It’s October.
Do you know what your second line will look like?
The Avalanche don't — yet. That’s not an ideal situation a week before the start of the regular season Wednesday at Las Vegas, but that’s where they are.
Unlike the previous two seasons, there’s no question as to who will be centering the second line. That’s written in ink. Casey Mittelstadt is a set-and-forget 2C, having been one of the more productive centers at even strength over the past two seasons. That makes Jared Bednar’s life a little easier.
Who the heck will play with him, though?
On Wednesday, it was Calum Ritchie and Ross Colton in what will likely be a line for Thursday’s preseason game at the Vegas Golden Knights.
Yes, that’s usual third-line center Ross Colton in one of the wing spots.
A healthy Artturi Lehkonen likely would take that spot on the left wing, but he’s not healthy. The Avalanche haven't been clear on a timeline for Lehkonen's return. His absence leaves Bednar in a pickle.
Do you hurt your third line by removing a key piece (Colt)? Or do you keep the third line intact and attempt to get by with a lesser player on Mittelstadt’s wing?
Over the final two preseason games, Bednar will likely experiment. Given his performance through camp and the praise he’s received from the Avalanche coach, Nikolai Kovalenko might get a look there. Logan O’Connor — a highly trusted option — could also move up in a pinch.
The Avalanche have options. They aren’t ideal, but this is the time of year when there is more freedom to experiment. Fortunately, the Avalanche have Mittelstadt, who hasn’t dressed in preseason yet, to anchor that line.
“Casey came in (to camp) in great shape,” Bednar said on Wednesday. “He’s ready. I love everything I’m seeing. He’ll get the last two (preseason games), which are the most important to kind of gear him up for being ready, so I don’t have any worries about him being ready.”
Make no mistake. A full year of Mittelstadt is a big deal for the Avalanche, who had been searching for an adequate second line center since Nazem Kadri exited in free agency.
Game analysis and insights from The Gazette sports staff including columns by Woody Paige and Paul Klee.
“It’s huge,” Bednar said. “He was a good player for us when he came, and yet, I think he understands, and we understand, he’s still got another level that he can get to. I got a lot of confidence in his ability to take another step this year.”
Scary Practice Moment
It was an intense practice for the Avalanche on Wednesday. After two sub-par preseason performances, Bednar held a long meeting with his team. He wanted his team to get to work and compete in practice.
“I thought we did that,” he said.
However, that intensity led to a frightening moment during five-on-five work.
Defenseman Erik Brannstrom skated to get a puck and took a heavy hit from Miles Wood that sent him sliding into the boards at a high speed. Brannstrom tried to get up but immediately fell to the ice and required help from trainers to the bench. Veteran Calvin de Haan wasn't pleased with Wood and gave him a shove, but cooler heads prevailed.
Brannstrom left practice, but Bednar had good news about him afterwards.
“He’s good, as of now,” he said. “He’s on the bike right now. Everything checked out, so just kind of precautionary.”
Roster cuts
Soon after the 6-1 preseason loss to Vegas on Tuesday, the Avalanche cut 10 players, reducing their roster to 30. That number is deceiving since it includes names like Lehkonen, Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, and Ondrej Pavel — all of which are injured or suspended. They’re also carrying a third goalie, who will be cut in the coming days, so the roster is really at 25.
The team likely will carry 22 healthy players, which means there are, at least, three additional cuts that must be made.
Based on observations in camp, there haven’t been huge surprises. Asked by The Denver Gazette if he's seen enough forwards rise to the challenge in the preseason, Bednar said, “I wish there was more.”
