SB Nation User Blog: thedoctor

Canadiens trade for Gomez

thedoctor — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:44:55 -0000

Canadiens trade for Gomez

It's nice to see that as bad as this organization can be, we're not even close to the incompetence of others. The signing was nuts, trading for it is even crazier.

And it'll be even funnier when the Rangers stay true to form and go blow the entire savings on Mike Cammelleri or something. :)

NHL Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire: "Matt Duchene is a pure offensive player who also is...

thedoctor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:18:33 -0000

NHL Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire: "Matt Duchene is a pure offensive player who also is a great penalty killer. He helps the Brampton Battalion in all facets of the game. A pure sniper, he plays the point on the power-play and is a threat to score on the penalty kill as well. He reminds me, probably most of the new breed of snipers, Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner and Steven Stamkos as he grows into his offensive position in the NHL."

Interesting note I found at TSN -- Duchene plays point on the PP. I wonder if we'll keep him there?

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=11891

Avs hire Quinn as Lake Erie Head Coach

thedoctor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:28:21 -0000

No, not that Quinn, David Quinn, the former associate head coach for Boston. How is this guy connected to the Avs...or did we actually hire outside the organization for once? I wonder how connected this guy is to our prospects with Boston, Brandon Yip, Kevin Shattenkirk. and Colby Cohen? Could that be the link?

Either way, seems like a pretty solid hire. Boston is a successful program.

http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=426184

Colorado trade proposal for Briere

thedoctor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:19:52 -0000

Colorado trade proposal for Briere

Greetings from Colorado.

Normally I'd keep this stuff to HFboards, but we've got a lively discussion going on over at Mile High Hockey concerning a trade for Briere and JvR, and we'd welcome your view on it.

Somehow I doubt this is a trade that goes down too well for either fan base -- us because we're giving up a lot of homegrown guys and taking on that nasty Briere contract, you guys because JvR is involved -- but I think it's still an interesting discussion. We'd welcome your input.

I have too much time on my hands: 2 trade proposals

thedoctor — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:20:29 -0000

So, while we await the upcoming NHL draft, there's really nothing going on in the hockey world but free agent speculation, mock drafts, and trade proposals. Anyone who knows me from here, know I love lineup speculation and trade proposals.

Normally I try to keep the trade proposals to hfboards, but these ones are so out there, I thought I'd bring them to a place with much better discussion. :) Maybe I can prevent some boredom in others as well as myself!

Proposal #1:

To Pittsburgh: Marek Svatos

To Colorado: '09 2nd, '10 3rd (conditional on Svatos scoring 30 goals)

Comments: I'm a well known Svatos hater, and with Jones and Stewart coming into their own as 2nd/3rd line options, it's time to trade Svatos while we can get some value for him.

Pittsburgh fans seem to like the idea of trading for Svatos on hf, and the value is about what they've offered, just with a little twist in the form of the conditional pick. Overall, I think this would be a good move for both teams.

Proposal #2:

Ok, let's assume Tampa Bay succeeds in trading Lecavalier on draft day, and they select Duchene at #2 after the Islanders select Tavares #1. That leaves us with Hedman at #3, and I'm sure many people around there parts would be thrilled.

But where does that leave our lineup? I'll tell you: hoping for Wolski to improve enough to be a legit 2nd line center, old, and slow. And massively overpaid and overstocked on D. Until we do this:

To Philly: Wojtek Wolski, John-Michael Liles (7.0m total cap hit)

To Colorado: Danny Briere, Randy Jones, James van Riemsdyk (9.25m total cap hit + JvR's entry contract, currently unknown but probably about a 2.5-3m cap hit with bonuses)

Comments: Whoa doc! Taking on Briere's contract? Trading 2 of our best players? Adding salary when we're already tight? Well, yeah. Let me explain why I'd think about it.

For Colorado, it's true, Briere's 6.5m cap hit for the next 6(!) years is a tough pill to swallow. But Briere is a point per game player when healthy, and even last year playing out of shape on the 3rd and 4th lines he projected to a 30 goal pace over 82 games. He's also fast, and extremely talented. He's pretty close to what we need on the 2nd line behind Stastny. Briere in Colorado, despite the bad contract, makes some sense if we don't get Duchene.

