Can there possibly be a silver lining to the 2008-2009 season for the Colorado Avalanche? That answer will come on April 14th. The Avalanche head into tonight’s game against Phoenix as losers of 7 straight games. Colorado has 64 points on the year. Only the NY Islanders have less.
On April 14th the NHL hosts it’s draft lottery and it looks like Colorado will have the second best chance of landing John Tavares, the highly publicized Canadian Center who’s been tearing up the OHL for the past 5 seasons. Second prize in the draft would be a slick Swedish defenseman named Victor Hedman. Hedman is 6’5 and is a force on both ends of the ice. He’s been skating with MODO in the SEL and was a standout at the World Junior Tournament this past winter. Hedman was the first Swede since 1998 to be voted a First Team All Star at the annual contest. He’s one heck of a consolation prize and the Avalanche would be extremely fortunate if he’s available when they draft.
Clemmensen earned himself a huge payday this season. I agree, he is a ‘tender that the Avalanche should seriously consider this summer.
Look for the Aves to go after Scott Clemmensen this off-season who will probably look to get out of NJ considering he saved their season by winning 25 games only to be demoted to the AHL. He’s just a product of the system but some teams will be taking a shot with him. I see the Aves as one of those teams.
What makes me mad about the Avs being horrible this year is that they have been good every year since they went to Colorado and the one year where the draft is absolutely insane, they decide to do bad.
Greg, I agree man. Hedman is a much better fit for the Avs. To me, their main problem is goaltending. Budaj is a solid backup and Raycroft should be unemployed. A true #1 is priority uno this summer.
Their main problem is defense. I’d take Hedman.
Even if not in the 1 or 2 slot, The Avs will land a very goo prospect this June! There’s some nice depth beyond the 2 “annointed” ones.