NHL Offseason Part 2: The Avalanche Won't Win It

Google Images tells me this is Peter Budaj.
I am inclinded to agree.

Continuing in our 30 part extravaganza on why every NHL team sucks, today we look at the Colorado Avalanche, who apparently have a full team and not just Paul Stastny.

1. Goaltending: Alright, the Avalanche couldn't save a shot to save their life last year, and I apologize for using the word "save" so often but it's true.  Peter Budaj (.890 SV%) doesn't exactly inspire confidence, so the Avalanche needed to get a new goalie.  While they did this, they did it in the worst way possible.  Semyon Varlamov wanted off the Capitals (a team that he was the third goaltender on), was willing to leave the country to get off of them, AND was a restricted free agent.  The Capitals had no use for him and wanted rid of him, meaning that if anybody offered any sort of offer sheet for him, the Caps would take their second round pick compensation and call it good.  So of course the Avalanche traded a first rounder AND a second rounder for him, because they don't know how trades work.



2. Trades in General: So we went over how bad the Varlamov trade was, but that isn't the last of it.  The Avalanche know how to draft talent, bringing in guys like Matt Duchene, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Chris Stewart.  Of course, they then go out and immediately trade Shattenkirk (43 pts at age 21) and Stewart (53 at 24) for Erik Johnson (-13 at 22 after coming back from a golf cart injury).  Erik Johnson was once considered a rising star at D, but really?  Two guys just as good for him?  Add that to the Varlamov trade, and you wonder if they understand that trades are supposed to improve your team.

3. Literally Everything Else: Goal scoring? 18th in the league.  So they are good at defense? Nope, last in the league in goals against, 107 more than Vancouver.  Power play goals for?  20th, and their penalty kill is last in the NHL with 75 goals given up.  That's right, the Avalanche gave up almost twice as many goals as any of the top five teams in penalty killing.  Paul Stastny is a proven player, but keeps getting hurt (has missed at least 10 games in 3 of his 5 seasons).  Their top D-men? Erik Johnson and... Ryan O'Byrne (26 career points, -10)? Matt Hunwick (55/ -17)?