Randy Jones is another bad contract and a Brett Clark clone, but it's up after this year. This cap relief versus Liles' contract going forward is what the team will need.

But the real gem that makes these 2 contracts palatable to Colorado is James van Riemsdyk. I'll let HF profile him:

He has high offensive potential; from his great size to his superb technical skating ability, he can be a complete package offensively. He makes his living in the slot, shielding off defenders and potting goal after goal.

HF rates him as the 13th best prospect in the league as of April, a few spots ahead of our own guy Shattenkirk. He's probably a few years out from hitting his stride, but so are most of our young guys.

This trade makes us a bit worse in the short term, but really lines things up down the road.

From Philly's perspective, I think this makes a lot of sense for them too, though I admit I'm far less familiar with their situation. Their lines look something like this today, as far as I can tell:

Hartnell - Carter - Lupul

Gagne - Richards - Giroux

With Briere centering Powe and someone else on the 3rd. Briere is a terrible 3rd liner...but with Wolski, they have a 3rd line center that is an answer to the Pittsburgh Staal 3rd line, and who can back up the easily-broken Gagne and Hartnell at LW in the top 6. Wolski may also really reach his potential there as well.

Liles is a huge upgrade over Carle/Jones on the point of the PP, and really adds some punch to their 2nd pairing.

Even better, it frees up about 2.25m in cap space this year and if they choose to move Liles or Carle, they can finally go after Bouwmeester, whom they covet. Losing JvR is a blow, but they can tolerate it for the cap flexiblilty and better players for their roles the trade gives them going forward.

And as for the Avalanche cap...we could do it. This coming year would be tight, but possible (if you don't care, skip to the grand total):

Smyth - Stastny - Hejduk = 16.75m

JvR - Briere - Stewart = 9.85m (assuming 2.5m for JvR)

McLeod - Hensick/Galiardi - Jones = 2.2m

Stoa/Mercier - Guite - McCormick = 1.8m

2 minimum wage scratches = 1m

= 31.6m

Hannan - Hedman = 7m (assuming 2.5m for Hedman)

Clark - Foote = 6.5m

Salei - Jones = 5.775

Vernace = .75

= 20.025m

Goalie X = ~2m

Budaj = .85m

Tucker Buyout = .75m

GRAND TOTAL = 55.225m (and remember this will go down as the entry level guys inevitably fail to meet bonuses, so there's room for callups as well)

Yes, it does work for next year, and the year after there will be massive relief on the horizon with Hejduk and the 4 crappy defensemen (Clark, Jones, Salei, and Foote) all up for new deals. There'll be plenty of room for Gaunce, Shattenkirk and other new defensemen, and plenty of cap room going forward as our young guys come up for contracts.

So what do you guys think? Yes, I have too much time on my hands today at work -- I'm watching build servers run, but besides that? :)

Poll

Would you do the 2nd trade if the Avs got Hedman?

Yes

42 votes

No

38 votes

Maybe if it was tweaked a little

17 votes

I don't care, but man do you have too much time, Doc!

6 votes

103 votes | Poll has closed

Like a bad dream

thedoctor — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:35:41 -0000

Warning: If you want sunshine and happiness about this offseason, look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you like dispassionate and semi-objective analysis from a diehard fan, read on. This is simply a rewind on the offseason from my own extremely confused and unhappy perspective.

Going into this offseason, I was pretty excited about the Broncos. Sure, the defense was awful and the coaching on that side of the ball seemed inept to say the least, but the offense! We had the best young QB in football. The offensive line was young and excellent already. Every skill position was set. On top of that, we had the best offensive mind in football, and the drafting issues appeared to be behind him after a solid 2008 draft.

All we needed was a good defensive draft, some new defensive coaches and this team was Super Bowl bound in the near future, I was convinced.

Then Mike Shanahan was fired. I was stunned at first, but as more info came out and I considered the past, it made sense. Shanahan had refused to fire Bob Slowik, who was clearly not the answer as a defensive coach, or relenquish player personnel control at all. Shanahan's management and player development decisions were questionable at best -- his drafts before the last had been awful with few exceptions. His choices as subordinates had not gotten the job done. Shanahan's obsession with power was counter-productive. When Pat Bowlen said it was time for a change, I accepted it. One step backwards to make two steps forward, right?

