September 29, 2023 • 11 mins
Brandon Mileski & Pat Micheletti finish their "Vision For The Division" Series as they talk about the Colorado Avalanche on this episode of MINI BTP!
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hey, Brandon Laski, Pat mclatty, it's our final installment of our vision
for the division series right here onMini BTP. We'll actually get back to
a longer beyond the pods as wemove along here as well. Pat,
But our final team in the CentralDivision. We're going to the top from
last year's standings, and we weregoing to talk about the Colorado Avalanche today.
(00:20):
Pat, Colorado last year. Iguess when you look at all the
health issues they had last year tostill win the division with one hundred nine
points, I guess still an impressiveregular season. YEA, clearly disappointing after
winning the Cup the year before.They lose the Seattle Kraken in the first
round. And obviously their core isstill there, the big names are still
there, but they made a lotof changes this offseason. Well, think
(00:43):
back about when they won, youknow, we talked about strength up the
middle and their number one in numbertwo we were McKinnon and cadri And that's
changed over the you know, overthe past couple of years. And you
you you hit it on the headwith their core players are there, you
(01:03):
know, with McKinnon and mccarr andand ranting and you know guys like that,
that's pretty good Devin Taves back ond So they're a team that you
can never say, you know,they're going to be maybe a little down
(01:25):
this year, because once you whenyou have players like that, you're you're
in pretty good shape. Now it'sjust you know the other parts of their
team, how are they going tobe? That will be the key for
me. You know, you lookat a lot of the changes they made
Pat and you know, I I'veused I've referenced this a bunch with you
before that the Chicago Blackhawks in theirheyday, when they had Kane and Taves,
(01:47):
they would have players on their linethat would probably perform better than they
normally would just because they were playingwith Kane and Taves, right, and
then they get big money and thengo elsewhere and they can't perform as well
elsewhere. And I feel like Coloradomade some savvy moves this off season.
They got they got some guys thathave some talent, but maybe you've had
a down year or so, butnow they're bringing him in at a value.
(02:08):
Right. You look at Ryan Johanssonfrom Nashville. Johansson was always one
of their top forwards, just twelvegoals twenty six sixteen assists. Last year
it's just twenty eight points and fiftyfive games. Had some injury issues.
But now you bring in him athalf the salary. So you're bringing him
in at four million dollars for thenext two years and a guy who could
fit into in your top six andplay with your McKinnon. Well, you
(02:30):
know, probably won't play with McKinnonas much being in another center, but
he can play with ranting in andif Landaskog ever gets healthy, right,
and he's gonna be He's gonna beput up in a better situation to succeed
here, I think than he hasand you're and you're getting him at a
fraction of the price, no questionabout it. I mean, he can
(02:51):
be, you know, pretty dynamic. Again, not a great skater.
This Colorado team is gonna be alittle bit different. Yeah, they'll still
have their speed, but they won'thave that. I remember watching them and
how lightning fast they were and howthey came at you in waves, and
it was just like, oh mygosh, how do you stop this team?
(03:12):
So they're gonna be a little bitdifferent because Johansson is a center that
can really pass the buck. He'snot he doesn't have great speed, but
he's a really smart player. Youknow, he'll probably be your number two
center, having McKinnon Johansson one andtwo. You know, I think there'll
be a lot of pressure on Johanssonto take some of the pressure off of
the McKinnon line. So you knowthat he'll be he'll be an interesting watch.
(03:38):
And at four million dollars, that'sa pretty good gam pretty good you
know gamble for them well. AndI thought they made a lot of good
value gambles in this offseason, rightbecause you have McKinnon making twelve million dollars
plus Yeam Carr's making nine plus,which is actually a bargain for him,
but still it's still a lot ofmoney tied up in your cab. Randon's
making nine million dollars, Like thisis not a franchise that can just be
(04:00):
flushed with cash. Yet, Johanssonat four millions a good deal. You
know, Jonathan Drew in pat Iknow, this is a guy that was
thought of to be you never accomplishedwhat was expected out of him. But
a guy that is going to bemaking just over eight hundred thousand dollars this
year on a one year deal.He's still just twenty seven years old,
(04:21):
and he's going to be put ina situation where he's going to have scores
around him. I think, Ithink that could be a steal for them,
even even to Tar. They signedfor one point five million dollars.
