{"id":835729,"date":"2026-06-01T01:02:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T01:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/835729\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T01:02:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T01:02:15","slug":"philosophy-changes-goaltending-tandem-and-trade-scenarios-avalanche-mailbag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/835729\/","title":{"rendered":"Philosophy changes, goaltending tandem and trade scenarios | Avalanche mailbag"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Evan\u2019s\u00a0mailbag, where each week Avalanche reporter Evan Rawal answers all your Avalanche- and hockey-related questions.\u00a0Mailbag\u00a0questions can be sent to [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Should the Avs consider a change in play style? When things get tighter in the playoffs, generating rush offense is more difficult. That\u2019s coupled with being on the smaller side and an aging curve that\u2019s creeping up hard.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fair question and easily the most popular one I received \u2014 other than who is going to be behind the bench. As of Sunday, Jared Bednar was still the head coach of the Avalanche. I\u2019d be surprised at this point if that changes since the Avalanche already had their exit meetings. But we\u2019ll see what lies ahead over the next week.<\/p>\n

At those exit meetings, I\u2019d have to imagine the main (maybe only) subject of discussion was how they can avoid this happening again and what tweaks they must make to their style of play so that it doesn\u2019t. They\u2019re not going to overturn the entire roster. That\u2019s impossible to do in one off-season, but there will be tweaks. The salary cap will force that. The types of players they bring in could signal if changes in philosophy are in order.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t ignore the facts at this point. When the Avalanche bow out of the playoffs, they do so against a team that is willing to pack it in and force them to create offense any other way than off the rush. If it means a slower start while the team adjusts to a new style or less points in the regular season, then so be it. But it\u2019s clear they must make some adjustments.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen people suggesting trading away Mackenzie Blackwood. But what about selling high on Scott Wedgewood? Is it too risky after the season each goalie had?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think they\u2019re making any changes in net. It\u2019s a good tandem that gets along really well and both are signed to reasonable deals. Assuming both of them arrive at camp healthy, which was not the case last year, I\u2019d try to give Blackwood more of an opportunity to get into the rhythm of a normal starting goaltender as opposed to a split. You paid him to be your starter, so at least let him try and run with it. When the playoffs roll around, you need one person to be the guy. I\u2019m just not a believer in rotations in the postseason.<\/p>\n

\"\"Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl, center, scores on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood, top, as defenseman Sam Malinski defends during the third period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo\/Mark J. Terrill)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been two years of it now. Who do we sacrifice to fix the power play?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I will not be sacrificing anything, but everyone is calling for Dave Hakstol\u2019s head. I get it. He was the guy who was supposed to be running the power play. Naturally, you make a switch there if it\u2019s not working.<\/p>\n

But you already did that one year ago. Are you making the assistant coach the scapegoat again? At what point does it fall on some of the players? After all, it\u2019s a lot of the same guys that struggled on the power play again this year. I don\u2019t think the coach is telling them all to stand still, pass around the puck forever and wait for the perfect shot. The players \u2014 not just the coaches \u2014 have to commit to a full philosophical change with the power play. It looked like they had after the Olympics break. But when things went south in the playoffs, it started to look a lot like what we saw in the first half of the season.<\/p>\n

I would also argue a big reason why the power play struggled this year was Cale Makar, who never got going on the man advantage. Teams played him differently, not giving him as much room. The Avalanche and Makar didn\u2019t consistently adjust. When he did get looks, it sure felt like he missed the net more than he did in previous years.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re going to have to get rid of a few of those $4-6 million contracts. Which of those are you predicting they move on from?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like I said, I don\u2019t expect there to be massive changes. There will be changes, though. Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin are the two big ones I look at. It hasn\u2019t been a great fit in the regular season with Colton and it just feels like a change is needed. Then you have Nichushkin. Has the time come to move on? With the cap going up consistently, I don\u2019t think they\u2019d have an issue finding him a new home if they went looking for one. His production dipped this year, but it still feels like they could find some teams interested in him. It might be time for a change from an Avalanche perspective as well.<\/p>\n

\"\"Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) checks Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) into the boards during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)<\/p>\n

I guess other bigger moves are possible, but that would surprise me. Brock Nelson\u2019s offense dropped off in a big way after the Olympics, but I don\u2019t see them dealing away a 30-goal center. I briefly mentioned Artturi Lehkonen\u2019s name, and I can hear the booing already, but that\u2019s because his next contract is a tricky one. He\u2019s a great player who is loved by his teammates and coaches, but health has been an issue and his next contract will be a big one that will carry some risk for that reason. I\u2019d be surprised if a move happened there, though. Finding another player like him would be awfully difficult.<\/p>\n

Which Eagles are ready to make the jump to the Avs full-time next season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll start out by saying I\u2019d be surprised if Zakhar Bardakov is back. Not saying it\u2019s impossible, but he just never seemed to earn the trust of the coaching staff and he has the KHL as an option if another NHL team doesn\u2019t show interest.<\/p>\n

As for the Eagles players that could make the jump, Gavin Brindley spent most of the year in the NHL with the Avalanche and is one obvious name. His game dipped in a big way after December, but they still think highly of him.<\/p>\n

\"\"Colorado Avalanche center Gavin Brindley is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n

The one guy who sticks out is T.J. Hughes, who they signed in the last two months. He\u2019s not the biggest or the fastest, but he\u2019s incredibly smart and talented. He joined the Eagles at the end of the season and has been an immediate contributor during their playoff run with 9 points in 12 games. That\u2019s impressive. He\u2019s one guy I\u2019d expect to see in NHL games next season. You typically have to make some promises to top NCAA free agents in order to get them to sign. The strong start to his pro career doesn\u2019t hurt, either.<\/p>\n

Is there a realistic price to keep Jack Drury?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been told he was asking for around $3 million per year on his next deal. He had a good year and a very good playoff run, so he didn\u2019t do anything to hurt his case.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard not to like the player. He\u2019s a good bottom-six forward and is the best face-off guy on the team, but it really just comes down to cost and what the Avalanche can afford. If any move was to happen there, it would really just be about cost.<\/p>\n


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