Colorado Avalanche

How Contracts still play a Role

With the deadline quickly approaching, one thing a lot of people forget about when it comes to tradable assets is contracts.  Whose contract is up, who has a terrible contract, and most importantly who is going to get resigned.  This brings me to one of the Avs biggest pieces to what may happen.  The Avs have roughly half their roster up for new contracts, including the big boys: Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly, Erik Johnson, Peter Mueller, and Milan Hejduk. 

Hejduk is a big question mark, since this could be the end for Duke, with retirement a...

Trade Deadline Dealing

Well it is almost the second Christmas for hockey fans with the trade deadline quickly approaching.  Since it is coming so soon, the rumors are flying everywhere.  As an Av fan, the trade deadline has always been an exciting time.  I can't remember a year we didn't make at least on substantial deal.  Last year was the Erik Johnson deal, the year before that we had the Mueller for Wolski trade and so on.  And of course who could forget the big trades during the glory years for the Avs.  The Avs had trades for Theo Fluery, Rob Blake, Ray Bourque, and Darius Kasperitis. ...

For the Chicago Blackhawks, it gets to a point when the same old excuses become more than tiresome cliches:

"The *insert excuse here* just didn't get it done tonight."

Despite Chicago maintaining a 2-2 tie heading into the third period, David Jones had a three point night and Paul Stastny put up two assists as Colorado skated away with a 5-2 win over the Blackhawks.

Having dropped six straight games, all of which to Western Conference teams, the Blackhawks could be one point out of first place if they had won just half of those games.

The Blackhawks still maintain sixth place in the playoff race in their conference, but are in danger of falling out of...

Must Win Games becoming can't Win games

That's 3 losses in a row, and two very important games the Avs have missed a chance to take over sole possession on the 8th and final playoff spot.  The Avs had a chance to take a 3 point lead over Minnesota, instead they lost that spot in the game against Minny right before the All-star break. Then the Avs come back and play a struggling Oilers team with the chance to take back the 8th spot from Minny.  Well again the Avs lose out on a chance to take that spot and fail to come through with a key win.  It seems that this is becomi...