We have to, it’s tradition!
Today is Matt Hunwick’s 28th birthday! Hunwick just won a bronze medal with the United States at the World Championships, and a few months back, he and his wife welcomed a baby boy to their family. While the Avs season didn’t go the way he wanted it too, it’s definitely been a memorable year for #22.
Here he is scoring a pretty goal:
Oh and here’s a nice hit:
Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.
Quick WC update: Landeskog and the Swedes advanced to the gold medal game. Johnson, Stastny, Palushaj, and Hunwick lost in today’s semifinals and will take on Finland for the bronze medal.
Statistics: GP 43 G 0 A 6 P 6 PIM 16 +/- 4 Hits 40 BS 59 Giveaway/Takeaway Differential +8
The Good
Matt Hunwick seemingly secured his spot in the top six for the Avs this year, after a really tough 2011-2012 season. I think for the most part he was one of the better players in the defensive zone. Hunwick was one of the leaders in time on ice this season, and despite the fact that the team allowed way more goals than they scored, he had a positive plus-minus rating. He was one of the few players on the team with a positive plus-minus. He also improved in his one on one play, and had a positive differential between his giveaways and takeaways. I know that it has been common among Avs fans to trash Hunwick, ever since he joined the team, but people need to stop judging him based on his first poor 20 games with the team, and instead look at the good he’s done in the past two seasons. Hunwick isn’t a particularly aggressive player, and he’s probably the smallest defenseman on the team, but he can still play pretty strongly along the boards. I was also impressed this season with how many shots he blocked. In the past that hasn’t really been a part of his game, but he really stepped up and added that to his play this year.
The Bad
Hunwick has been billed as an offensive defenseman, and yet he only had six points (all assists) this year. This was obviously an off year for pretty much everyone on the blue line, especially offensively, but Hunwick didn’t do himself any favors with his low point production. He had the same number of points last season (in 10 fewer games) and three of those points were goals at least. Plus, there’s just the general fact he was a part of a team that ranked 27th in the league in goals against.
This Summer
Hunwick’s main goal is to work on his shot I think. He should prepare similarly to how he did last summer otherwise. He has scored a couple of goals in the World Championships, which should help his confidence, and will hopefully lead into a more offensive season next year.
Contract Status
Hunwick has one year left on his $1.6 million contract. I expect the Avs will wait to see how this season plays out (not just for Hunwick, but for the other defensemen as well), and then decide whether to renew him or let him test the market.
This post is more about the Front office changes, but there are some Worlds updates at the bottom. Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.
Okay, award for worst Avalanche blogger this week goes to me. I’m terribly sorry if you’ve checked in during the past five days, only to find things static. I’m back, and ready to blog (at least every other day) for the foreseeable future during this long offseason.
» Continue reading “Avs Change Front Office; Worlds Updates”
Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr
Alright, time for World Championships updates, Avalanche style.
-Team Canada has played two games. Matt Duchene scored two goals in the first game, (and was named Best Player for Canada), a 3-1 win over Denmark. In the second game, Canada lost to Switzerland in the shootout. Duchene was used three times, and he scored once and was denied twice by Martin Gerber, Switzerland’s goalie. Duchene has gone 16-8 on faceoffs thus far. Ryan O’Reilly has yet to earn any points, but he has gone 9-2 in the faceoff circle.
-Team USA has also played two games since I last posted, and won both of them. Erik Johnson scored two goals in his first game, and had one assist in the second. Matt Hunwick scored in today’s contest. Aaron Palushaj scored in the first game. Paul Stastny has three assists so far, was named Best Player in game one, and has gone 32-13 at the dot. Also, goaltender Ben Bishop (Tampa Bay Lightning), is a native of Denver Colorado.
-Semyon Varlamov was not in the lineup for Team Russia’s first game, but he was in the net for their second, a 4-1 win over Germany. Varlamov made 26 saves on 27 shots to earn the victory.
-Jan Hejda and Gabriel Landeskog’s teams faced off yesterday. Neither had any points, but Landeskog added to his penalty total, while Hejda’s team added to their win total.
Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.
Ryan O’Reilly is back in Colorado, back at Avalanche practice, where he should be. After passing his physicals yesterday, O’Reilly started today out centering the third line, with Mitchell and Hejduk on his wings. I prefer Mitchell at center (and I think he obviously prefers it there as well), but at the same time, he needs to be in the top nine, and O’Reilly is another center behind Duchene and Stastny.
» Continue reading “O’Reilly Returns, Addresses Media”
Jones continues to kill it in overtime, with the most overtime goals of any player since 2010. Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.
The Colorado Avalanche hosted the St. Louis Blues in the last game of a two game homestand. The Avs won in overtime, and Varlamov shut out the Blues.
» Continue reading “Avs Win In OT”
Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.