Some time later, the hire was announced: Josh McDaniels. At first it seemed a strange choice -- the 32 year old McDaniels had little in the way of a resume and was another offensive-minded coach. Hadn't we just fired the greatest offensive mind in football?

But as I read the information, I managed to rationalize it to myself. McDaniels had the potential to be a Shanahan-level genius according to all reports, and this new coach wouldn't have all of the player personnel choices left to him. A better power structure would lead to better drafting and personnel decisions, right? Perhaps he could get a better DC in (and he did in Mike Nolan). One step backwards in coaching ability for 2 steps forward in organizational structure, right?

Over the next few weeks, Jeremy Bates, widely considered a brilliant offensive mind and a "keeper", was let go, along with the Goodmans as GMs. Not a big deal, I told myself, ust more old guard cleaning out. But wait a second, who's in control of player personnel now? Brian Xanders, the new GM, is mostly a numbers guy. Does this mean the coach is back in control of player personnel? Wasn't having a better power structure a major reason Shanahan was fired? Well, maybe McDaniels is better at player personnel. Yeah, that's it.

As free agency commenced, things appeared to be in good shape. Brain Dawkins and the glut of other signings were focused on plugging secondary holes on a simply awful defense that needed help virtually everywhere. There were a couple puzzling RB signings given the presence of Peyton Hillis and Ryan Torain as at least passable options, but whatever. No biggie, just a coach wanting some more depth. And dumping Mike Leach, a brilliant long snapper and well-liked locker room figure for the Pats long snapper? Why would McDaniels do that -- is he that obsessed with his own guys that he would risk alienating the locker room like that? Puzzling...

Then, the Cutler/Cassel fiasco occurred. No need to recap the mess, but I felt there was blame on both sides, and because of immaturity on both sides the situation was untenable. You can't have a disgruntled and newly-revealed-to-be-immature guy like that leading your team, right? No choice but to trade him, and we got excellent value with 2 firsts, a third and The Neckbeard himself, Kyle Orton. One step backwards in QB talent to take two steps forward fixing the defense, right?

Which brings us to today, the first day of the draft. Time to fix the front 7, at last! After all this, our needs are clear: we need starters at NT, 3-4 DE, and rush OLB, and we have both the picks to make it happen and to make sure we don't have reach for these positions of need or ignore great value out there.

Instead, we got...this. At pick 12, Brian Orakpo is available, a great value by all accounts AND at a position of need. No brainer! But we passed him up for Knowshon Moreno -- another good value pick and a good player for sure, but at a position the team had already pursued in free agency (RB), and that had substantial talent at the spot already in Hillis and others. I am puzzled, and frustrated. I guess we'll be taking front 7 guys with the rest of the picks, right?

Pick 18, Robert Ayers. A one year wonder 4-3 DE that most figure as a rush OLB in the pros. He's got red flags for me -- major Jarvis Moss deja-vu anyone? Isn't he a bit small to be a 3-4 DE? -- but hey, at least we're improving an area of need without reaching too much.

Pick 37, Alphonso Smith, for the Bronco's #1 next year. Look, I like Smith. He's a value at #37 despite his size. But didn't we spend money in free agency to patch up this position? Aren't there awesome options available right now at positions of need, like Connor Barwin? I'm no Brace fan, but isn't he a fit at a huge need in NT? Most of all, we gave up a probable top 10 pick next year for this guy? I'm literally speechless. I cannot conceive what might possibly have happened to trigger this sort of insanity.

Pick 48, Darcel McBath? A SAFETY? WITH A 3-4 ROUND GRADE?! All of the above arguments apply -- not a position of need, huge holes to fill, etc. Why not wait until the 3rd round? Why not Fili Moala or Paul Kruger? or Sean Smith if you have to go safety? Stunned.

Pick 64, Richard Quinn? A BLOCKING TE?! WITH A 4TH ROUND GRADE?! Can't you wait until the 3rd at least instead of wasting picks? Why do we need this when we have one of the best blocking TEs in the league in Graham? McDaniels really thinks this -- a blocking TE that will play in goal line sets only for the foreseeable future -- is a greater need than a NT or OLB, and worth trading up for. Simply incredible.