He scored twenty goals last season inNew Jersey and they got him for one
point five million dollars. I justthink, And a lot of this is
when you have those big stars andyou know you can win a cup and
these I think these guys know,hey, I can go there for a
(04:43):
year, put a big stats andget a big payday elsewhere I thought.
I just think they had a greatoffseason. Pet. Yeah, and one
more guy we can add to itis Miles Wood. I played with I
played with his father when we wereboth rookies. He was in the Islanders
organization. He plays a lot likehis father, Very hard nosed, good
(05:03):
defensively, big, won't back downfrom anybody. So you know, they
get him on the cheap. Also, so that for six years, yeah,
six years and two and a halfmillion a year. Yeah, And
so you know, so you knowthat's a team that has new phases they
lose Eric Johnson, who I thinkis a heart and soul guy who I
(05:24):
think is really going to help theBuffalo Sabers. But you know, it's
still again with with with with theircore in place, you know they're gonna
be right at or near the top. Yeah, I'm not sure what to
think of the the Eric Johnson lossesbecause he's seemingly never healthy. Yeah,
you know, but but you know, they do have some smaller players on
(05:46):
the blue line obviously, you knowthey do have Josh manson back. But
you know they are going to losea lot of size and you never know
in a playoff series if you getup against a big team, what kind
of effect that could have. Yeah, injuries on the back end could could
really you know, you gotta keepan eye on because of a car.
You know, he's he gets dingedup a little bit also, and you
(06:06):
know the and uh, who's theother guy I'm thinking of the young boy
by rum. He was really talented, but he's you know, he's had
a history of injury. So youknow, their back end is something to
keep an eye on because they're notthe biggest group back there. And you
know, when you're not big you'regonna get hit and get hit a lot.
(06:28):
Uh So that will be one ofthe keys if that if that group
can stay healthy healthy. And thenthere's Gorgy Evn the net who you know,
the questions were out there last year, can he be a number one
guy? Well, he proved itlast year, and can he backed that
up this year? I think willbe you know, something to keep an
eye on. Also, and obviouslyGabriel Landoskog, he was placed on long
(06:50):
term injured reserve, which is whichis part of the reason they were able
to go out and make some ofthese sightings because that's seven million dollars off
the books. But could they endup pulling off a Tampa Bay or Vegas
for Landistog comes back for the playoffsand that seven million dollars just a free
player, they hope. So,you know, his knee is is pretty
bad from you know what people aresaying, and you know me with my
(07:14):
history of knees, I you know, it's it's not a it's not an
easy thing. And so I thinkthey hope that will be the case.
Because again with Landiscog, you know, he's the he's the guy that everyone
hates, right, He's that he'sa menace. Fans hate him, but
you every every team in the leaguewould take him. That's a big loss
(07:36):
for that team, and I thinkit showed a little bit last year when
they were playing Seattle in that firstround. They could have really used a
guy like Gabe Landiscog in their lineup, you know, in game seven there.
So that will be something to keepan eye on. They calling all
you Beer League beauties out there thisseason. Michelob gold Light is giving everyday
(07:57):
hockey players the chance to check offa bucket list bucket list dream that would
be sponsorship. After all, whyshould only the pros get brand deals.
Mick Olden is looking for adult hockeyplayers of every skill level to make their
case for sponsorship and potentially win greatprizes like customers jerseys and cold hard cash.
For more information, visit Golden Lightdot michelob Ultra dot com. That's
Golden Lights dot michelob Ultra dot com. A couple more losses, pretty minor
(08:20):
losses, path, but still whenyou lose some depth pieces JT. Comfort
and Darren Helm gone. I youknow, I know Helm was getting up
there as in age, but Ialways liked him as a especially at you
know, a guy, a speedguy who could kill penalties for you.
Yeah, you know that that's partof the element that we talked about.
