Are Changes Coming to Colorado?
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman joined Scott Laughlin and Gord Stellick on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio Morning Skate Wednesday morning. There, Friedman was asked what the outcome would be after the Colorado Avalanche fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in four games in the Western Conference finals. Will there be a change of coaches and general manager?
Writing for NHLRumors.com
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Scott Laughs: “But hey, let me ask you this, though, because I just saw a column by Mark Lazerus that just came out in The Athletic, and the headline read, after enduring one of the worst sweeps in recent NHL history, the Avalanche have faced some uncomfortable questions this summer, starting with Jared Bednar. Now, when I talk about it, if Bednar had quit, I meant to quit. for a week if he wanted to, of course.”
That being said, do you expect the Avalanche to show up, because you can’t forget that they were 8-1 heading into the Conference Finals. 8-1 in the playoffs, and they beat Los Angeles, and obviously a top Minnesota team, but when you come a little short, and you win the President’s medal, and you missed the goal you want Fridge, then obviously people are going to say, well, what has to change. “
Elliotte Friedman: “I’m waiting for a fall, but number one, I just remember last year when they lost in Dallas in the first round, how mad Joe Sakic was, and if you go back to their press conference last year, it was clear that he was incredibly disappointed. So, the number one thing I’m waiting to see is Sakic’s tone. I can imagine that when Colorado was asked about Colorado’s injury last night, he didn’t go there, he just said, “Look, Joe Sakic and Chris MacFarland will meet in the next few days to do it.
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I thought that was the right approach, and I think Colorado needs to take a breather before they do anything. They will be disappointed, and they will be sad. I actually think before I get to Bednar, Scotty, I actually think the biggest question would be Chris MacFarland.
He did a lot of heavy lifting there. Joe Sakic is the manager, but Chris MacFarland is very important in terms of the amount of work he does, and I don’t think there’s a deal made with Nashville or anything like that, because he’s under contract with them, I believe, for at least another year.
Well, at least another year, and I think it’s another year, and Colorado has control there. I think Nashville will call and ask permission to talk to him. And I just remember the last time Joe Sakic had to deal with losing him, which was during the Anaheim search, when they hired Pat Verbeek.
Sakic sat down with him, then refused permission, then replaced him. Sakic knows how important MacFarland is, and I think I’d be surprised if they let him go, so he’s number one.
Then we come to Bednar, and I agree with your premise Scott. I think if Bednar were to be released, he wouldn’t work as long as he wanted. I compared a little; there are two things here. I compared it a little bit to Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh, the head coach; you risk not finding someone as good as him. You are really taking a risk. What I’m just wondering is, does everyone think that for some reason it’s just time. That happens from time to time. Is it time?
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And, secondly, another thing here, it’s a little out of everybody’s hand, but there’s the whole David Carle situation. We know you do a little dance with the Maple Leafs. I believe that even the Kings reached out to him.
I think people have wondered if his preferred destination would be Colorado, and I don’t think David Carle is doing anything wrong here. I want to emphasize that, but if the Avalanche ever believed that he was the right guy for them at some point in the future, I think everyone is wondering if the circumstances plan to make that time now. “
NHLRumors.com Note: The Colorado Avalanche have an aging team. While Nathan MacKinnon (30) and Cale Makar (28) were still playing, Brock Nelson (34), Josh Manson (34), Nazem Kadri (35), and Gabriel Landeskog (33), who was the Avalanche’s best player in the Conference Final, got older.
While their window is still open, the team is growing. Still question marks between the pipes. If you have two goalkeepers, do you have a striker? Everyone wants to fire Jared Bednar, but is it fair on a team where two of the best players are injured, not 100 percent, and the rest of the supporting cast is not showing up?
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People went into Edmonton Oilers management, but Chris MacFarland and Joe Sakic traded Mikko Rantanen, Bowen Byram, Samuel Girard, and let Darcy Kuemper leave in free agency. Now Martin Necas’ new extension kicks off this summer. There are many questions surrounding Colorado.
However, the worst decisions are made on emotion. Colorado will take time to consider everything before making any decisions.
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