The Colorado Avalanche are back on the ice this morning, and the next step from Jared Bednar is the one everybody’s watching: does he leave things alone, or does he start shuffling the deck after that ugly road showing against the Nashville Predators?
That practice feels especially notable because it’s the first one since that performance, and it should offer the first real clue about whether Bednar has any new line combinations in mind. Nothing is certain yet, but this has a different feel to it than a routine skate.
Around the league, the trade chatter is already starting to get some shape. Updated trade boards are circulating, and while the NHL trade deadline is still months away, the market can heat up long before then. It already has in some ways, thanks to the Connor Hellebuyck deal.
Sportsnet’s latest trade board, put together by Nick Kypreos, is one of the new lists worth tracking. So is The Athletic’s board from Chris Johnston, which came out a little over a week ago and also had Hellebuyck at No.
- Neither board includes any Avalanche players, but there are names on those lists that could become interesting for Colorado as the season goes on.
Elsewhere, Detroit rookie goaltender Michal Postava put together a huge night against Edmonton, helping the Red Wings beat Connor McDavid and the rest of the 8-3-1 Oilers. It was Postava’s first start, and he delivered a brilliant one.
New Jersey opens its three-game West Coast trip in Dallas today, with the Connor Hellebuyck question still hanging over things. If he doesn’t play, the possibility shifts to tomorrow at Ball Arena.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers got more bad news on a veteran defenseman, who will miss more time than originally expected.
And in Chicago, Seth Jones’ return to the United Center went well. Sunday marked his first game back there since being traded two seasons ago, and the trip was a success for the former Blackhawks defenseman.
The Rangers also had another rough outing, this time dropping a game to a Kings team that had struggled to score for most of the season - until now.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Face A Bigger Question Than Just This Slump
The Avalanche were back on the ice for practice after another rough outing, and Jared Bednar did not try to dress up the mood. He spoke candidly in his post-practice media session about the teams struggles, a familiar sign that Colorado is trying to steady itself quickly before a skid turns into something more troublesome.
As the focus shifts from the latest performance to the bigger picture, one of the more notable unresolved items sitting in the background is Artturi Lehkonens contract situation. He is still without an extension as a pending unrestricted free agent, and the matter adds another layer of uncertainty for a team already dealing with its on-ice issues. For an Avalanche group that expects to contend, the concern now is not just getting through a slump, but sorting out how much longer this roster can go without clarity on one of its key pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Bednar Just Put Avalanche Accountability On Notice
The Avalanches uneven start has put Jared Bednar in a mood more familiar to midseason frustration than early-season patience. After a 6-5-1 opening, Colorados coach made clear he expects more than a nightly reminder to bring urgency, saying players who need constant motivation are in the wrong league. It was a pointed message, but not one that suggested panic, more a demand that a veteran roster start acting like one.
Bednar also stressed that he trusts the group in front of him and expects it to be self-driven, which is part of what makes the tone so notable. The Avalanche get their next chance to reset against the New Jersey Devils, and the timing matters: a strong response would help quiet some of the early questions, while another flat outing would only make Bednars accountability message louder. [Read more 🡒]
Former Avalanche Forward Looks Like A Different Player Now
A.J. Greers name still carries a little extra meaning around these parts, but the player showing up now looks nothing like the one Colorado once tried to fit into its bottom six. After leaving the Avalanche, Greer kept grinding his way into a more complete forward, and the payoff has been real enough to notice, from a career-best season with the Florida Panthers to a new four-year deal that reflects how far his game has come.
He reinforced that progress in a recent overtime loss, scoring twice and adding another multi-goal night to a rsum that has changed the way hes viewed across the league. For a player who was once more about size and energy than offense, Greer has turned himself into a legitimate contributor, and that kind of breakout is the sort of development teams around the NHL always wish they had a second chance to see up close. [Read more 🡒]