They're they're not going to be asas as quick, as fast as uh
(08:45):
smothering as they were a year agobecause they lose guys like that. So
you know, they bring in aguy like Miles Wood, who you know,
he's a you know, he's thatguy that you know, I can
still skate, but he but he'she brings something different to the table.
So we're gonna see on that thirdand fourth line, you know, more
more pluggers, if you will,and and you know it may be you
(09:09):
know, it'll take probably some timefor them to get going, but uh,
you know, I think depth wise, you know, we'll see if
they're better than they were a yearago. It sounds like your dog really
likes the Colorado Avalanche. Yeah,Casey, Casey has been telling me,
let me talk, you can talk. Casey is uh still picking the Dallas
(09:30):
stuck? I would say, what'syour prediction for the Colorado Avalanche? I
think I think Colorado is going tobe awfully, awfully good. I think
Brandon a lot is going to beon their health because with all of the
big contracts that they have and thedepth that they have throughout you know,
uh down in the in the minorleague system, I don't think it's as
strong as other organizations, just basedon the fact that they spa still that
(09:56):
Ben you know, he's he mightbe their fourth line center and you know
they need him to emerge and sobut I think they'll be right up there
them or Dallas to win the Division. I am going to predict the Kyler
Avalanche will make it back to theStanley Cup Finals again this year. I
think they'll be the best team inthe Western Conference and make a return.
(10:16):
That core is just just as good, and you mentioned it, they were
that good last year without having thehealth on their side. If they get
any health luck, I think Johanssonand drew In are going to have bounce
back years this year. Well,that'll be it'll be fun. We'll see.
He's right, you are right.All right, that's it for our
vision for the Division series. We'llget back into more wildly related chatter and
(10:37):
start talking a little more college hockeynext week on Beyond the Pod. Sounds
great, thanks, all right.He's Pat McGlade and random Laski. This
has been another episode of Mini BTP. We are done with our vision for
the Division series. You can listento all of our episodes on the iHeart
Radio app or wherever get your podcast. You can also watch them on the
kf and YouTube channel. We'll talkto you next week right here beyond the
(10:58):
pod who want
Hey, Brandon Laski, Pat mclatty, it's our final installment of our vision
for the division series right here onMini BTP. We'll actually get back to
a longer beyond the pods as wemove along here as well. Pat,
But our final team in the CentralDivision. We're going to the top from
last year's standings, and we weregoing to talk about the Colorado Avalanche today.
(00:20):
Pat, Colorado last year. Iguess when you look at all the
health issues they had last year tostill win the division with one hundred nine
points, I guess still an impressiveregular season. YEA, clearly disappointing after
winning the Cup the year before.They lose the Seattle Kraken in the first
round. And obviously their core isstill there, the big names are still
there, but they made a lotof changes this offseason. Well, think
(00:43):
back about when they won, youknow, we talked about strength up the
middle and their number one in numbertwo we were McKinnon and cadri And that's
changed over the you know, overthe past couple of years. And you
you you hit it on the headwith their core players are there, you
(01:03):
know, with McKinnon and mccarr andand ranting and you know guys like that,
that's pretty good Devin Taves back ond So they're a team that you
can never say, you know,they're going to be maybe a little down
(01:25):
this year, because once you whenyou have players like that, you're you're
in pretty good shape. Now it'sjust you know the other parts of their
team, how are they going tobe? That will be the key for
me. You know, you lookat a lot of the changes they made
Pat and you know, I I'veused I've referenced this a bunch with you
before that the Chicago Blackhawks in theirheyday, when they had Kane and Taves,
(01:47):
they would have players on their linethat would probably perform better than they
normally would just because they were playingwith Kane and Taves, right, and
then they get big money and thengo elsewhere and they can't perform as well
elsewhere. And I feel like Coloradomade some savvy moves this off season.
They got they got some guys thathave some talent, but maybe you've had
a down year or so, butnow they're bringing him in at a value.
(02:08):
Right. You look at Ryan Johanssonfrom Nashville. Johansson was always one
of their top forwards, just twelvegoals twenty six sixteen assists. Last year
it's just twenty eight points and fiftyfive games. Had some injury issues.
