Takeaways from Avalanche Preseason Win Over Vegas

Ryan Johansen looked real good

Thirty goals.

That’s my prediction for Ryan Johansen this season with the Avalanche. I’m known for my pessimism about pretty much everything (former Avs TV man John Kelly’s nickname for me was “Doom and Gloom”), but I’m bullish on Johansen with the Avs this season. Last night, after watching him play against the Vegas Golden Knights in - yes, admittedly - just a preseason game - I feel good about that optimism.

People forget, this guy was the fourth overall pick in a very good 2010 NHL Draft. He’s got seriously good hands and plays tough around the net. Yeah, he’s also 31 and probably lost a step. He was never a speed demon to begin with.

But I think this guy has a chance - a chance - to have the kind of season Nazem Kadri had two years ago as the No. 2 center with the Avs. Put him in the wheel position on the power play with Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen and (probably) Artturi Lehkonen and I see lots of goals.

I really like the addition of Johansen for another critical reason: he’s nasty, no fun to play against, just like Kadri. Let’s face it, nobody who played at No. 2 center last season for the Avs (Alex Newhook, J.T. Compher mostly) physically intimidated anybody. At 6-3, 215 and bred in the kill-or-be-killed Western Hockey League with Portland, Johansen is well-versed in the Old Testament ways of hockey.