Dallas Stars’ Enemies: Looking Into Colorado Avalanche
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars are aiming to go far this coming season, but let’s not forget that they are still in the rough and tough Central Division. How will they fare against the Colorado Avalanche this year?
Every NHL offseason presents an opportunity for every team to get better or worse. But which teams improve and which decline? That depends on a variety of factors spanning from management decisions, to contact disputes, and even the availability and status of certain players.
As we’ve seen in the recent past, the Dallas Stars have had no problem succeeding in the offseason (take Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp, and Johnny Oduya for example).
Their most recent offseason activity involved picking up defenseman Dan Hamhuis. Looking at the team on paper, it’s a pretty safe bet that the Stars have a chance at making a run for the Stanley Cup.
After a second-round playoff exit last year that required seven games to extinguish them, Dallas regrouped and looks ready to make another push into May and even June. They’re offense arguably became stronger this offseason, the defense grew in size, and the goaltending tandem will be running the second year of a system they now know well.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t have some competition to get through, specifically in the Central Division. Dallas finally received the dominant gene this past year in divisional play, but things are constantly fluctuating and any team can quickly grab the reins and take control.
We’ve already recapped the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators. So how about the team that the Dallas Stars can never seem to beat? Here is a quick recap on what the Avalanche did this offseason, how it affects their chances in the season ahead, and how the Stars might fare against them?
Last season
Record: 39-39-4 (82 points), finished sixth overall in division
Postseason: fell five points short of the final wild card spot
The Colorado Avalanche have seen much, much better days than they have experienced over the past two seasons. Back in 2014, the Avs took an inspiring “worst-to-first” leap and came out as Central Division champions in the first year of the divisional realignment.
Going from 16-25-7 to 52-22-8 in one year is no easy task, yet Colorado did just that between the 2012-13 lockout year and the 2013-14 season.
But since that incredible spark, things have fizzled out a bit. The Avalanche by have no means taken a sharp turn or decline, but they cannot seem to weasel their way back into the playoff race.
The Avalanche’s biggest problem is not in their performance (though it could use a touch-up), but instead in their placement. The Central continues to grow in strength and power, and there are always at least six, or even all seven, playoff-worthy teams each season. The Central continues to send the max of five teams to the postseason each year, and things don’t look to be changing anytime soon.
It’s a tough battle when you’re in the Central, and the Avalanche continue to learn that difficult lesson by sitting on the edge each season.
What did they gain this offseason that’s noteworthy?
I think that Nadia Archuleta over at Mile High Sticking hit the nail on the head when she used the word “inconsistent” when talking about Colorado’s offseason moves. In free agency, they signed big-bodied defender Fedor Tyutin. He can give a team a physical edge, but the 32-year-old definitely drifts up and down on the production scale.
They also picked up the big, young defender Patrick Wiercioch from Calgary through free agency. He played three seasons with the Flames, but never started in more than 60 games in a season. In other words, more inconsistency in a large package.
Their final noteworthy free agent signing was forward Joe Colborne from the Flames as well. The then-UFA can play both on the wings and in the center, but a -19 plus/minus average in three seasons with Calgary is a strong reason to keep an eye on him.
In retention news, they re-signed D Tyson Barrie to a four-year contract worth $22 million, though arbitration was almost required to get the deal done. Barrie is one of the up and coming defenders in the league and can make a solid impression on a blue line.
Besides these three free agents (and one Av), there were not any other noteworthy (NHL-level) signings to report on.
What did they lose this offseason that’s noteworthy?
Much like the players they picked up, the Avalanche waved goodbye to a good number of average, somewhat inconsistent players this offseason.
They were active near and into the 2016 NHL entry draft, trading goaltender Reto Berra to the Florida Panthers and defender Nick Holden to the New York Rangers in a span of two days. Berra was playing the role of 2b. goalie in Colorado, and had to go sooner or later with the expansion draft looming. Holden, on the other hand, is a big, physical defenseman who is just now hitting his peak.
In free agency, they parted ways with F Mikkel Boedker and F Shawn Matthias. They also let go of D Nate Guenin and D Zach Redmond. Boedker was more than likely the biggest loss out of that list, and he’s only a top-six forward on a semi-regular basis. Other than that, the Avs gave up some inconsistent and aging players.
How might the Stars fare against them?
This one is definitely tricky to call. On the one hand, the Dallas Stars boasted a sizably stronger lineup than the Avalanche last season, yet they finished 2-2-0 against them. The one weakness that the Stars always have trouble getting over is the goaltending of Semyon Varlamov. Whether it is 15 shots or 43, the big Russian always seems to shut them down.
must read: Studying All Of The Stars' Central Division Foes
Both of the Stars’ victories over Colorado this past season were against Calvin Pickard, meaning they have not bested Varlamov since December of 2013. That’s a long time.
Other than the crease, the Avalanche boast a few strong forwards and defensemen. Among those are Barrie, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Matt Duchene. They also have a few wild card players that are sometimes hot and sometimes cold in different spurts throughout the season.
Though there looks to be some promise, especially in the top ranks on offense, it looks like the Avalanche may have some trouble standing up straight in the Central, at least for the entire season. The Stars could win the five-game series, but that’s only if they can solve Varlamov.
But in the end, anything is possible. I mean, this is the team that went from worst in the league to first in the toughest division in the span of one year. Don’t count them out just yet.
Next: Finding A Spot For Dan Hamhuis On The Blue Line
We will have more coverage of the remainder of the Dallas Stars’ enemies in the Central Division as the week comes to a close! Make sure to tune back in and find all of the offseason moves by the Stars’ biggest foes.