But now you bring in him athalf the salary. So you're bringing him
in at four million dollars for thenext two years and a guy who could
fit into in your top six andplay with your McKinnon. Well, you
(02:30):
know, probably won't play with McKinnonas much being in another center, but
he can play with ranting in andif Landaskog ever gets healthy, right,
and he's gonna be He's gonna beput up in a better situation to succeed
here, I think than he hasand you're and you're getting him at a
fraction of the price, no questionabout it. I mean, he can
(02:51):
be, you know, pretty dynamic. Again, not a great skater.
This Colorado team is gonna be alittle bit different. Yeah, they'll still
have their speed, but they won'thave that. I remember watching them and
how lightning fast they were and howthey came at you in waves, and
it was just like, oh mygosh, how do you stop this team?
(03:12):
So they're gonna be a little bitdifferent because Johansson is a center that
can really pass the buck. He'snot he doesn't have great speed, but
he's a really smart player. Youknow, he'll probably be your number two
center, having McKinnon Johansson one andtwo. You know, I think there'll
be a lot of pressure on Johanssonto take some of the pressure off of
the McKinnon line. So you knowthat he'll be he'll be an interesting watch.
(03:38):
And at four million dollars, that'sa pretty good gam pretty good you
know gamble for them well. AndI thought they made a lot of good
value gambles in this offseason, rightbecause you have McKinnon making twelve million dollars
plus Yeam Carr's making nine plus,which is actually a bargain for him,
but still it's still a lot ofmoney tied up in your cab. Randon's
making nine million dollars, Like thisis not a franchise that can just be
(04:00):
flushed with cash. Yet, Johanssonat four millions a good deal. You
know, Jonathan Drew in pat Iknow, this is a guy that was
thought of to be you never accomplishedwhat was expected out of him. But
a guy that is going to bemaking just over eight hundred thousand dollars this
year on a one year deal.He's still just twenty seven years old,
(04:21):
and he's going to be put ina situation where he's going to have scores
around him. I think, Ithink that could be a steal for them,
even even to Tar. They signedfor one point five million dollars.
He scored twenty goals last season inNew Jersey and they got him for one
point five million dollars. I justthink, And a lot of this is
when you have those big stars andyou know you can win a cup and
these I think these guys know,hey, I can go there for a
(04:43):
year, put a big stats andget a big payday elsewhere I thought.
I just think they had a greatoffseason. Pet. Yeah, and one
more guy we can add to itis Miles Wood. I played with I
played with his father when we wereboth rookies. He was in the Islanders
organization. He plays a lot likehis father, Very hard nosed, good
(05:03):
defensively, big, won't back downfrom anybody. So you know, they
get him on the cheap. Also, so that for six years, yeah,
six years and two and a halfmillion a year. Yeah, And
so you know, so you knowthat's a team that has new phases they
lose Eric Johnson, who I thinkis a heart and soul guy who I
(05:24):
think is really going to help theBuffalo Sabers. But you know, it's
still again with with with with theircore in place, you know they're gonna
be right at or near the top. Yeah, I'm not sure what to
think of the the Eric Johnson lossesbecause he's seemingly never healthy. Yeah,
you know, but but you know, they do have some smaller players on
(05:46):
the blue line obviously, you knowthey do have Josh manson back. But
you know they are going to losea lot of size and you never know
in a playoff series if you getup against a big team, what kind
of effect that could have. Yeah, injuries on the back end could could
really you know, you gotta keepan eye on because of a car.
You know, he's he gets dingedup a little bit also, and you
(06:06):
know the and uh, who's theother guy I'm thinking of the young boy
by rum. He was really talented, but he's you know, he's had
a history of injury. So youknow, their back end is something to
keep an eye on because they're notthe biggest group back there. And you
know, when you're not big you'regonna get hit and get hit a lot.
