I’ve heard that the Avalanche are “interested” in Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames for, oh, about two straight years now. The latest rumors out there: The Avs are clearing cap space to make a deal for the 29-year-old center, who is in the last year of a contract with a cap hit of $4.85 million, which is about what the Avs have in available cap space.
Could it happen? This is hockey, so anything can happen. But I’m doubtful. At least, right now. First of all, no NHL team can make a trade after Wednesday for a few days, with the “Christmas Trade Freeze.”
But the biggest reason I’m doubtful: The Avs still have a lot invested in Ryan Johansen, even at that half-price deal they got from the Nashville Predators.
And, sorry, but I’m not at all ready to proclaim this a bad signing for the Avs. Yes, Johansen’s play and overall production hasn’t been great of late. He broke a nine-game scoring drought with a bit of a gift goal in Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Sharks, and his 10-2 12-point production puts him in a solid lead for the team’s Cy Young Award (look it up kids).
He’s got 10 goals in 31 games. Even with my bad math skills, I know that averages out to more than 20 goals for a season average. If I get 20 goals out of my No. 2 center entering the playoffs, I’m pretty happy with that. Yeah, it would definitely be nice to see No. 12 add a few more assists to that total. Yeah, it would definitely be nice if he didn’t look like he was playing in formaldehyde some nights.
But let’s not give up on him at all and start looking at rental deals to replace him. History has shown he’s a clutch player who elevates his game in the playoffs, for one thing. For another thing, he’s one of the few guys on the team who plays with true snarl around the net and can get ugly goals, which is so important come playoff times. For another thing, he’s far and away the best faceoff guy on the team, currently at 59.2%.
Elias Lindholm? Good player, no question. Probably plays a faster, better all-around game than Ryan Johansen at this stage. But do I want to make some big rental deal for him, with no guarantees beyond this season, and part with picks/players/prospects? No, not really. He’s not that good.
He’s got seven goals and 20 points in 31 games for the Flames. His point production fell considerably last season from the one before. It’s falling again this season.
Hey, if that’s how the Avs want to go, more power to ‘em. But I say, keep the faith in Johansen and let’s see what the second half brings, because I think it’ll be better than the first. And let’s not forget: Avs are a first-place team right now. Let’s stop with the “we need a big shakeup” attitude here. We don’t.
With the Avs in Chicago tomorrow night, let’s do some Dater Avs Travel Memories from the Windy City:
Chicago, wow. Been there a lot on Avs business. My very, very first memory of traveling there to cover the Avs starting in 1995 has to be the fabulous Drake Hotel, just off Michigan Avenue. I usually stayed where the team stayed in those days, so the Drake was the place. It’s a great, old hotel with a great, old-school lobby and room service where they wheel in a table for you and set it up right there. Try the red snapper soup, first off.
I remember that the front-desk check-in at the Drake always had a ready supply of 1. Apples and oranges and 2. Newspapers. All were free to grab.
I remember having drinks late, late into the night during the 1996 Avs-Blackhawks playoff series in the hotel’s Cape Cod Room, a wonderful, darkly-lit place with great food and drink. The people around the tables with me included former Ch. 9 sports guy Ron Zappolo, Ch. 4’s Gary Miller and other Post colleagues such as Terry Frei and Mark Kiszla, plus Bob Kravitz from the Rocky Mountain News. Everyone thought the Avs were toast after losing Game 3 in Chicago, to go down 2-1 in the series, but the Avs won the next three straight and won the damn Stanley Cup.
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