The Colorado Avalanche are back on top of the hockey. For the third time in franchise history, the Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup.
It has been a long road for the Avalanche to get back to this place. 21 years to be exact. The last time Colorado lifted the Stanley Cup was all the back in 2001. It took some time for this mission to be completed. There were ups and downs along the way. Along with heartbreak and learning lessons, the players on this team grew together fixated on one goal. And that was to win the Stanley Cup.
-
Ep 37: NHL Free Agency Recapby Full Press Coverage on July 20, 2022 at 12:42 am
In this episode of Full Press Hockey Weekly, Mike Straw goes solo as he […]
Those on the outside do not know how hard the journey is to win the Stanley Cup. There are a lot of sacrifices that need to be made. Individual goals have to be put aside for the greater good of the group. If you look at the journey of this Avalanche team, you will realize getting back to this place of winning was not easy.
You could see that on the players’ faces Sunday night in Tampa when the Colorado Avalanche lifted the Stanley Cup over their heads. The group that has been together for so long finally was finally able to reach the mountain top.
Colorado Avalanche Patient With Rebuild
Just look at how far the Colorado Avalanche have come in such a short time. It all starts with the general manager and coach. During that season, Sakic hired Jared Bednar after Patrick Roy decided to step away as head coach of the Avalanche. That year under Bednar, the Avalanche had their worst season in franchise history recording just 48 points.
However, like Sakic, Bednar was patient with the group. Each season they grew and grew. Many wondered if Bednar was the right fit. However, Bednar showed he was capable of leading this group and pushing all the right buttons. Because under his guidance, the Colorado Avalanche are champions once again. Bednar has now won at every level in professional hockey. The ECHL, AHL, and now the NHL. That says a lot considering the world of what have you done for me lately.
And Sakic could have gotten rid of Bednar after their failures in the playoffs. And even after that first season, Bednar could have been gone. However, Sakic trusted Bednar to get the job done and he was rewarded. Sakic knew he was building something special in Colorado and his patience was going to be rewarded.
“That group of players, the guys that wanted to stick around and be part of the rebuild back five years ago — the Johnsons, the Landeskogs, the MacKinnons, the Rantanens — I’m just really happy for those guys,” Sakic said to media after Game 6.
Around Full Press Hockey
NHL: Back With A Vengeance: Nazem Kadri Delivers Again For Colorado
NHL: Colorado Avalanche Exploits Lightning Weakness in Game 1 Victory
NHL: Colorado Avalanche Find Hidden Gem In Artturi Lehkonen
NFL: Los Angeles Chargers Defense Starting to Look Formidable
MLB: Feast or Famine: Tigers Seek Offensive Consistency
PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly: Ep 33: Stanley Cup Final Preview
Finding the Right Mix Matters
Speaking of Sakic, look how far he has come as well. Not only with his patience with the coach but as a general manager. Everyone was clamoring for him to trade Matt Duchene. He waited it out, made the trade when he was ready and got Samuel Girard out of that deal. In addition, he traded for guys like Devon Toews and Nazem Kadri. Not to mention signing Valeri Nichushkin from Dallas.
Then there was the trade deadline of 2022 when he added Nico Sturm, Andrew Cogliano, Artturi Lehkonen, and Josh Manson. These players were crucial in the Avalanche winning a Stanley Cup. Sakic knew what he needed to get to push this team over the edge. Sometimes the biggest deals are not the most effective deals.
All these players played an important role in the Avalanche winning. When guys like MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen were out of the lineup, there was Kadri to step up to fill the number one center role. When Kadri went down, Rantanen played center while Lehkonen went to the top line and Nichushkin played the wing. Lehkonen was the steal of the deadline. Lehkonen not only sent the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Final but he is credited with the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 6.
Then there is the goaltending. When Philipp Grubauer left via free agency, he traded for Darcy Kuemper. Kuemper has played well this season, but when he has gone down to injury, there was Pavel Francouz ready to go. Having two goaltenders that can play is important to the success of any team. Each goalie recorded six or more wins in the players. There was some doubt about Kuemper, but he got the job done. Again Sakic’s patience paid off. He brought each player in for a reason. They had a role on the team.
Drafting Talent Propelled Colorado Avalanche To Greatness
But having depth is not the only thing. You have to draft well too and the Avalanche did that over this time as well. As Gabriel Landeskog said post-game to Emily Kaplan when asked on what teams should do to copy the Avalanche, “Find a Cale Makar somewhere.”
During that horrible season of 2016-17, the Avalanche finished dead last but did not have the number one pick. Makar fell to them at fourth overall. After finishing college, he jumped right into the NHL and never looked back. Makar was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as Playoff MVP with 29 points in 20 games.
