp 2011: Elliott Reassigned As Colorado Finalizes Opening Night Roster
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> have <a target="_blank" href="http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=594505">finalized their 2011 Opening Night roster</a>, as rookie defenseman <span>Stefan Elliott</span> has been reassigned to the AHL Lake Erie Monsters.</p>
<p>Elliott opened eyes with his excellent camp and performances in preseason games, but the clulb has determined that he will be better served with some experience and regular playing time in the AHL. If there is a major injury to one of the Avalanche's defensemen, Elliott will be on the short list of players to recall. Colorado did something similar last season with defenseman <span>Kevin Shattenkirk</span>, as he spent the first 11 games of the regular season in the AHL.</p>
<p><span>Kyle Cumiskey</span> (groin), <span>Brandon Yip</span> (arm), and <span>Mark Olver</span> (head) have all been placed on the Injured Reserve list to start the season. Defenseman <span>Jan Hejda</span> was initially expected to miss the first two weeks of the regular season with a knee injury, but his recovery has been much faster than expected.</p>
<p>Here is the official roster for Opening Night 2011:</p>
<h4>Goalies:</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Semyon Varlamov</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Jean-Sebastien Giguere</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> </p>
<h4>Forwards:</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Paul<span> </span>Stastny</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Matt Duchene</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Ryan O’Reilly</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Jay McClement</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>David Jones</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Chuck Kobasew</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Milan Hejduk</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Peter Mueller</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Gabriel Landeskog</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Daniel Winnik</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Joakim Lindstrom</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Kevin Porter</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Cody McLeod</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>T.J. Galiardi</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> </p>
<h4>Defensemen:</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Erik Johnson</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Jan Hejda</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Kyle Quincey</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Ryan O’Byrne</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Shane O’Brien</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Matt Hunwick</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span>Ryan Wilson</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">As expected, second overall selection Landeskog has made the Opening Night roster and will likely slot in at left wing on O'Reilly's third line.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/10/5/2471088/colorado-avalanche-training-camp-2011-elliott-reassigned-as-coloradoMuzia2011-10-02T17:30:38-06:002011-10-02T17:30:38-06:00Colorado Avalanche Preseason 2011: Avs Reassign Four Players, Reduce Roster To 27
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<p>After their dominant victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a> in their final preseason game, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> have <a href="http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=590854&navid=DL%7CCOL%7Chome" target="_blank">reassigned four more players</a> to the AHL Lake Erie Monsters. The current roster has now been reduced to 27 players, just four more than the 23 player regular season maximum roster.</p>
<p>Goalie <span>Trevor Cann</span> was an easy cut, as he will be the starting goalie for AHL Lake Erie this season until offseason acquisition <span>Cedrick Desjardins</span> recovers from shoulder surgery. Cann lasted in camp as an extra netminder during scrimmages and was never truly considered to make the roster this year due to his young age and lack of experience.</p>
<p>Forwards <span>Brad Malone</span> and <span>Patrick Bordeleau</span> were also sent down to Lake Erie. Both physical forwards displayed promising flashes in camp, but were unable to force their way onto an active roster that is stacked with lower line forwards. Malone in particular was given a chance to unseat <span>Cody McLeod</span> from the active roster, and should be a favorite to rejoin the team this year in case of injury or ineffective performance. </p>
<p>Defenseman <span>Tyson Barrie</span> was also sent down for seasoning. The young rookie showed good defensive instincts and has proven he is very close to NHL ready. With some time in the AHL, Barrie should become a very solid defenseman for Colorado.</p>
<p>Fellow rookie <span>Stefan Elliott</span> appears to have made a very strong case for the Opening Night roster with a stellar camp and preseason showing. His speed and aggressive offensive ability show a unique skillset not shared by the rest of the Avalanche's current defensive corps -- a group that is built to be larger and more physical than last year's iteration.</p>
<p>With 27 players currently on the roster, four more players must be reassigned before the start of the regular season. Forwards <span>Mark Olver</span> and <span>Brandon Yip</span> are injured, as well as defenseman <span>Kyle Cumiskey</span> and can be placed on the Injured Reserve list. They cannot be reassigned until they have been cleared for play. If Elliott remains with the club, Colorado will have to make one more cut this week before the start of the season -- likely a defenseman. Elliott is the easiest player to send down, but the club may choose to make a more surprising cut.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/10/2/2464784/colorado-avalanche-preseason-2011-avs-reassign-four-players-reduceMuzia2011-10-02T00:44:01-06:002011-10-02T00:44:01-06:00Colorado Avalanche Preseason 2011: Avs Dominate Kings, 4-1, In Las Vegas