Tomorrow evening, the Avalanche will host the Phoenix Coyotes at Pepsi Center to close out this four game homestand. They’ve only won one game thus far, and I think it will be really important for their confidence to even things out before they head out on the road. It’ll also be good to add to their point total (so maybe we aren’t in a we-have-a-point-zero-two-percent-chance-of-making-the-playoffs-but-it’s-a-chance position again.)
» Continue reading “Coyotes At Avalanche Preview”
Sorry I didn’t post yesterday-I’m sick and my cat has an ear infection, and so we spent yesterday sleeping and moaning together.
There wasn’t a lot of information to come out of Avs practice today. The team did say that they think Gabriel Landeskog will be able to start skating again soon. Hopefully they’re right, and his return, while not imminent, is forthcoming.
» Continue reading “How Can Avs Create Blueline Offense?”
Here’s Bordeleau, thanks for the picture, Todd!
The Avs sent down forward Michael Sgarbossa and defenseman Stefan Elliott. Forward David van der Gulik has been put on waivers and will be reassigned to Lake Erie if he passes through the waivers unclaimed. This means that Mark Olver, Patrick Bordeleau, and Tyson Barrie will be staying up with the club.
» Continue reading “Avs Trim Roster”
Which sports would each player participate in?
Like nearly everyone else, I have Olympic fever. Last night, I got to thinking “what sports would the members of the Colorado Avalanche compete in, if they were to be summer Olympians?”
No, Gabe. There is no medal for “best tan”. Try a beauty pageant.
Gabriel Landeskog-I’m putting Landy down for soccer. His brother is a big soccer player, and he even scored his first NHL goal using his feet. Of course, his penchant for hitting people might cause the entire opposing squad to lay down in protest. (I love soccer. But the diving is ridiculous.)
Matt Duchene-I have a good feeling about Dutchy and fencing. He’s got great stick handling skills, so after some adjustments, he could be very savvy with a foil. He also has quick feet for all of the footwork required. Plus, who remembers him jabbing people with his stick after wins? He was clearly practicing earning points!
Matt Hunwick-Hunny is the team sprinter. He’s the fastest player on the Avs skating, so I’m going to guess that he can run a mean 200 meter.
Erik Johnson-I’m putting Edge down for long distance running. (10k, 15k…probably not a marathon, but you never know). This call comes from me observing him on the bench after returning from a lengthy shift. His economy of movement, general energy conservation, and apparent lung capacity (he never panted, just deep, cleansing breaths) gives me confidence that he has the endurance for long distances.
Ryan O’Byrne-Byrner has to be the basketball player on the team. He’s the tallest player on the team, and the only Avalanche basketball story I have heard came from Matt Duchene. And it was not a pretty tale.
Jan Hejda- Hejda could be a good volleyball player, especially if he worked primarily as a setter. (Am I saying that right? I’ve blocked out my 7th grade volleyball unit, it was the most traumatic experience I ever had in all my school years.)
Paul Stastny-Pauly could go for two categories. First, I know he’s a big tennis player (and major Roger Federer fan), so I’m tabbing him for that. A second option is a biking event. I mean, just look at this biking outfit he has. He’s serious about rolling on two wheels.
Semyon Varlamov-Varls, as the most flexible player on the team, is clearly the gymnast of the bunch. He’s a little tall, so he might not be an all around gymnast, but he could certainly specialize on an event or two. (Pommel horse? Floor exercise?)
Ryan Wilson-”Sauce”, as Wilson is affectionately called by his teammates, is the resident baseball player. He played until he was in his teens, and he just competed in Doug Gilmour’s “Dougieball” tournament for charity. Clearly, if anyone on this team can hit a homerun, it’s #44.
Cody McLeod-The highlander represents in boxing. Was there ever any doubt?
Steve Downie-Wrestling? He’s aggressive and dogged, so I think that wrestling is a good fit. It’s a sport as old as time, and he plays some old school hockey.
Ryan O’Reilly; David Jones- Each of these players has a lot of overall skill, so I’m going to say they should be in the heptathlon, decathlon style events. Lots of things to do and be good at.
Chuck Kobasew-Chuckie, I’m making you a rower. No idea why, but I’m running out of sports, and I figure you’d prefer rowing to badminton.
Jean-Sebastian Giguere- Doesn’t Jiggy just seem like a natural, horse-y person? He’s good with his hands, so he’s be able to smoothly give directions to his horse as an equestrian.
Milan Hejduk-Captain archery. Hejdie seems like he would be the best at a high skill sport, such as archery. He’s good at golf, and threading the needle on the ice, so why not archery?
Jamie McGinn-For some reason, I’m getting the feeling that Ginner would love to play some beach volleyball. He’s got enough all around strength to play the sport, and he’s been spending this summer taking pictures of his feet lakeside.
Shane O’Brien-OB is the Michael Phelps of this group. He’s got a strong upperbody, and long arms, which makes me believe he has what it takes to be a natural. Plus, apparently he’s a very good surfer.
Apologies to John Mitchell, P.A. Parenteau, and Greg Zanon. I just don’t know enough about you to be weird at this point.