This offseason is like a bad dream. We've gone from having a dominant young QB leading a killer offense with proven brilliance at coach, to question marks at QB and the coach. We've gone from a flat terrible defense, with most issues stemming from the worst front 7 in Denver history to...virtually the same front 7 with a different scheme and one more player, and an upgraded secondary. Have we learned nothing the last years of good secondary with poor front 7 play? It's worthless to have that! We've traded a future first rounder -- a likely top 10 one -- and traded it for a mid 2nd round pick at a position not even a need.

HT is attempting to tell us that this somehow makes sense. I completely disagree. This draft and offseason shows ignorance of basic football principles like building strong lines first. The bizarre doubling of expensive FA signings, trading up at huge cost, and spending most of these high picks on positions not even near the highest need shows that there's been no plan at all, just huge overvaluation of certain skills and positions.

At least this isn't unprecedented -- overvaluation of certain positions and talents to the complete ignorance of more important needs is the trademark of a well known team: the Raiders. I can't even believe I just said that, but it's true. This draft and offseason is completely Raiders-esque.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see this team on a course for disaster. But I'm still a fan no matter how awful things are.

Go Broncos.

Jibble, our dream of Harding has ended

thedoctor — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:20:12 -0000

Jibble, our dream of Harding has ended

Better luck in 2010, at the deadline or draft, I guess. :(

What now? Sign a stopgap like Anderson?

MacKenzie recalled

thedoctor — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:43:41 -0000

MacKenzie recalled

glad to see SOMEONE realizes O'Neill was not worth a further look.

ESPN article on non-playoff teams

thedoctor — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:52:14 -0000

ESPN article on non-playoff teams

Some interesting thoughts on the Avs. We're a "cautionary tale" evidently.

Avaholics Anonymous: The 11 step program to recovery

thedoctor — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:03:31 -0000

Well folks, the trade deadline is upon us. The Avs are in a tailspin the likes of which the team has never experienced since moving to Colorado. The front office is in denial. The coaching staff looks lifeless. Our goalies look worse with each passing game. All is hopeless, right?

No! Avaholics Anonymous is here with a 12 11 step program for the Avs to break their addiction to sucking, and get this team back on track. Without further ado, the 11 step program for success!

Fire the entire coaching staff. Maybe you keep Hackett around, but this is the biggest step for our addicted-to-sucking front office-- admitting there's a problem. Get Dineen or Burns, or something better out of house. Just no more in house.
At the deadline, trade Leopold, Svatos, and if you can, Clark. Leopold and Svatos are decent players, but one-dimensional ones on a team that absolutely must say goodbye to its destructive habits. Clark, well, he's overpaid and overused. Try to get a goalie or almost-ready nhl-prospects in return, otherwise draft picks.
Let Arnason and Raycroft go. Wave goodbye to Joe. Buy out Tucker since no one will take him in trade or waivers (results in .75m cap hit next 2 seasons, not bad).
Draft the best player available wherever we end up in the draft -- since we appear headed for #3 or 4, this will probably be Duchene or MSP, both probably LWs.
Re-sign Guite, Lappy, Tjarnqvist (as a 7th) and the RFAs (McLeod, McCormick, Jones, Cumiskey, and Budaj).
If we failed to get a real goalie at the deadline, get one now. Options include Backstrom, Garon, or Biron in UFA, Lehtonen or Leclaire in trade, or even Harding in RFA if Backstrom is re-signed by Minny. If none of those are available at reasonable rates, think about stopgaps like Fernandez and Khabibulin.
Sign a real 3rd line center. Pahlsson or Malhotra are good options. If Clark was traded, sign a serviceable vet to take his place for less than he was making. Sign a couple other depth guys too, like Willsie this year.
Promote Cumiskey to 6th D and give him a whole year to grow.
Put Hensick as a 2nd line winger, and give him a whole year to prove he belongs.
???
profit (if you don't get this, watch more freaking South Park, you loser)

See, that's all it would take! None of these options are remotely far-fetched or difficult. Believe it guys and gals, we can beat the addiction to sucking! And fire away in the comments -- I want to hear your plans, critiques, comments too. Just keep it realistic if possible, no one wants plans to trade for Crosby here. :)