Avalanche training camp to determine chemistry with new players

Rookie camp started last week which means the pros hit the ice this week to open training camp. But this year’s group looks a bit different than last year’s.

Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland and management had a busy off-season bringing five notable new players to the team — Ryan Johansen, Jonathan Drouin, Miles Wood, Ross Colton and Tomas Tatar.

But with the new additions, there were a few departures. Alex Newhook, Evan Rodrigues, Lars Eller, Erik Johnson, J.T. Compher and Matt Nieto are all with new clubs.

Where will the newbies fit in? There are expectations for each, but those decisions won’t be made until after coach Jared Bednar and his staff run camp to see who has chemistry and fits together.

Johansen is expected to fill the second-line center position but that could change if he doesn’t pull his weight as 2C. He’s a solid faceoff winner so no matter where he ends up, his playmaking skills will improve the middle six.

Drouin has been projected by some to be next to Nathan MacKinnon on the top line. But that’s a position he’ll have to earn. He had a rough few years with the Montreal Canadiens and while it is hopeful he’ll rebound by being reunited with his former junior teammate, he needs to prove he belongs in that spot. That is what training camp should show.

Wood and Colton are slated for somewhere in the middle six, along with Tatar. But this will depend on fluency among players. Tatar is more offensive-minded while Wood and Colton are more grit.

Another second-line projection is Johansen at center with Wood on one side and Valeri Nichushkin on the other. But if Drouin takes time to earn top line, he’ll most likely be on the other side of Johansen.

Training camp starts on Thursday, Sept. 21 at Family Sports Ice Arena. Every Avalanche player has skated or made an appearance at informal skates in the past few weeks. Nichushkin made his first appearance on Friday and Pavel Francouz was in attendance but not skating.

Training camp sessions are broken into two separate times and are open to the public.

Thursday, Sept. 21

Group 1 on ice: 8:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Group 2 on ice: 10:35 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 22

Group 2 on ice: 8:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Group 1 on ice: 10:35 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 23

Group 1 on ice: 8:15 – 10:15 a.m.

Group 2 on ice: 10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.

There will be a few other players vying for a spot on the roster. Some of those players include Oskar Olausson, Ondrej Pavel and Jean-Luc Foudy who have been intermittently skating with the team at the informal skates over the past few weeks. 

The first pre-season game is at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 against the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena.