October 26th 2024.
Greetings fellow Avs fans! As we eagerly await the start of the NHL season, I wanted to remind you all that our very own Corey Masisak will be opening up the Avs Mailbag periodically throughout the year. So, if you have any burning questions about the Avalanche or the league in general, be sure to submit them for a chance to have them answered.
Speaking of questions, one that has been on many of our minds is the status of our beloved captain, Gabe Landeskog. It's been a strange two years without him on the ice, and it's understandable to wonder when we'll get to see him play again. Some have even suggested having an interim captain like Nathan MacKinnon in place. However, there hasn't been much new information on Landeskog's recovery. Both Chris MacFarland and Jared Bednar have given vague responses, simply stating that he is still in the recovery process.
Last season, the Avs mentioned a 12-to-16-month timeline for Landeskog's return, but during training camp, MacKinnon mentioned it could take up to 18 months. Well, it's been 18 months now since his surgery on May 10, 2023, and we haven't seen him skating publicly in a while. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean he's not skating at all, but we've only seen him in the workout room or hanging out with his teammates.
Now, some have pointed to Lonzo Ball, who had a similar surgery to Landeskog's in March of 2023 and was able to play his first game with the Bulls in October of that year. However, it's important to remember that they play different sports, and Landeskog has mentioned having to re-train his skating stride. So, while it's possible he could return by early December, he will need some practice time before he's ready to join the team on the ice again.
As for the captaincy, the Avs have made it clear that they will not be naming a new one, and MacKinnon has stated that he doesn't want it to be him. So, if the need for a new captain arises in the near future, it's more likely that Cale Makar will take on the role.
Now, let's shift to a more optimistic topic - the potential for three 100-point scorers on our team. If everyone stays healthy, we can expect Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen to reach the 100-point mark again, but Cale Makar has also been knocking on that door. Last season, he was on pace for 95 points, and he even admitted it wasn't his best season. With a strong power play and an improved second line with Casey Mittelstadt, I believe Makar could reach 105-110 points if he has a peak, healthy year.
Now, I know some of you may be concerned about our slow start to the season and the struggles in the goaltending department. But, let's not forget the incredible performance by Justus Annunen during our recent road trip. However, there's still some uncertainty surrounding Alexandar Georgiev, who has had a rough start to the season. The Avs have faith that he will bounce back, and he does have a history of being a reliable goaltender in the NHL. Yes, our record could be better with stronger goaltending, but it's also important to remember that luck plays a big role in the outcome of games.
But, let me reassure you all that our team will be just fine. As long as Jonathan Drouin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin are close to 100%, and we can get anything from Landeskog, we have a strong chance of winning the division or even the conference. And, if we can really get things rolling in the second half of the season, anything is possible.
Now, onto a different topic - the new redevelopment deal in Denver. Many of us have been wondering what this means for the Avs. Will there be a new arena or practice facility for the team? Well, according to reports, the Avs and Nuggets have committed to staying at Ball Arena until 2050 as part of the agreement. However, KSE, the company that owns the teams, has the option to build a new venue on the Ball Arena property or the neighboring River Mile property at any point during the agreement. So, we may see some changes in the future, but for now, we can continue to enjoy games at our beloved Ball Arena.
That's all for now, folks! Keep those questions coming, and let's go Avs!
Hi there! This is Corey Masisak, a sports writer for the Denver Post. I wanted to let you all know that I will be opening up the Avs Mailbag periodically throughout the season. So, if you have any questions related to the Avalanche or the NHL, please feel free to send them my way!
One question that has been on the minds of many fans is about Gabe Landeskog. What is the latest update on his condition? Will he be able to play this year? It's certainly a strange situation to have our captain not on the ice for two years. Some have even suggested having an interim captain, like Nathan MacKinnon. What are your thoughts on that? -James A. from Denver
Unfortunately, there hasn't been much new information on Landeskog's recovery. Both Chris MacFarland and Jared Bednar have given vague responses, stating that he is still in the recovery process. Last season, the Avs mentioned a timeline of 12-to-16 months, but during training camp, MacKinnon mentioned it could be 12-to-18 months. It will be 18 months on November 10th, and we haven't seen Landeskog skating in public for a while now. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he's not skating at all. We've only seen him in the workout room or hanging out with his teammates.
Comparing Landeskog's situation to Lonzo Ball, who underwent a similar surgery in 2023, he was able to return to the court in just a few months. However, it's important to note that they play different sports, and Landeskog has also mentioned having to re-train his skating stride. So, it's difficult to determine when he will be able to play again. It's possible that he could be ready by early December, but he will need some practice time before joining the team on the ice.
As for the captaincy, the Avs have made it clear that they will not be naming a new one. And MacKinnon has also stated that he doesn't want the title. So, if the team does need a new captain in the near future, it's more likely to be Cale Makar.
Moving on to another question from Mike in Denver, he wants to know if this Avs team could have three 100-point scorers this season. Well, if they stay healthy, I definitely think it's possible. We all know that Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen are capable of reaching 100 points again, but Cale Makar has also been getting close to that mark. Last season, he was on pace for 95 points, and he even admitted that it wasn't his best season. With an improved second line and a strong power play, I wouldn't be surprised if Makar reaches 105-110 points at his peak.
Lastly, Rip from Aurora is concerned about the team's slow start and the poor performance of the goaltenders. He wants to know if fans should be worried this early in the season and what needs to change for the team to turn things around. Well, it's understandable to be concerned about Alexandar Georgiev's performance, but the Avs have expressed their belief that he will bounce back. After all, he has a proven track record of being a competent goaltender in the NHL. While the Avs are currently 4-4, they could easily be 5-3 or 6-2 with better goaltending. However, even if they had average goaltending, they might still have the same record due to factors like finishing luck or the opposing team's goalie having a good game.
But overall, I think the Avs will be fine as long as players like Jonathan Drouin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin are close to 100% of their performance from last season. And if Landeskog is able to contribute as well, that would be a bonus. In fact, winning the division or conference is still a possibility if the team can really get going in the second half of the season.
Lastly, Tony from Longmont wants to know about the new redevelopment deal in Denver and if it will include a new arena or practice area for the Avs. Well, as part of this new plan, the Avs and the Nuggets have committed to staying at Ball Arena until 2050. However, the agreement also states that the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) has the option to build a new venue for the teams on the Ball Arena property or the neighboring River Mile property at any point during the agreement. So, there is a possibility for a new arena or practice area in the future.
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