In addition to Makar, the team drafted Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram. When Girard got hurt, Byram’s minutes increased and he adjusted accordingly. The trio of Toews, Byram and Makar have backstopped the Avalanche defence corps. Newhook was a crucial depth player, especially late in games.
Winning Built Through Heartbreak
Through all the heartbreak and disappointments of the past three years in the second round, the Avalanche had a mission in mind when the 2021-22 season started. Anything less than a Stanley Cup Championship was going to be a disappointment. Fueled by MacKinnon’s comments, getting past the hurdles of the second round, dealing with injuries along the way, and needing to close out another series on the road, the Colorado Avalanche proved to be worthy Stanley Cup Champions.
-
Ep 37: NHL Free Agency Recapby Full Press Coverage on July 20, 2022 at 12:42 am
In this episode of Full Press Hockey Weekly, Mike Straw goes solo as he […]
-
Ep 36: NHL Draft; NHL Free Agency Previewby Full Press Coverage on July 13, 2022 at 11:45 am
In this episode, Mike Straw and Chris Wassel dive into NHL Free Agency and […]
-
Ep 35: Avalanche Win Stanley Cup; Hockey Hall of Fame; NHL Offseason Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on June 29, 2022 at 2:06 pm
Jim and Chris react to the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup, the 2022 […]
-
Ep 34: NHL Coaching Retreads; Stanley Cup Final Talkby Full Press Coverage on June 22, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Mike, Jim, and Chris discuss the never-ending NHL coaching retreads and […]
-
NHL Offseason: Matthew Tkachuk Traded To Florida, Patrik Laine Staying in Columbus and Moreby Full Press Coverage on July 24, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Jim is back once again joined by C.C. Hawkley of Full Press Hockey to […]
-
NHL Free Agency Frenzy Reviewby Full Press Coverage on July 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back once again to discuss NHL Free Agent Frenzy and where some of […]
-
Ep 76: They're Back! David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron Return To The Bruinsby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 8:51 pm
Ian and Chris discuss and react to the re-signing of captain Patrice […]
-
Ep 75: Bergeron Undecided? David Krejci and NHL Free Agency Primerby Full Press Coverage on July 13, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the latest on Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and […]
-
S3Ep35 - NHL Offseason Editionby Jim Biringer on July 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Jim is joined by Marc Weiss and Coach Jay as they discuss the NHL […]
-
S3E34 - Colorado Avalanche Win Stanley Cupby Jim Biringer on July 4, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Jim is back once again to discuss the Colorado Avalanche winning the […]
-
Episode #389 - The Finaleby Full Press Coverage on July 26, 2022 at 2:27 am
It's time for us to wrap up another 4th Line show. This week we take one […]
-
Episode #388 - The 2022 NHL Free Agency Roadtripby Full Press Coverage on July 19, 2022 at 2:08 am
NHL teams got busy this week as they tried to sign all of the free agents! […]
-
Episode #387 - The 2022 NHL Draftby Full Press Coverage on July 8, 2022 at 2:10 am
It's draft night! We look back on the news of the week, as well as the […]
-
Episode #107: A Fine Championshipby Full Press Coverage on June 30, 2022 at 4:38 am
For the first time since 2019, a new Calder Cup champion has been crowned! […]
-
Episode #106: If You Can't Beat Them, Become Themby Full Press Coverage on June 18, 2022 at 5:55 am
23 playoff teams are now down to just two. It's the 2022 Calder Cup Finals […]
-
Episode #107: A Fine Championshipby Full Press Coverage on June 30, 2022 at 4:38 am
For the first time since 2019, a new Calder Cup champion has been crowned! […]
-
Episode #106: If You Can't Beat Them, Become Themby Full Press Coverage on June 18, 2022 at 5:55 am
23 playoff teams are now down to just two. It's the 2022 Calder Cup Finals […]
-
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 […]
-
Aaron Rodgers Addresses Early Camp Struggles for WRsby Full Press Coverage on August 18, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Ian and John discuss some bumps in the road at Packers camp as Aaron […]
-
8/17 - Packers Camp Struggles, Top 10 QB/Pass Catching Combos, Malcolm Go... To Injured Reserveby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Ian and John discuss Aaron Rodgers comments about the young wide receiver […]
-
8/15 - Zach Wilson, Deshaun Watson, NFL Top 100 Listby Full Press Coverage on August 15, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Ian and John discuss the Zach Wilson injury scare, Deshaun Watson's debut […]
-
NBA Retires Bill Russell's Jersey League Wideby Full Press Coverage on August 13, 2022 at 2:25 pm
Ian and John discuss the NBA's decision to retire Bill Russell's "#6" […]
Comments 54