(06:28):
Uh So that will be one ofthe keys if that if that group
can stay healthy healthy. And thenthere's Gorgy Evn the net who you know,
the questions were out there last year, can he be a number one
guy? Well, he proved itlast year, and can he backed that
up this year? I think willbe you know, something to keep an
eye on. Also, and obviouslyGabriel Landoskog, he was placed on long
(06:50):
term injured reserve, which is whichis part of the reason they were able
to go out and make some ofthese sightings because that's seven million dollars off
the books. But could they endup pulling off a Tampa Bay or Vegas
for Landistog comes back for the playoffsand that seven million dollars just a free
player, they hope. So,you know, his knee is is pretty
bad from you know what people aresaying, and you know me with my
(07:14):
history of knees, I you know, it's it's not a it's not an
easy thing. And so I thinkthey hope that will be the case.
Because again with Landiscog, you know, he's the he's the guy that everyone
hates, right, He's that he'sa menace. Fans hate him, but
you every every team in the leaguewould take him. That's a big loss
(07:36):
for that team, and I thinkit showed a little bit last year when
they were playing Seattle in that firstround. They could have really used a
guy like Gabe Landiscog in their lineup, you know, in game seven there.
So that will be something to keepan eye on. They calling all
you Beer League beauties out there thisseason. Michelob gold Light is giving everyday
(07:57):
hockey players the chance to check offa bucket list bucket list dream that would
be sponsorship. After all, whyshould only the pros get brand deals.
Mick Olden is looking for adult hockeyplayers of every skill level to make their
case for sponsorship and potentially win greatprizes like customers jerseys and cold hard cash.
For more information, visit Golden Lightdot michelob Ultra dot com. That's
Golden Lights dot michelob Ultra dot com. A couple more losses, pretty minor
(08:20):
losses, path, but still whenyou lose some depth pieces JT. Comfort
and Darren Helm gone. I youknow, I know Helm was getting up
there as in age, but Ialways liked him as a especially at you
know, a guy, a speedguy who could kill penalties for you.
Yeah, you know that that's partof the element that we talked about.
They're they're not going to be asas as quick, as fast as uh
(08:45):
smothering as they were a year agobecause they lose guys like that. So
you know, they bring in aguy like Miles Wood, who you know,
he's a you know, he's thatguy that you know, I can
still skate, but he but he'she brings something different to the table.
So we're gonna see on that thirdand fourth line, you know, more
more pluggers, if you will,and and you know it may be you
(09:09):
know, it'll take probably some timefor them to get going, but uh,
you know, I think depth wise, you know, we'll see if
they're better than they were a yearago. It sounds like your dog really
likes the Colorado Avalanche. Yeah,Casey, Casey has been telling me,
let me talk, you can talk. Casey is uh still picking the Dallas
(09:30):
stuck? I would say, what'syour prediction for the Colorado Avalanche? I
think I think Colorado is going tobe awfully, awfully good. I think
Brandon a lot is going to beon their health because with all of the
big contracts that they have and thedepth that they have throughout you know,
uh down in the in the minorleague system, I don't think it's as
strong as other organizations, just basedon the fact that they spa still that
(09:56):
Ben you know, he's he mightbe their fourth line center and you know
they need him to emerge and sobut I think they'll be right up there
them or Dallas to win the Division. I am going to predict the Kyler
Avalanche will make it back to theStanley Cup Finals again this year. I
think they'll be the best team inthe Western Conference and make a return.
(10:16):
That core is just just as good, and you mentioned it, they were
that good last year without having thehealth on their side. If they get
any health luck, I think Johanssonand drew In are going to have bounce
back years this year. Well,that'll be it'll be fun. We'll see.
He's right, you are right.All right, that's it for our
vision for the Division series. We'llget back into more wildly related chatter and
(10:37):
start talking a little more college hockeynext week on Beyond the Pod. Sounds
great, thanks, all right.He's Pat McGlade and random Laski. This
has been another episode of Mini BTP. We are done with our vision for
the Division series. You can listento all of our episodes on the iHeart
Radio app or wherever get your podcast. You can also watch them on the
kf and YouTube channel. We'll talkto you next week right here beyond the
(10:58):
pod who want
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