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<p>This entire preseason, people have been concerned about the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> and their lack of scoring. <span>Paul Stastny</span>, <span>Matt Duchene</span>, <span>Milan Hejduk</span>...all three have been held off the scorecard in four games as Colorado fell to a 1-3 record in preseason.</p>
<p>Most hockey analysts suggested it's still just preseason.</p>
<p><span>Semyon Varlamov</span>, the goalie who Colorado traded two drafts picks next season, has had a very uneven preseason by most accounts.</p>
<p>It's still preseason.</p>
<p>In their last preseason game of the season, a rematch in Las Vegas against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a>, all of that concern proved for naught as the Avalanche dominated the entire game with a great power play and effective defense. These very Kings had shut out Colorado earlier in the week by a 6-0 blowout, leading some of the Pepsi Center faithful to boo their concern. In Las Vegas, Colorado scored four goals in the first two periods on their way to a 4-1 victory.</p>
<p>The Avalanche were led by their stars, as Duchene scored two goals in the game. Paul Stastny and <span>David Jones</span> also scored a goal apiece in the rout. Colorado outshot the Kings by a dominant 31-14 margin, as the defense played a physical game in front of Varlamov, who stopped 13 of 14 shots faced.</p>
<p>For those Avalanche fans who were concerned about the lack of production from their stars, this game showed there was nothing to worry for the season.</p>
<p>Then again, it's still just preseason.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/10/2/2463378/colorado-avalanche-preseason-2011-avs-dominate-kings-4-1-in-las-vegasMuzia2011-09-30T11:26:13-06:002011-09-30T11:26:13-06:00Colorado Avalanche Preseason 2011: Blues Defeat Avs, 3-1, With Two Late Goals
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> lost another preseason game, this time against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> by a 3-1 score. The Avalanche fall to 1-4 in the preseason.</p>
<p>Then again, preseason results really don't matter when it comes to predicting regular season results. For example, defensemen <span>Matt Hunwick</span> and rookie <span>Stefan Elliott</span> both among the top three skaters in ice time -- something that would never happen during a regular season.</p>
<p>This was a closely fought defensive game from the start, with a scoreless first period. Blues forward <span>David Backes</span> broke open the scoring at the end of the second period, and he was matched early in the third by Avalanche winger <span>Joakim Lindstrom</span>. A power play goal by <span>T.J. Oshie</span> midway through the third proved to be the deciding factor in the game.</p>
<p>Both goalies played well stat-wise, though <span>Jean-Sebastien Giguere</span> faced 32 shots for the Avalanche, while the Blues' <span>Ben Bishop</span> faced a mere 19 shots.</p>
<p>If preseason truly mattered, the average fan would be concerned about the eight total shots for Colorado through the first two periods. Then again, most of Colorado's top players didn't even dress for this game. <span>Paul Stastny</span>, <span>Erik Johnson</span>, <span>Peter Mueller</span>, <span>Milan Hejduk</span>, and <span>T.J. Galiardi</span> were just a few of the many scratches for this game.</p>
<p><br>Again, it's preseason. The coaches are testing out players who are on the fringes of the roster and experimenting with different defensive pairings. Colorado closes out their preseason slate of games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a> in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 1. Most of the Opening Night roster should dress for that game.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/9/30/2460257/colorado-avalanche-preseason-2011-blues-defeat-avs-3-1-with-two-lateMuzia2011-09-28T22:47:44-06:002011-09-28T22:47:44-06:00Colorado Avalanche Training Camp 2011: Kings Dominate Avs, 6-0
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a> continue to control the series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a>. Last year, the Kings went 4-0 against Colorado -- including a 5-0 pummeling in late December that started Colorado's second half free fall. Tonight was no different, as Los Angeles skated to a dominating 6-0 performance in the final preseason game of the year at Pepsi Center.</p>
<p>This Kings team is expected to dominate, as their offseason trade for <span>Mike Richards</span> and offseason signing of forwards like <span>Simon Gagne</span> have boosted them into elite team status. They looked like it against a Colorado team that was skating many of their bottom tier forwards and defensemen for much of the game.</p>
<p>Kings forward <span>Anze Kopitar</span> was the star of the game, scoring three goals. Two of those goals were assisted by defenseman <span>Jack Johnson</span> on the power play. Goalie Jonathan Quick pitched an easy shutout with little pressure, facing 27 shots from Colorado but few quality chances.</p>
<p>Avalanche goalie <span>Semyon Varlamov</span> had a rough night in net, as he allowed six goals on just 31 shots. His defensive corps played well in the first period, as both teams were playing a puck clearing game. But the Kings took over in the second when poor penalties by <span>Ryan Wilson</span> and T.J. Galiardi led directly to two quick Kings goals.</p>
<p>The game went downhill fast in that second period, as the Avalanche tried outhitting the Kings instead of outplaying them to the puck. This Kings team is loaded, deep, and without a glaring weakness, and it shows even during the preseason.</p>
