DENVER – The Colorado Eagles opened the 2021-22 AHL regular season on the road against the Henderson Silver Knights two weekends ago. The result? A 5-4 shootout loss on Friday, Oct. 15 and a 6-3 defeat on Sunday, Oct. 17. Colorado then headed to Loveland for its home opening weekend against the San Jose. Barracuda Those results? A 5-4 loss on Friday, Oct. 22 and a 3-2 defeat on Saturday, Oct. 23.Â
Now, alongside San Diego and Lehigh Valley, the Eagles remain one of three winless teams in the AHL through two weekends of play.
-
Ep 29: Stanley Cup Playoffs; Maple Leafs Collapse; End Of An Era For Penguinsby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2022 at 4:31 am
Mike, Jim, and Chris discuss the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, […]
A rough start for a team predicted to reach 77 points and a second place divisional finish in Sean O’Brien’s preseason projection model. So, what has exactly been happening with the hapless Eagles in these first four games of the season?
THE CALL-UPS
Ah yes, anyone familiar with the NHL-AHL dynamic expects call-ups during the season. But, the Colorado Avalanche came right out of the gate with a couple of key forwards missing action. Nathan MacKinnon sat out the first two games with a positive COVID-19 test. Gabriel Landeskog was suspended for two games after boarding Chicago’s Kirby Dach.Â
The Avs needed reinforcements straight away, so plucked up from the Eagles were forwards Martin Kaut, Mikhail Maltsev, Stefan Matteau, Jayson Megna, and Dylan Sikura. Granted, not all of these guys were up with the Avs at the same time, but that’s a good grip of your top AHL forwards with the parent club to start the year. Kaut, Maltsev, and Sikura have all played a handful of Eagles games since then, but Megna has stayed up with the Avs & Matteau was placed on IR on Oct. 17 and LTIR on Oct. 18.
It’s very hard to develop chemistry when so many of your top wingers are called into NHL duty.

ON OFFENSE, ON DEFENSE
The Eagles have been known at the AHL level for both decent scoring acumen & peppering the opposition with shots on goal. And despite its record so far, Colorado’s calling card remains the same in 2021-22, with an over three goals per game average and a league-leading shots for per game total.
SEASON | GAMES PLAYED | GF/GAME | LEAGUE RANK | SF/GAME | LEAGUE RANK |
2018-19 |
68 |
2.81 | 24th of 31 | 31.38 | 9th of 31 |
2019-20 |
56 |
3.36 | 6th of 31 | 32.25 | 5th of 31 |
2020-21 |
34 |
2.97 | 20th of 28 | 31.91 | 7th of 28 |
2021-22 |
4 (so far) |
3.25 | 12th of 31 | 44.25 | 1st of 31 |
On the other side of the coin, the Eagles defensive efforts have been historically average to below average. Through four games this season, Colorado’s goals allowed is one of the worst in the AHL, but its shots allowed per game is in the league’s top five.
SEASON | GAMES PLAYED | GA/GAME | LEAGUE RANK | SA/GAME | LEAGUE RANK |
2018-19 |
68 |
3.01 | 17th of 31 | 33.62 | 30th of 31 |
2019-20 |
56 |
2.89 | 11th of 31 | 32.39 | 28th of 31 |
2020-21 |
34 |
3.06 | 12th of 28 | 30.03 | 15th of 28 |
2021-22 |
4 (so far) |
4.75 | 29th of 31 | 25.25 | 5th of 31 |
Reading between the lines here, the offense is holding up their end of the bargain by producing an average of 3.25 goals per game on almost 45 shots on goal per game. The defense, however, cannot allow an average of almost five goals an outing and expect the Eagles to emerge victorious. The fact that this is on an average of slightly over 25 shots allowed per game is baffling.
Around FPC
NHL: Independent Investigation of Chicago Blackhawks Leads to Stan Bowman Stepping Down
NHL: Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad For The Senators
NHL:Â KHL Team Salary Payroll Revealed
NFL:Â Raiders Opinion: The End Of The Gruden Regime
Wrestling:Â WWE: Worst King of the Ring Winners of All Time
PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 7: The 2021-22 NHL Season Is Here
ON SPECIAL TEAMS
The power play and penalty kill for Colorado are the next two logical areas to examine for its early-season woes. Last year I covered how, both historically and under former assistant coach Brett Clark, the Eagles were doing well to very well on both the PP and PK.
Colorado finished last season ranked sixth on the PP (21.4%) and fifth on the PK (84.2%).
Early on this season, the Eagles power play looks very much the same as it ever was – six PP goals on 19 tries for a 31.6% conversion rate, good for third overall league-wide. The penalty kill? Yikes, don’t look. Six power play goals allowed on 16 chances, a 62.5% kill rate that sits dead last in the AHL.
New assistant coach Tim Branham is having a difficult time translating his ECHL-tooled ways to the next level, at least when it comes to the penalty kill for Colorado.

