The Daily Faceoff Show: Bryce Salvador talks about the Avs’ slow start
The Colorado Avalanche, who many predicted to win the Stanley Cup this season, are off to an ugly start.
After back-to-back losses to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Avs have a 4-5-1 record, which puts them sixth in the very competitive Central Division.
On Monday’s episode of the Daily Faceoff Show, Frank Seravalli and former NHL defenseman Bryce Salvador talked about why the Avs are struggling early on. A key issue for Colorado has been the team’s blue line and losing defensive defenseman Ryan Graves has turned out to be a bigger problem than expected…
Seravalli: They miss Ryan Graves, right?
Salvador: Exactly, you read my mind. They basically replaced Graves with Ryan Murray, who was also with the New Jersey Devils, so it was almost a trade how it came around.
I see what Ryan Graves is doing for the Devils and I’ve now become a big fan of his. He’s big, he’s ending plays, he can complement any offensive defenseman and give them more room to feel confident to make plays and make mistakes.
I have a new appreciation for Ryan Graves and what he did defensively for the Avs.
Seravalli: That was one of the knocks on the Avs previously, even when they lost last year, that they didn’t have the size on their backend. And then they go and they trade Graves and all of a sudden they’re in a spot where maybe they doubled down on one of their weaknesses.
So my question for you is what’s your level of concern with the Avs, 1-to-10?
Salvador: Right now, I’m floating at about an eight.
Darcy Kuemper hasn’t been strong in goal. If he can start making some saves and stealing some games for them, and maybe Devon Toews really starts to get going and Sam Girard gets going, but I’m now concerned about the physicality and them being able to play defensive hockey as it gets tough again.
They just don’t have the size and I don’t think they’re going to be able to end plays and effectively break out and really protect that slot area when they have big forwards coming down on them.
You can watch the full episode here…