<p>Colorado heads on the road to play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> on Thursday, September 29 before closing out the preseason with a game against these very Kings in Las Vegas on October 1.</p>
<p>The Avalanche fall to 1-3 in the preseason.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/9/28/2457225/colorado-avalanche-training-camp-2011-kings-dominate-avs-6-0Muzia2011-09-26T11:38:54-06:002011-09-26T11:38:54-06:00Colorado Avalanche Training Camp 2011: Three Players Reassigned As Roster Trimmed To 31
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> made another round of reassignments,<a target="_blank" href="http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=589921"> sending down three players to join </a>their AHL affiliate in Cleveland, the Lake Erie Monsters.</p>
<p>Defenseman <span>Cameron Gaunce</span> (2nd round, 2008) has been reassigned after a strong camp, and will likely be one of the first players to rejoin the club in case of injury -- as he did in the second half of last season.</p>
<p>Defenseman <span>Jonas Holos</span> (6th round, 2008) will also be heading to AHL Lake Erie. The Norwegian was with the Avalanche for much of last season, but it appears the new wave of young defensemen has passed him up. His future with the club remains uncertain, and he may decide to head back to Norway.</p>
<p>Forward <span>Ryan Stoa</span> (2nd round, 2005) has once again failed to make an impression on the coaching staff. Selected 10 spots before current Colorado star <span>Paul Stastny</span>, Stoa is an impressive physical specimen. His lack of any NHL production has limited his playing time, and he appears to also be on his last chance with the team.</p>
<p>Forwards like <span>Brad Malone</span>, <span>Kevin Porter</span>, and <span>Patrick Bordeleau</span> remain with the club after this latest round of cuts, suggesting that their strong play is giving them plenty of consideration for the Opening Night roster. Rookie defensemen <span>Tyson Barrie</span> and <span>Stefan Elliott</span> will also remain with the club for now -- and the <span>Jan Hejda</span> injury has potentially opened up a roster spot for one of these two rookies to skip directly from the WHL into the NHL on Opening Night.</p>
<p>With 31 players currently on the roster, the Avalanche will have to reassign eight more players before the start of the season.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/9/26/2450645/colorado-avalanche-training-camp-2011-three-players-reassigned-asMuzia2011-09-25T21:51:46-06:002011-09-25T21:51:46-06:00Colorado Avalanche Training Camp 2011: Avs Dominate Stars In 3-0 Victory
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<p>Here's hoping the 2011 <a href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Avalanche</a> resemble the dominant team that took the ice against the <a href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Stars</a> at Pepsi Center.</p>
<p>Led by a shutout performance by backup goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere and a two goal effort by forward Ryan O'Reilly, the Avalanche left no doubt who was the superior team. Colorado started the game by killing off nearly 90 seconds of a 5-3 without any significant threats, and continued to control possession for the remainder of the game. <span>Kyle Quincey</span> started off the scoring in the first period by blasting a shot from the point that careened off <span>Ryan Stoa</span>, who got credit for the goal after crashing the net.</p>
<p>O'Reilly added two goals in the second period, one where Colorado dominated possession. Quincey added another assist from a second point blast that O'Reilly recovered and put in the net from an extremely difficult angle. <span>Patrick Bordeleau</span> played a very physical game as well, dominating a fight midway through the second period against Krystofer Barch.</p>
<p>Colorado outshot Dallas 31-16, a sign of their complete domination with the puck.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/9/25/2449605/colorado-avalanche-training-camp-2011-avs-dominate-stars-in-3-0Muzia2011-09-24T08:04:27-06:002011-09-24T08:04:27-06:00Colorado Avalanche Training Camp 2011: Yip, Hejda Injuries Impact Roster Decisions
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<p>Last season, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> locker room resembled an infirmary ward as they led the Western Conference in man-games lost. Unfortunately, that trend is already starting up again during the preseason.</p>
<p>Forward <span>Brandon Yip</span> will miss 4-6 weeks with a broken forearm he suffered while blocking a shot during the game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>. Yip wasn't guaranteed to make the roster on Opening Night, but his injury certainly clears the way for forwards like <span>Cody McLeod</span> (who is having an excellent camp), <span>Chuck Kobasew</span>, and <span>Kevin Porter</span> to squeeze their way onto the roster.</p>
<p>Top free agent signing <span>Jan Hejda</span> will also miss two weeks with a knee injury he suffered during the Burgundy and White exhibition game earlier this week. Though this injury isn't very severe, it will likely prevent the top defenseman from playing on Opening Night. Hejda's absence could open the door for top prospect <span>Stefan Elliott</span> to join the team. Elliott has displayed elite playmaking skills throughout camp and his speed and shot are NHL-ready right now. As a young player, his defensive skills need refining but he has been talked about highly throughout camp as a guy that is ready to make an impact this season -- much like <span>Kevin Shattenkirk</span> last year.</p>
<p>Regarding roster cuts, goalie <span>Calvin Pickard</span>, defenseman <span>Duncan Siemens</span>, and forward <span>Garrett Meurs</span> were both sent back to their respective junior league rosters in preparation for their seasons to begin. </p>
<p><span>Greg Mauldin</span> was sent down to join the AHL Lake Erie Monsters.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/9/24/2446264/colorado-avalanche-training-camp-2011-yip-hejda-injuries-impactMuzia