Colorado Springs, CO. The Colorado Avalanche Burgundy and White game will be held September 24th at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. This will be a great chance for Avalanche fans outside of Denver to catch their team and get a view of the upcoming roster, as well as a chance to see NHL level players in a competitive scrimmage.
What should fans look for coming up this season for the Colorado Avalanche? This year we need to see Matt Duchene step up, not only with his point production but his leadership abilities. The Avalanche were led last season by Ryan O’Reilly, Paul Stasny and rookie of the year Gabriel Landeskog with 55, 53 and 52 points in order. Duchene trailed far behind with only 28 points in an injury riddled season. Matt needs to step up and protect himself better if the Avalanche are to make a run for the playoffs. All a team needs in the NHL is to make the playoffs as the L.A. Kings showed as the eighth seed in the West last year as they won the Stanley Cup.
With the re-signing of Jean Sebastian Giguere and 24 year old Semyon Varlamov, the Avalanche have the goal-tending knotted up. Kyle Quincey and Ryan Wilson return to a young but strong defense. Additions to the defense include one year deals with Thomas Pock and Sean Sullivan, who add some more youth and a bit of NHL experience as they should make the Avalanche squad in a third or fourth line rotation.
Offense will be the key with the one year re-signing of Milan Hejduk and the increased performance from Paul Stasny and much-needed point production from Matt Duchene. Look to Landeskog to improve as he moves into his second year in the NHL. Power play production needs to improve as well as face off wins for the Avalanche to improve their offensive production.
Get your tickets while you can to the Burgundy and White game. Always a fun competition as well as a first glimpse of what is to come for the 2012-2013 season.
Denver Sports Chat – Kris Loco
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