BE PATIENT WITH THE BLUE LINERS
It’s easy to see why the Eagles are struggling on the defensive end of the puck so far in 2021-22. There are only four remaining defensemen from 2020-21 that have taken the ice for the Eagles this season: Justin Barron, Dennis Gilbert, Jacob MacDonald, and Keaton Middleton. Utilizing Sean O’Brien’s player analytics model, MacDonald comes in as a first pairing AHL defenseman, both Gilbert and Middleton rank as third pairing AHL d-men, and Barron’s rookie sample size is too small to gather an accurate reading.
Solid first and second pairing defensemen like Kyle Burroughs, Dan Renouf, Ian Schied, and Conor Timmins all departed Colorado this offseason. In their place came Andreas Englund (DNP in 2020-21; replacement level in 2019-20), Jordan Gross (Arizona/taxi squad in 2020-21; first pairing AHL d-man in 2019-20), Rob Hamilton (replacement level in 2020-21; second pairing AHL d-man in 2019-20); and Roland McKeown (played in SHL in 2020-21; second pairing AHL d-man in 2019-20). Three of those four played last season. Of those three, the average amount of games played is just over 16 per skater.
What I see is four new defensemen bringing in unique circumstances – coming back after a season off, playing in only seven NHL games in 2020-21, looking to bounce back after a down year, and readjusting to the North American game after playing abroad. Throwing these guys together and expecting immediate chemistry is unrealistic, so as the header suggests, be patient while the Eagles’ defense works out the kinks.
NEED PATIENCE IN NET, TOO
A 4.75 goals against per game average is going to garner looks at the goaltending for Colorado, as well. Making appearances in all four of the Eagles games thus far has been rookie netminder Justus Annunen. His numbers in those four games played: 0-2-1 record, 3.61 goals against average, and .850 save percentage. That’s just a slight dip from last season: 0-1-1 record, 2.93 GAA, and .900 SV%.Â
Yes, Annunen has yet to see his first victory in North American pro hockey.
Aside from a horrid 40 minutes backstopped by Hunter Miska, Annunen has been the man in net for Colorado, for better or (mostly) worse. The Avalanche organization is clearly kicking the tires on who it hopes will be the goalie of the future down in Denver. Bare in mind, the 21-year-old Finnish prospect is certainly adjusting from the European game he’s played all his life. But, should the Avalanche continue Annunen’s AHL test run this season, the growing pains may continue to bleed over into the loss column for the Eagles.

CONCLUSION
Having a number of top-line forwards called up to the Avalanche, an abysmal goals against per game average & penalty kill rate, half of the d-corps trying to gel on a new team, and a green goalie adjusting to the North American pro game all factor in the Eagles’ 0-3-0-1 start to the 2021-22 regular season. But, lastly, one nagging carry-over from last year also needs to be remedied – not shutting the door & earning the victory in close games.
So far this year, Colorado has lost three out of its four games by one-goal deficits (the outlier being the 6-3 defeat against Henderson on Oct. 17). Two of those close games saw the Eagles with a one-goal lead heading into the third period, while the third game was tied going into the final regulation frame.
Throw it on the pile of transgressions, but the Eagles need to find the killer instinct to close out games. It bit them time and again last year, and it continues to do so this season. Until that’s remedied, Colorado will continue to be on the bottom looking up in the Pacific Division standings.
-
Ep 29: Stanley Cup Playoffs; Maple Leafs Collapse; End Of An Era For Penguinsby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2022 at 4:31 am
Mike, Jim, and Chris discuss the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, […]
-
Ep 28: NHL Draft Lottery; Stanley Cup; Islanders Coaching Situationby Full Press Coverage on May 11, 2022 at 1:13 am
Jim Biringer and Chris Wassel discuss the results of the NHL Draft […]
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
-
Ep 73: Bruins Face Elimination; Bruce Cassidy On Hot Seat; Patrice Bergeron Final Standby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Ian and Chris discuss game six between the Bruins and Hurricanes and the […]
-
Ep 72: Bruins Acquire Hampus Lindholm; More Moves To Come?by Full Press Coverage on March 20, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the trade of Hampus Lindholm to the Bruins and what […]
-
Episode #380 - The 2022 NHL Playoffs - Second Roundby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 2:30 am
After FIVE!!! game 7's in the first round of the playoffs, the 2nd round […]
-
Episode #379 - The 2022 NHL Playoffs - First Roundby Full Press Coverage on May 10, 2022 at 2:02 am
The NHL playoffs are well underway and the series are definitely not going […]
-
Episode #102: French or Silenceby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 5:46 am
The AHL Divisional Semifinals have concluded, and now, only eight teams […]
-
Episode #101: Playoff Post Mortemby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 6:11 am
The 2022 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs are in full swing, with (almost) two […]
-
Episode #102: French or Silenceby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 5:46 am
The AHL Divisional Semifinals have concluded, and now, only eight teams […]
-
Episode #101: Playoff Post Mortemby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 6:11 am
The 2022 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs are in full swing, with (almost) two […]
-
Ep 60: #KrejciForever and Raised Expectationsby Full Press Coverage on May 4, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Ian and Chris talk about the Bruins post trade deadline turnaround and […]
-
Ep 59: Bruins Swing Big At Trade Deadlineby Full Press Coverage on April 12, 2021 at 9:48 pm
Ian and Chris welcome in Mike Cratty to discuss the trade acquisitions of […]
-
Celtics Rebound In Game Two; Series Heads To Bostonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am
Ian and John discuss the Celtics big game two win over the Heat as the […]
-
Lightning On Way To A Three-Peat? (5/20)by Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Ian and John discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning and their 2-0 series lead […]