Saturday, September 19, 2009

Avs singing the Blues + Random musings

Sorry for the cliche title, I couldn't help it.

Avs lose 6-2 to the Blues tonight. Avs didn't have too many names in the line-up; Weiman got the start, and let in all 6 goals (on 36 shots). I expect him, along with two of Cumiskey/Montgomery/Skinner to be cut tomorrow. Weiman didn't have much of a chance to begin with, and that chance evaporated tonight.

Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist, and his line-mate Chris Stewart had a goal. Both players were the only "plus" players on the team. As I said in yesterday's blog, I expect Duchene to make the team, and tonight's stand out performance strengthens my belief.


KESSEL TRADED TO THE LEAFS

The Phil Kessel sags comes to an end, finally. He's being shipped to Toronto in exchange for two 1st round picks and a 2nd round pick. I think this is a pretty even trade: Leafs finally get another star player, and the Bruins get a plethora of good picks. If anything, Boston wins the trade. If Toronto doesn't significantly improve at least by the end of the 2011 season, then they just acquired two great picks from a crummy team.

Personally, I think the Avs should have given Kessel an offer sheet (which would have cost a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick). It's true that Colorado's 1st round pick may be worth alot at this years draft, but there are no guarantee's in life. No guarantees in finishing last in the west, no guarantees that the player drafted won't be a bust. In giving Kessel an offer sheet, they would have acquired a great young sniper without losing any assets currently in the organization.

That's just me. I think the Avs should hang on to their 2010 1st rounder for dear life, but the Kessel situation - acquiring a former #5 overall pick, a 21 year old 36 goal scorer - for "potential" players would have been worth mulling over at the very least.

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