Fighting Spirit: the Cup’s favorite VAs to increase physical presence

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Kurtis MacDermond — Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

By Pat Graham

DENVER (AP) – The Colorado Avalanche added a little more oomph to their roster by essentially using a 6-foot-5 bodyguard.

Among the duties of defender Kurtis MacDermid are Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and any of their other high-profile players.

Known for her speed and skill, the Avalanche felt she needed to take her physique up a notch after being knocked out in the second round of the playoffs for a third straight season. Although they won the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best record in 2020-21, they lost to Vegas, which turned out to be a tougher, tougher team.

Maybe not now – not with their new executor.

MacDermid was acquired from the Seattle Kraken for a future fourth-round pick. He’s a heavyweight on the ice with 151 penalty minutes in 118 career games.

“A big deterrent, when it comes to teams running and taking liberties with our guys,” said coach Jared Bednar. “It can help you.”

Especially the time for the playoffs. The Avalanche led the Golden Knights 2-0 in the series before losing four in a row. They also didn’t have Nazem Kadri, who served an eight-game suspension for an illegal blow to the head in the St. Louis Blues Series.

“We lost because of their looks, I think that’s my take on the series,” Rantanen said. “Playoff hockey is a lot different from the regular season.

The season hasn’t even started and MacKinnon already looks like the piece – a cut sewn close to his lip. It was thanks to a puck in camp.

The 26-year-old MacKinnon certainly loves the look of this team, who are the preseason favorite to lift the Stanley Cup, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

“I feel like we’re growing more and more and learning how to play playoff hockey,” said MacKinnon. “Some guys are lucky to win in their first two years, but it’s going to be a process and we’re learning a lot, which is great.”

Frontline numbers again include MacKinnon, Rantanen and Captain Gabriel Landeskog, who signed an eight-year, $ 56 million extension. The trio totaled 70 goals and 113 assists last season.

“We know each other very well now,” Landeskog said. “We complement each other. “

PRESENCE OF KUEMPER

The Avalanche lost Philipp Grubauer, finalist for the Vezina Trophy, to the Kraken in free agency. But they did acquire 6-foot-5 goaltender Darcy Kuemper from Arizona. He had a 2.56 goals against average last season

Colorado also have a healthy Pavel Francouz, who missed last season after undergoing hip surgery, and Jonas Johansson.

MOVEMENTS

General manager Joe Sakic was busy this offseason tinkering with this list. In addition to taking over Kuemper and MacDermid, he acquired forward Mikhail Maltsev from the New Jersey Devils as part of a deal for Ryan Graves. Sakic also signed veterans Darren Helm and Ryan Murray, as well as forward Artem Anisimov (771 NHL games with 180 goals) and defenseman Jack Johnson (950 games, 71 goals) for a preview in camp.

Sakic also made deals with Makar ($ 54 million, six-year contract) and Logan O’Connor (three years).

Colorado has lost forwards such as Brandon Saad, Joonas Donskoi, Matt Calvert, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Carl Soderberg.

TOEWS & JOHNSON

Defender Devon Toews will not be ready for the season opener after shoulder surgery in the offseason. But the team will find Erik Johnson. He was limited to four games last season due to injury.

“He’ll keep things light, but when things aren’t going well he’ll speak up and voice his opinion and hold the guys to account,” MacKinnon said. “I’m glad he’s back.

HONOR PIERRE

Colorado will pay tribute to the late Pierre Lacroix, who was the architect of the team’s 1996 and 2001 Stanley Cup titles. The former general manager and president of the Avalanche team passed away on December 13.

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